As a foreign student studying in USA, I am very unlucky to have an insane roomate. I have to break the lease under personal safety concerns. I was told that the manager will report my name to a federal agent for bad credit. Being a foreigner, who have to stay here at least a few more years to get a degree, I just wonder how would this "bad credit" title affect my future stay here ?? Any opinion ?? Anyone has similar bad title before ?? All replies are appreciated !

Answer:

There aren't any federal agencies dealing with bad credit, far as I know. I don't think the government cares much about your credit history. Which is too bad, because if they did, there would be a million and one loopholes you could use to deal with it.

Credit history information is maintained by a few companies (TRW, etc.) which sell it to other companies which are considering lending you money. I think you have the right to submit an explanatory letter to go in your file. Call TRW to be sure.

It's far more important that you preserve your personal safety.

I haven't had "bad credit" but I've been cursed with "no credit" since I was too high and mighty to get a credit card during college when the mighty river of applications flowed free and bold. Now it's impossible to get one; on my third try (after two years of attempts) I was approved for a Citibank card with usurious interest and a titanic annual fee where I have the full amount of my credit line on deposit with them as a CD. I was pretty shocked at how hard it was to get even that. I've also been unable to rent a car in the US (I even offered $5000 cash bond for a crappy subcompact), apparently for the same reason.

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