[Cardiff Irons]

Wonder if anyone has had a similar experience.

We open an account with Kiwibank when in the UK and went into a local branch when we arrived to organise cheque books, ATM cards, online banking etc. Whilst there I enquired about credit cards and was advised to complete forms but to SEND them in with a covering letter, explaining that we were new here, didn't yet have jobs etc.

Anyway, two weeks or so after sending we received a refusal letter. When I rang to query I was told to apply in 6 months when we had some credit history in NZ! I asked whether the fact that we had financial assets counted for anything was told that it would not change their decision. I have since made a complaint to Kiwibank (even if this is their standard policy, it begs the question as to why I was asked to go to the trouble of completing the forms!).

Has anyone else been rejected like this? Are there other more sympathetic NZ banks around?

Cheers


Steve :nice1

[anna_c]

I worked for Kiwibank, if a few years back, and their credit card criteria are pretty inflexible. As I understand it, they felt the need to be more cautious as a new, smaller bank (I'm not entirely clear how that follows, just what I was told).

I know people who've got credit cards with National Bank despite having some unusual circumstances, and it's totally normal to have your cc with a different bank to your regular banking.

[jubjub]

We got one with ASB straight off, try them...

But we did have a job offer in our hands, dunno if that made any difference....

[Trigirl]

westpac wanted to see a job offer/contract before i could apply for a credit card

[KerryS]

I got one from BNZ - just applied online and had it approved, together with a whopping great credit limit in about 5 minutes. After receiving the card I called them to get the limit reduced.
Had absolutely no problems with them, and just do an automatic bank payment to them to pay it off each month (I bank with Westpac for everything else).

[sidabrine]

You can't get a credit card on a work permit though.. Which is a bummer, as most of the paper work you need to sort out for getting a PR requires you to have a credit card... Oh well...

[Park City Partner]

You might try the Migrant Banking group at Westpac. I spoke with them over the phone explained our situation...not working but had assets blah blah blah and we got a card no problem.

[suebeenz]

I had the same problem in another country. At the big banks, you could never talk to the person making the decision (likely because it was just a computer program). Very frustrating.

Then someone suggested I try a credit union. What a difference! There I could talk to them and explain the situation, and they setup me up with a credit card in no time at all. I don't know anything about credit unions in NZ, but maybe this will help.

http://www.nzacu.org.nz/

:cheers

[Anita & Marco]

Hi,
We just used our overseas credit card when we didn't have a job here in NZ yet - didn't have a problem with anything using that one.

Isn't that a good interim solution?

Cheers,
Anita

[jo-and-jeff]

We just used our overseas credit card when we didn't have a job here in NZ yet - didn't have a problem with anything using that one.

Isn't that a good interim solution?
We've still got our U.S. card, used it for everything including PR app fees, MAF import cert fees for the cats, expenses with the shipping company on this end, and lodging and food when we arrived until we got our BNZ credit card here. Although we no longer use it for most things, we keep it because not all online shopping cart systems for U.S. businesses can process cards with non-U.S. zip codes
because if we ever go back to the States, it will be extremely difficult to re-establish a credit rating if we have cancelled it (we've still got our U.S. bank account as well, for that among other reasons)So yes, I would recommend keeping your credit card in your home country unless it becomes just too economically unfeasible. If you've got a good credit rating, many credit card companies will be willing to remove the annual fee in exchange for removing airline miles or other benefits from your card (and possibly raising the APR). Just make sure you use it once every couple of months and pay it off right away, to keep your card and your credit rating active, and to keep the credit card company from cancelling your account.

Jo

[katandbob]

Jordon got one from ASB (hes 18, on an apprenticeship and earns a palt)ry $10 hr! -- he has set it up to pay off automatically out of his account, as you need a credit card for internet transactions - EFPOS isnt accepted over the internet.
I am still using my Nationwide card, but I think I will get one from ASB or maybe even Warehouse....they do one too.

Kat

[urban78]

Wonder if anyone has had a similar experience.

We open an account with Kiwibank when in the UK and went into a local branch when we arrived to organise cheque books, ATM cards, online banking etc. Whilst there I enquired about credit cards and was advised to complete forms but to SEND them in with a covering letter, explaining that we were new here, didn't yet have jobs etc.

Anyway, two weeks or so after sending we received a refusal letter. When I rang to query I was told to apply in 6 months when we had some credit history in NZ! I asked whether the fact that we had financial assets counted for anything was told that it would not change their decision. I have since made a complaint to Kiwibank (even if this is their standard policy, it begs the question as to why I was asked to go to the trouble of completing the forms!).

Has anyone else been rejected like this? Are there other more sympathetic NZ banks around?

Cheers


Steve :nice1

Hey Steve,

That's pretty much what happened to me when I first got here, even though I had a work contract to show them, BNZ rejected my application...gave me no reason but I assume it was because of lack of credit rating. They told me to re apply in 6 months :roll I only had a visa debit card in the UK, which I got rid of before getting here.

Never thought bout it until a bit over 6 months later, received a flyer and letter from them saying I'd be eligible to get one. I just sent all the details through and got my card 10 days later. I've only had it for a few months now and have been asked a few times over the phone if I wanted a credit increase :laugh

Because I have a standard account with them, I just do a funds transfer at the end of the month to pay it off so it's a pretty good deal in the end :nice1

Jen.

[neilw71]

Guys,

Look at the new Visa Debit cards that are on the market as wel now. Its a standard debit/eftpos card but with the Visa symbol, so you can use online and overseas.

I finally received mine from Westpac last week ($10 per year) and it is working well so far :nice1

Neil