If you are denied a loan or credit card because you've no credit history, consider building one. The easiest way is to make an application for a small credit line from your bank or a Mastercard from a local office store. Ensure you list your best financial references. Remit payments regularly and make absolutely sure the creditor reports your credit history to a credit office.
If your other half dies
Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), a creditor cannot automatically close or change the terms of a common account only due to the death of your other half. A creditor may ask you to update your claim or reapply. This will occur if the account was initially based mostly on part of your spouse’s income and if the creditor has reason to believe your earnings alone cannot support the line of credit.
After you submit a re-application, the creditor will decide whether to continue to extend you credit or change your credit limits. Your creditor must reply in writing within 30 days of receiving your request. During that time, you can continue to use your account with no new restrictions. If you're application is confounded, you have to be given explicit reasons, or told of your right to get this information.
These protections also apply when you retire, reach age 62 or older, or change your name or marriage status.
Types of accounts
It is vital to know what kind of credit accounts you have, particularly if your partner dies. There are two kinds of accounts - individual and joint. You can permit allowed persons to use either type.
An individual account is opened in one person’s name and is based only on that person’s revenue and assets.
If you're nervous about your credit standing if your partner should die, you may want to try to open one or more individual accounts in your name. That way, your credit standing will not be influenced.
When you're applying for individual credit, ask the creditor to think about the credit report of accounts reported in your spouse’s or previous spouse’s name, as well as those reported in your name. The creditor must think about this information if you can prove it reflects positively and correctly on your capability to manage credit. For example, you could be ready to show through canceled checks that you made payments on an account, although it’s listed in your spouse’s name only.
A shared account is opened in two people’s names, regularly a husband and better half, and is based on the income and assets of both or either person. Both folks are accountable for the debt.
Account “users”
If you open an individual account, you may authorize another person to use it. If you name your spouse as the permitted user, a creditor who reports the credit score to a credit office must report it in your spouse’s name as well as in yours (if the account was opened after June 1, 1977). A creditor also may report the credit history in the name of another authorized user.
If you are denied credit
The ECOA does not promise you'll get credit. But if you're denied credit, you've got the right to understand why. There might be an error or the computer system may not have evaluated all relevant info. In this case, you can ask the creditor to reconsider your claim.
If you believe you've been discriminated against, you may want to write to the federal agency that regulates that specific creditor. Your complaint letter should state the facts. Send it, together with copies (NOT originals) of backup documents. You also may need to contact a lawyer. You have the right to sue a creditor who violates the ECOA.
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