anyone know the reasons why Disney Visa is not available to Canadian's?

[disneyfan2]

I was so disappointed to hear this is not available to us! anyone know why?:confused3

[CanadianGuy]

Well normally .. it'd be because you have no credit history in the states... only in Canada.

When I moved to New York City in 1995, even though I had a credit history as long as my arm in Canada.. it was like starting all over down there. They had no way to cross reference my Canadian credit history - stored by my Social Insurance Number.. to my blank American credit history stored by my newly issued Social Security Number.

At 25 years old, it was like I had just been born. I eventually built up a credit history on that side of the border too..

So that'd be part of it. And an American bank issuing a credit card in Canada, to a Canadian would be required to abide by Canadian credit card law ... possibly in some weird mix with American credit card law. It becomes a logistical nightmare.

And then sending you your bill.. your bill would have more postage due than the other 2 million bills they send out to Americans, so your bill has to have special handling.

It becomes unweildy.

J

[Amberle3]

That's exactly right. There are lots of US affinity cards that aren't available to Canadian, it's not just the Disney one.

There just isn't much hope of getting one until a Canadian bank decides to offer one.

[Daddio]

To add to this, we got a retail store credit card a few years ago at one of the Factory outlets in Orlando (to get a 15% discount on purchase) and even though we make purchases on the card when we go (nothing like a 30 day grace period to pay) we are not building a US credit history because we don't have US SINs.

[bunnyfoo]

To add to this, we got a retail store credit card a few years ago at one of the Factory outlets in Orlando (to get a 15% discount on purchase) and even though we make purchases on the card when we go (nothing like a 30 day grace period to pay) we are not building a US credit history because we don't have US SINs.

How do you pay the retail store credit card bills? Do you just send them a cheque? I was thinking of getting one at VS a little while ago...

TIA!

[amw]

My husband has a US SIN because he works over there on a weekly basis. Even then, Disney Visa will not issue. You have to have a US SIN and a permanent US resident... that's not a hotel :rotfl: Also, I heard from previous posters that not only do you need those 2 things, but your employer must be American too. (ie. you can't be posted in the US by a Cdn company)

It's Chase banks that runs the Disney Visa program. American banks and Cdn banks don't meld very well :)

[CanadianGuy]

With a SSN you can get the card .. as long as you 'have' an American address of some kind. BUT.. you cannot get a card with a Taxpayer Identification Number .. which is NOT the same thing as a SSN. A TIN is for foreign nationals only... and foreign nationals who can not work for a U.S. corporation. TINs are numbered differently that SSN's.

And I can assure you that they really don't care about the 'permanent resident' bit or who your employer is.. too much. I was down there for 8 years.. each year on a one year basis.. temporary.. I had car loans, an AMEX Gold, Discover Platinum..a line of credit at my bank etc.

All they cared was that I had income and I could pay the dang bill!

JK

J

[misslissa]

Well, I had a horrible time with an American credit card. I was encouraged at the store (Victoria Secret) to get one and was assured that there was no problem being Canadian. So, I got it. And, a big coupon book which was wonderful.

However, I found that when they mailed out the statements (from somewhere in Ohio), I kept getting them after the "due date". That's not good... especially when you are like me and just NEED to get all those bills on time and paid! The cheques I sent back also took a long time getting cashed, and the charges ran up.

Maybe Disney is saving us all that hassle! :wizard:

[Daddio]

How do you pay the retail store credit card bills? Do you just send them a cheque? I was thinking of getting one at VS a little while ago...

TIA!

We have an RBC Centura account (in Orlando) tied to a local Royal Bank account. When I get the statement, I pay it online.


However, I found that when they mailed out the statements (from somewhere in Ohio), I kept getting them after the "due date". That's not good... especially when you are like me and just NEED to get all those bills on time and paid! The cheques I sent back also took a long time getting cashed, and the charges ran up.

The first statement I received, also from Ohio (but not VS) was also after the due date. I called them and they weren't at all concerned. The next time, the statement was on time.

[amw]

With a SSN you can get the card .. as long as you 'have' an American address of some kind.

Not the Disney VISA. :sad2: Trust me. A lot of us have tried.

[Cruiser1969]

Well, I had a horrible time with an American credit card. I was encouraged at the store (Victoria Secret) to get one and was assured that there was no problem being Canadian. So, I got it. And, a big coupon book which was wonderful.

However, I found that when they mailed out the statements (from somewhere in Ohio), I kept getting them after the "due date". That's not good... especially when you are like me and just NEED to get all those bills on time and paid! The cheques I sent back also took a long time getting cashed, and the charges ran up.

Maybe Disney is saving us all that hassle! :wizard:

OH MY . . . I had the exact experience with a Target Visa.:headache: Like you , I was encouraged to get one while there, and I have been receiving all my bills with impossible deadlines for payment; even if I mailed the cheque the second I got it I would be late with the payment. I was furious :furious: and talked to several people at Target about it.

I've decided I'll pay off the card (with late fees, of course) next time I go over to the States and then I'm chopping that little sucker up!

I'm like you . . . I don't pay bills late . . . ever. I guess my credit rating in the US is toast now . . . thanks Target!!!