Which credit card company do you recommend? Have you had any trouble with any credit card company either in Japan or abroad?
Have Your Say ( 43 )
JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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In an OECD survey of 36 nations on people's perceptions of their living conditions, Japan ranked 21st in terms of quality of life; Australia, Norway and the U.S. were the top 3. What do you think of that?
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The Fukuoka mayor is banning public servants from drinking alcohol for a month; the Osaka mayor has declared war on tattoos on civil servants. What do you think of all this?
( 21 )
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Why do you think Facebook's stock failed to live up to the hype in its trading debut?
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Which sport, when played well, do you think is the most exciting to watch?
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What's the difference between an average burger and a great one?
( 12 )
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- Business Teaching Positions - Part-time - Kanto Region
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥3,000 ~ ¥5,000 / Hour
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- National Relief/Substitute Teacher - summer start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥275,000 ~ ¥300,000 / Month
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- 営業パーソン
- 加治金属工業株式会社, Tochigi
- Salary: ¥240,000 ~ ¥350,000 / Month Negotiable
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43 Comments
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1
ukguyjp
Even though I have a very good job and salary here in Japan, my bank UFJ has refused to grant me a credit card. I had to get one from Citibank - for which privilege I am charged $100.00 per year!
1
movieguy
I've applied only through Saison and Citibank in Japan and was issued a Mastercard and Visa Gold card from Saison and a regular Visa from Citibank. The only problem I had was only recently with Saison. After 15 years of an 800,000 Yen limit on the MC and a 1,000,000 Yen limit on the Visa Gold they suddenly told me that actually the limit was 800,000 Yen combined. It took them 15 years to realized that??? So now I'm over my 800,000 Yen limit by 35,000 Yen.
0
some14some
MasterCard ! Absolutely no problem with international card (so far) !
0
my2sense
Using Visa Gold by my Japanese bank has helped me.... booking hotels on Expedia US at 87 yen to the dollar is a dream. Also have it hooked up to my monthly Zurich Int savings account in yen and have made a killing with yen despite interest. Also my monthly payments on my land in Costa Rica using Japanese CC, another USD eating shark at the moment. However itunes still hits me at 150 yen a song and it would be nice to download songs at 99 cents using the above technique. CitiBank has slowed down its CC issues to foreigners as loads defaulted over the years and pulled runners. They may have noticed English teachers taking out 300,000 yen cash advances in Roppongi on one night, lol. Visa Gold by your bank seems to get the royal treatment in Japan....even the cabbies handle it like a piece of crystal or a picture of their mother. Many Japanese merchants such as DonQui offer a split payment for you big shoppers. Japan Mastercard is great for travel too....no fees traveling. Once the dollar vs yen took a dive, my CC made me a bit of money. Japanese CC companies always investigate and reimburse if a compnay screws you..... Oh, watch your CC in Thailand and China as waiters and hotels (even in 4 star) have been known to sell #s and they make a credit card that day and send it off to Europe for a quick shop and pawn scam.
1
nisegaijin
JACCS doesn't like foreigners. JR Suica credit card service doesn't like citibank, and citicard offer pretty good service. when my card got frauded, I got money back fairly quickly.
1
sk4ek
Never had a problem with credit cards in Japan, except being rejected by JR for a Suica card (even though I also have a JAL/DC MC gold card, and have had at least one other card here for almost ten years). People who find their credit limits shifting suddenly (downward for the most part) like movieguy, should be aware that they are now tying total credit debt (cashing and charge limits for all card debt combined) to income, and as in the US, the card companies are moving to reduce credit limits on consumers who are over the total debt guideline 30% of gross income.
0
ronaldk
I have a United Mileage Plus Visa and generally use it with no problem, the main exception being JR West. I tried to buy Shinkansen tickets and their moronic policy was to call the credit card company in the US for permission or to confirm it was not stolen. So they call and next time I try to use the card it is frozen for a fraud alert. Apparently something the JR West person said triggered this. Unbelievable! One would think commerce would be promoted. Also, trying to buy Shinkansen tickets from the green machines does not have a credit card option. Japan is way behind in this regard...
0
proudnippon
Orico Card. good points
1
bicultural
Most refuse to give me a credit card just based on my "katakana" name, regardless of the fact that I probably make more money than they do. It's hilarious that university students carry cards that max out at 500,000 yen. I just use cash. That way I'm never in debt.
1
smodgy
Our gym is tied up with rakuten credit card which we must sign up for in order to use the gym. Funny thing is they have refused our application several times so far over small pointless issues with how we completed the form. So rakuten card does not seem very gaijin friendly. Shinsei credit card is great if you want a friendly english speaking service and 24hr support.
0
Papigiulio
Interesting topic, still have to sign up for a CC but NO idea which one is best and which one hates gaijins least. Ive heard many many gaijins dont get a CC because the company doesnt trust foreigners.
I have a mastercard running through a Dutch bank atm because I needed cc details for buying a keitai.
Anyone know if the yodobashi creditcard is any good? Im looking for one which also saves points.
0
Jkanda
HSBC is good in a way but unnecessarily snobbish at times. Have been using it from my University days, and no problem at all in any country. From Tokyo, bought CD from Amazon, and the next day my dad informed me that he received a call to verify this purchase. Was odd but then I think with all the crazy frauds that are going on I think it is ok. But then again, the wisest thing I would think is try not to buy on credit. Spend what you have.
1
sk4ek
It's a big myth that Japanese credit card companies reject foreign applicants simply for being foreign. They use weighted scoring systems just like U.S. banks do, so things like length of employment, housing, duration of residence, etc. (and lately, if belatedly, total domestic credit card debt)are all considered. That puts non-permanent resident foreigners at a disadvantage, of course, but foreigners in the U.S. (don't know about other countries) who haven't established any credit face a similar hurdle. There's certainly no algorithm running in the background, looking for and tossing out applications with "katakana names".
I hear Saison and Orico are both pretty loose in accepting applications; the big banks tend to have the toughest standards, especially since most of them are bleeding cash from their acquisitions of consumer loan companies.
1
Kronos
When I first came to Japan, Yodabashi Camera did not want to accept my Citibank Japan credit card since they thought it was a foreign bank's card. After I explained it was actually Citibank Japan, they accepted it. Other than that no problems so far.
I work with Citibank and Visa. I find them much better at handling foreigners (naturally) than Japanese banks. Shinsei Bank also does not look bad but I prefer to have only one credit card so if I ever give up Citi, they would be my next choice.
1
limboinjapan
Used to have 3 cards in Japan JAL, Lumine and Mizuho all Visa all for more than 10 years and all paid off regularly. When I got divorced the EX ran up some heavy bills so I paid them off and asked to have her cards canceled, instead they all replied that they had made the decision to cancel all my cards, when I asked why they just said "internal reasons" and that was the last time I was ever to have a Japanese card been refused ever since.
I guess despite paying off all my business loans and bills on time and being here now for more than 19 years, a single "gaijin" father is considered a risk.
I am paranoid when it comes to cards and I know that if someone steals it or the number for purchasing things, you will not have to pay for those purchases (but it is a pain and trouble) but if they somehow get a cash advance on the card then the issuing card company will request you pay that amount because they say you need the PIN code to do cash advance so you must have done something wrong.
So my one foreign card has a safety system, I have a no cash advance and a purchasing limit of 50,000 yen but if I need a cash advance or a higher limit all a need to do is call the toll free number from anywhere and go through a few question and give a special code and they will approve any purchase up to my true limit (1 million yen) or cash advance (500,000 yen) it's a little more trouble but my credit rating is safe that way and replacing any lost or stolen car is much easier.
1
IronBeard
I just use a store card. Low limit = safe. I was forced to make one after years of avoiding them because my ISP wouldn't accept debit.
A friend once had his stolen in Roppongi and maxed out to 1m JPY in a hostess bar. The friend went to the police, but because he couldn't remember exactly where he had lost it they wouldn't give him a crime reference number. As such, when he tried to claim the money back on the card's insurance he couldn't. Another reason not to have a CC in Japan.
... anyway - if there's one thing the recent financial crisis should have tought us, it's to stop spending money we don't have.
0
shady86
Currently I have three cards. Rakuten Visa, Mitsuisumitomo Master and JCB. All three cards comes with monthly limits 200,000,100,00 and 300,000 yen respectively. Yearly subscription fees are free for Rakuten. Mitsuisumitomo and JCB are also free because I'm still a student. I have never had much problems during applications but most of them are pretty strict on verification papers. I used Rakuten most of the time nowdays because I get points which can be used for shopping.
0
fishy
Master card.. have had no problems ;)
1
my2sense
Just wanted to add for the hell of it.... JT, you are doing a good job with Have Your Say weekly questions these days. I have noticed the feedback and answers have helped even me and the comments have been contributing and insightful (I appreciate it big time). Some serious smart people have been pitching their 2 cents and I am glad you weed out the ones who try and ruin it. JT has been hittin the prominent and important stuff for expats in Japan today this summer....all the way down to credit cards in Japan.
0
sk4ek
I should have noted that this policy change is driven by revisions to consumer lending laws that took effect in June of this year, and is not just something the credit card companies came up with arbitrarily because of the weak economy. They are no longer allowed to extend credit--including card-based cash loans--to consumers with debt exceeding 30% of income. If you get a written request from your card company asking you to provide recent proof of income, you should submit it (especially if your debt-to-income balance is well under the limit) or risk having your credit limits drastically reduced (which may not be such a bad thing, either, if you're trying to wean yourself off of paying for things with money you don't have).
0
proudnippon
that's more like a good reason not to go drinking in Roppongi or to take cash only if you feel you really have to.
0
SuperLib
Not necessarily true. I was told that I wouldn't be able to get a card by one company before I even applied because I was foreigner.
I have a JAL card. I thought it would be good since I use AA/JAL points, but apparently you have to request points or something silly like that. Any online purchases I make don't automatically get points. I also can't make an early payment to keep using the card. Once I charge up 200,000 yen I have to wait for it to be taken out of my account. In the US I use my AA card, pay it off in the same month, then use it again.
On a strange note I was denied a credit card by the post office. I have 2 accounts there and an actual postal pickup account for international deliveries. They pick everything up and send me one invoice at the end of the month so I don't actually pay for any shipping until then. I spend about 500,000 yen a month on international shipping. I figured a credit card would be a slam dunk since they're already extending me shipping credit every month. Nope....heh.
1
wajisin
Hachijuuni Bank in Nagano, of all places. I'd been here two years, this is almost 20 years ago. I got a letter from the bank which I couldn't read being new to the language. I gave it to my Japanese boss who read it and told me that the bank had made a mistake, and had sent me an offer to sign up for a DC credit card. He called them and they confirmed that the offer was there. I had about 2 million in the bank and had obviously been saving steadily. So, it goes with sk4ek's weighted scoring systems. I upgraded to gold and still have money deposited every month in Hachijuuni Bank, I'll always keep that card for buying airline tickets, and similar for the travel insurance perks. God bless 'rural' banks.
1
noriyosan73
In 1999 the only "Visa" card that was accepted was a "Visa" from a major Japanese bank. "Visa" had a different meaning. A very embarrassing moment at the end of an excellent dinner was the presentation of an American "Visa" card. The restaurant would not accept it because it was not guaranteed by a major Japanese bank, so the guests paid the total bill. In July 2009 the American "Visa" was accepted everywhere in Japan. The purchase of a medical English/Japanese electronic dictionary at a major electronics store in Japan on an American "Visa" was very efficient and quick. The correct credit card from any credit card company is the most important decision anyone can make.
0
seesaw
ANA Mileage Visa Card. Simple and easy. Service is fantastic. I get to collect mileage points and a free home trip, on ANA of course, and again fantastic service always!..:)
0
TSRnow
I have quite a few CCs now, each separately offering things like double points, free parking, bargains, coupons, cheaper gas, etc. Most have no annual fees except for my JAL gold, which comes in handy when travelling like seesaw's ANA card.
My main card is saison, because I like their point system. You can accumulate points from several Saison CCs. The percentage may not be very high, but it's just something extra. I got my i-pod nano, air purifier, cutlery and other odd items like hair dryer for free :)
Trouble is, that I use it so much that the card itself gets worn down too often. That's another reason to carry few other cards.
0
Richard_III
ANA Mastercard and Saison. No problems in getting a CC in Japan.
I like the system here whereby you pay the balance off every month, and I think it's a bit embarrassimg asking to pay things off in installments in the shop. Cumulative purchases and interest payments can get you in trouble if you don't clear the balance every month. I had this in the UK.
0
rainman1
I've had no problem with any of cards here. I use Amex and Citibank Japan Visa. I pay off all balances fully monthly and have been afforded large credit lines by both companies. In earlier times (early 1990's) I used UK credit cards with no problems. The best thing you can do before going abroad is to tell your card issuer that you are going abroad, that way payments do not get flagged as suspicious straight away. Bit of commom sense goes a long way on this topic as most of you should know.
0
jojo_in_japan
No problems at all with my BLACK AMEX.
0
my2sense
Impressive... you need to spend $250,000 annually on platinum just to qualify with perfect credit, as you know you pay AMEX off monthly. I take this comment with a grain of salt, lol.
0
crazygaijin
as a gaijin it's basically impossible to get a japanese credit card
1
Zenny11
Wasn't impossible for me(MUFG/Visa) nor any of my foreign friends here.
1
PeaceWarrior
Sorry Zenny11, Visa/MC Gold from MUFJ, Aeon card and JACCS. The one I use the most is the Visa. The MC allows me entry in airport business lounges but not all the time. Aeon is great when shopping on certain days and the JACCS card is really convenient from time to time when I have to pay stuff that gets reimbursed by my employer (They need to see the bill so I use this one exclusively for the company). I did get my MUFJ cards before it was MUFJ though, so it probably helped a lot (20 years ago). BTW, they were really nice when I needed to raise my limit and there was a minimum of hassle (10-15 minutes on the phone, and then another call to confirm).
I don't have a guarantor so I use my credit rating when I need a loan.
1
cleo
Not impossible at all. Three cards, no trouble getting or using any of them, and many more the credit companies have asked me to have and I've turned down.
1
proudnippon
no, it's actually quite easy. give it a try
0
blvtzpk
There was no luck for me until AMEX started offering cards to foreigners in Japan - thrusting them upon them, so to speak. After I started using it, I found a liquor chain that gave me a card, and then after that, they kept being accepted. That was until the last 12 months when I applied for two cards, both with major 'Gasoline Stand' chains - I'd just moved jobs and locations, but one came through quick smart, complete with a ETC card. The other one, which I applied for a few months later, was rejected with one of those vague 'didn't meet our requirements' letters. My credit record must be pretty damned good after 10 years here with a variety of cards being issued in my name, so this rejection took me by surprise. I didn't really need this extra card - it was going to save me a few pennies on gas when I used this chain's self-service stations. So much for that.
0
docswife
MUFG refused to give me a Visa card despite the fact that I'd had an account with them for 18 years, have a high, stable income, and co-own my own home. I went down the road and opened a new bank account with Mitsui Sumitomo, who immediately issued me a Visa card with no hassle whatsoever. Go figure.
0
debittoo
I.ve tried many times to get a visa card...all were denied...but it.s ok i will try one day...again..
0
Tenchan
http://rakuten.japanese-credit-card.com/ You must try Rakuten card, the easiest credit card to get for Gaikoujin
0
Nessie
@movieguy
I upvoted you for this information, but really...can we file this under "F" for "first-world problems"? ;)
0
Nessie
Did you go back?
1
zichi
Don't know. I have never had a credit card, never applied for one. I'm a cash only guy.
-2
It"S ME
I had a CC, no longer use it.
But each bank, etc has their own rules as to who is eligible for them(same rules for japanese and foreigners). Know those rules/requirements before applying.
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