I was an exchange student with Waseda for one year and Mizuho gave me a credit card with a 100,000 yen limit. Just checked a box when I applied for a bank account.
I was an exchange student with Waseda for one year and Mizuho gave me a credit card with a 100,000 yen limit. Just checked a box when I applied for a bank account.
Being Japanese but self-employed is another hurdle, esp. if your operation is small (just me and my husband).Originally Posted by Dutch Baka
any information about Japanese and not being able to get a CC? Maybe living situation and working situation matters... plus the guy behind the desk
But, my husband had credit cards he got while still working for a big business corporation. When we delivered on our first very large purchase (in millions of yen), the credit card company immediately promoted our membership.
I think what most young Japanese without jobs in big companies do is to get the most easily obtainable credit card (such as from a supermarket chain), build up credit history and move on from there.
However, with the economy sagging, credit card issues will probably become harder to get than ever for Japanese, too.
Anyone else find it amusing that the big Japanese banks have ruined their balance sheets so thoroughly and are asking for government money, but if you work in a small business that they treat YOU like you are the worst credit risk in the history of the world? Hypocrites!Being Japanese but self-employed is another hurdle, esp. if your operation is small (just me and my husband).
But, my husband had credit cards he got while still working for a big business corporation. When we delivered on our first very large purchase (in millions of yen), the credit card company immediately promoted our membership.
I think what most young Japanese without jobs in big companies do is to get the most easily obtainable credit card (such as from a supermarket chain), build up credit history and move on from there.
However, with the economy sagging, credit card issues will probably become harder to get than ever for Japanese, too.
Because making payment on them from Japan is a real pain in da butt.
Last edited by Echigo; Dec 19, 2008 at 16:08. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
It somewhat depends on how long you have been in Japan and also what company you go with. It's kind of like the States. Once you receive one it gets easier to get others The thing to realize is that your credit history from other countries do not carry over.
I first tried to get a credit card from my bank (Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ); initially they rejected me, so I tried CitiBank - they also rejected me. Then I retried my bank after 3 months, by which time I had paid in about a million yen to my account. Then I got one, no problems.
I think Japanese banks are worried about foreigners leaving with big credit card debts and never repaying them, but once you've proved you're earning, things should get easier.
For the record: I was a JSPS researcher, which isn't a company at all, so I don't think employer was an issue.
I don't think that it has too much to do with what country you are from because in some cases they don't know if you sign up for a card by mail or through a store. My suggestion is to first try to get one through Costco Japan. I got my first Master Card from there my fourth year here, no problem. I tried for the heck of it at one store (can't remember which), but got turned down. What really ticked me off was that my own bank, Mitsubishi Tokyo which I have been with for 7 years, turned me down!!! (I had trouble with them before because I think they were doing one of those police checks of gaijin cards because they claimed that my hanko did not match the hanko stamp on file, even though I got it hand-made from China, totally uncopiable! They asked to see the card, after that, no problem with the hanko!) I also just got one from Citibank Japan, no problem, but I have to pay an annual fee if I don't keep a certain amount of money in the bank.
The problem here is that the system is VERY subjective, even for Japanese, and there is no system of "building credit" here, like in the US per se. If you can, do it through a store but if ANYONE asks you to see your gaijin card, don't bother. And remember, actually the law says that you only have to show your gaijin card to the police and immigration (The problem is that some places actually DO need some sort of proof of residence, even from Japanese; but I have a Japanese drivers license like most Japanese do, so this is no problem for me.)
Residence can be assessed with your alien card, tax records, etc.
Those who have been rejected for credit cards here--why not get one from your home country?
Or if the job/money/etc you have is in Japan, does that render you ineligible for appropriate limit cards in your home country?
I have just kept my American credit card and used that on the rare occassions I actually need it (just online purchasing).
I think that it was mentioned previously that you lose out on the exchange rate if you use your US credit card here. Also, you have to keep track of your purchases from here and send money from here to pay for your US card bills, which the price to send money from Japan has gone up considerably. In addition, just like in the states, you can get cards with points and bonus and get free stuff. All in all, it is just easier to deal with if you are living in Japan, getting paid in yen, and paying off your card here. It is a matter of convenience!
And yes, it would be a bit difficult to convince a US credit card company to send all your bills and set up your address in Japan. I believe that many card companies require you to have a US address, but I suppose you could get around that by using your parents or friends address back home and checking up on your bills through the internet. But again, it is very much a big hassle!
And I don't believe for a minute that you are the real Charles Barkely!
Last edited by ranma_chan4; Aug 13, 2008 at 01:05. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
For foreigners I heard were Nippon Shimpan, any department store card,
Same here. At first, I simply and honestly thought my bank (MUFJ) made a mistake in treating my application.
Applied at AMEX as well, same result, rejection and no mention of a reason whatsoever.
I actually tried to communicate with my bank and kindly asked them what i should do to get a credit card but no clear answer, just "try again in at least 6 months".
Really frustrating.
Wouldn't matter if you did not make a mistake.
Here'S a question for you. Do you have a documented record of a postive cash flow at the bank you applied for your credit card?
If not and you REALLY want your credit card, the place to start is there. Open a savings account and have a net positive cash flow for 6 months or so and then see if you get rejected again.
I applied for a credit card from JP Bank about 3 months after arriving in Japan on a one-year work visa. A week after mailing in my application the bank called my company to verify my employment. They then spoke to me on the phone and asked to to verify my date of birth, and address. About 3 weeks later the card was delivered to my door. JP bank cards are apparently issued by SMBC.
Someone mentioned earlier in the thread that many American banks won't mail your bill to Japan, or that they require an American address. This was not true in my case. I have a World MC from Citi, another World MC from Juniper, and a Disney Visa from Chase, all three banks had no problem changing to my Japan address, and I receive bills from them in the mail each month.
I'm still trying to work something out with Amex. I have an Amex Platinum which I love to have for the travel perks, but the Japanese Amex Platinum has a much higher annual fee (the American annual fee is already $450 per year).
No problems at all. Being able to confirm all the info on your application when they call in Japanese without hesitation seems to be a major requirement.
pipokun,
Yes, a lot of what you wrote about qualificatoins for a card are valid. I won't bother to look deeply into my friend/coworker's situation, but I can easily tell you this:
He is not a financial risk.
He speaks very good Japanese (and filled out the application himself in Japanese).
He is "clean".
He called the company directly and asked what the deal was. They wouldn't give him a clear answer and even defended the point he politely asked about whether they rejected him because he was a foreigner. They simply said they couldn't say what their reason was, so he had to live with that. He doesn't like it, but it is weird.
Glenski my man,
I wrote "more receptive", not "guarantees". There are other criteria, which the company does not disclose. Also, most credit card companies have a policy not to give the reason for rejection. Doesn't matter if you are foreign or Japanese. If you call and ask, you will be told they cannot say. Regardless of the specific reason. You may rant and rave all you wish, but in the end you'd be better served getting over it and finding a company that can and will serve your needs.
Hermit Crab,
I understood what you wrote (more receptive vs. guaranteed). I responded only to show to support the fact that it is not guarantee.
My friend is long over it, but I still think this is a good example.
I think your constant harping over one particular instance of rejection is adding to the overall impression given on this thread that it is extremely difficult to get a credit card issued to you in Japan. Several posters have given good advice to better your odds. Naturally, there will be difficulties and obstacles to many aspects of our lives, being non-Japanese. Best to accept that, deal with it, and learn what can be done to minimize them. The OP's question "No Japanese credit cards for foreigners" gets a resounding "False!" answer.
Unlike what others have posted here, I was told I could not have the card due to be foriegn by the credit card company. And without going into details, I am member of two boards in a companies that I run here. Here is the kicker, if I was to go through my company they said they would approve it straight away instead of using my name only. So it has nothing to do with working for a big company. I also own 500 tsubo's of land and a house, as in I do not have any payments left on it.
When I was said I wanted it in my name they stated that I could provide a copy of my passport and my permenat residency visa, but it would be very unlikely that the verdict would change. That is when I rang my bank manager and got him to get me the card, but not everyone can do that can they?
The OP, FrustratedDave, and other posters got their cards, so their stories must be good for people in similar situations, but only you know the case of your friend here.
So all I can do is just a guesswork or to feel sorry for him.
It is great if he come here to share his stories when he got other cards.
The thing is that people are not telling the whole story. People who already have cards will find getting them a lot easier. Those who don't will have a difficult time no matter what company you work for.
I'm very glad that I came across this theme.
I'm a foreigner living in Japan, permanent residence, Japanese husband (working for one of old major companies), kids, property, no loans on my name (though we have a loan for land and house - on my husband`s name), fluent Japanese and I have some amount of money on my deposit.
My credit card applications were rejected three times... At first, I thought ithere was some mistake. Then I started to worry if I had something written on my name that I might not know about, etc - we called the credit company and, like other people here, have got the reply that the reason for rejection will not be disclosed. Very unsettling - one starts to feel that he is a suspect or something. Well, until I read the messages on this site - now I know that I'm not alone!
I can live without a credit card but I would like to be able to purchase music and books etc online... Does anyone know how can I get around to that without a credit card?
PS: Sorry if that's a stupid question - I actually never bought anything except things for which one can pay in cash or via a bank transfer, so I'm a novice in that.
You have a few options. People who don't work cannot get credit cards, my J wife says.
1. See if Amazon.co.jp will let you make an order to be delivered COD and not require a credit card number. We've had such deliveries made, and you pay when the books arrive, but I don't remember if we used my Amazon account or the related credit card info.
2. You could send the money for such things via Post Office.
3. You could try to get a store card, instead of a VISA, JCB, or other major card. For example, see if Parco or AEON will let you make such a card using your husband's bank information. My wife has a couple of these, but she said you have the option to use them as credit cards or just point cards. She took the latter option.
4. You might also want to ask your husband if it's ok to use his credit card info when you place orders on Amazon. You'd probably have to use his name when you place the order, but that's between you and him to agree on.
Unfortunately this seems to be the case in most instances.
As for getting a card, can you apply for a family card through your husband? If so they should issue you an extra card that is in your name from your husbands account. What you can do then is apply for a card that is seperate from his and it is essential that you fill in the form and say that you hold an existing card. Then you can cancel your card under your husbands account.
I hope this helps.
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