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  1. #1
    JA.
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    Default Dual currency credit card

    I frequently travel to China a lot, So I was thinking of getting a credit card that i can use in the U.S and in China. The card will most likely be issued by China Construction Bank as a mastercard or visa along with unionpay That way I can spend RMB while abroad and spend USD when im in the U.S. The question is will this affect my credit score/ utilization? Or will it just be like any other credit card?
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 10, 12, 3:54 pm
  3. #2
    agp
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    If you had to use your SSN when applying for the Chinese card then it will most likely show up on your credit report. Otherwise I doubt it.
    Have Discover, Amex PRG & BCE referrals, PM me before applying for some referral bonuses!


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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 10, 12, 5:19 pm
  4. #3
    trumpet-205
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    Your best bet is to get Discover credit card here in US. Discover has an alliance with UnionPay that you can use Discover credit card in China. Discover does not charge foreign exchange fee and their conversion ratio is pretty good.

    I'd adivse against applying a credit card in China because China uses their own credit reporting system. None of your US credit carries through to China. In Chinese bank's point of view, you have no credit history in China.

    Plus using a Chinese credit card in US will likely get yourself a 3% foreign exchange fee.
    In My Wallet:
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 10, 12, 8:17 pm
  5. #4
    CC Deville
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    Will a Chinese bank even issue an American a card? Do you have some sort of Chinese ID that will allow for that? Like another poster stated, even if this is available, how will you be qualified for a card in another country with no previous credit history?

    Anyway, if it is a Chinese bank and a Chinese credit bureau, it should not impact your US credit history at all.

    For reference...Canadians can apply and be approved for Nordstrom cards as well as cards issued by WFFNB (now known as Comenty Bank-Victorias Secret, Crate and Barrel and J Crew to name a few hey that rhymes) and those do report on their Canadian bureaus despite being an American bank and serviced in the US. But because of how close we are to Canada (and they even use Experian and TU) this is expected. China on the other hand, not so much.
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 11, 12, 4:06 pm
  6. #5
    JA.
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    I would just need an initial deposit and a address of which I would use one of my relatives. But I would rather have a U.S issued card with unionpay as I feel it would be a lot less complicated. Also are there other cards that have an alliance with unionpay?

    I am actually interested in the discover card however I was wondering if it would be possible to have a unionpay logo on the card? As I know many of the small merchants in China will not know about the card unless they see a visual logo.
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 11, 12, 5:03 pm
  7. #6
    trumpet-205
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    Only Discover has an alliance with UnionPay.

    Download this and print it out. Show it to Chinese merchant,
    https://www.discover.com/credit-card...allet_Card.pdf
    In My Wallet:
    Citi Forward (12/2010) | Citi TY Preferred (05/2011) | BofA Travel Rewards (07/2011) | Chase Freedom (11/2011)
    GECRB/PayPal (05/2012) | Discover it (07/2012) | US Bank Cash Reward (08/2012) | AMEX BCE (09/2012)
    Target (10/2012) | Chase Ink Classic (11/2012) | BofA Balance Rewards (04/2013)
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 11, 12, 5:25 pm
  8. #7
    DavidNY
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    Read post #6 in this thread for how to use a Discover card on UnionPay.

    For Americans, Discover Card is the usable in China as Unionpay. - Lonely Planet travel forum
    Credit cards from banks, deposits in credit unions.
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 11, 12, 6:56 pm
  9. #8
    JA.
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    Quote Originally Posted by DavidNY View Post
    Read post #6 in this thread for how to use a Discover card on UnionPay.

    For Americans, Discover Card is the usable in China as Unionpay. - Lonely Planet travel forum
    haha I actually thought that this would probably happen...
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 11, 12, 11:13 pm
  10. #9
    JA.
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    Also does anybody know if the Discover pre-approved offer is a hard pull or soft pull?

    https://www.discovercard.com/cardmem...6544726-876423
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 11, 12, 11:36 pm
  11. #10
    Vermonster
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    It is a soft pull. At the bottom you have to agree to a thing that says "I understand that this is not a credit card application, and that this search will not impact my credit score."
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Dec 12, 12, 6:12 am
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