How I feel now, after yesterday's racist.

[American Oyaji]

Unless AO had something to do with his neighbor's untimely demise...

There was some guilt feelings CS. I tried to save him, but he didn't make it.
He was 75 years old and had a massive heart attack right in front of me.

[matsuki]

There was some guilt feelings CS. I tried to save him, but he didn't make it.
He was 75 years old and had a massive heart attack right in front of me.

Dood! How can you feel guilty about that? (unless you used a voodoo doll on em) You did what you could, sorry for your loss. At least you tried to save him!



Back onto the racism topic but being half Native American but looking white is always fun to explain to Japanese. Where did my father's come from? America, was he an immigrant? Nope.

As to racism in Japan, my latest gripe is my past 3 years of failure, attempting to get a credit card here. I was at Costco a few weeks ago (after hearing how easy their Orico card is to get for foreigners) and the lady at the desk wouldn't let me use my Japanese DL or health ins. card as ID. She demanded my gaijin reg. card or said I'd have to apply online. I asked her to show me the list of acceptable forms of ID and sure enough, there it was (in English as well) DL, Health Insurance Card, gaijin reg. card, etc. When I pointed it out, she started explaining that despite what was on the document in her hand, she was specifically instructed to only accept gaijin reg., cards as ID's for foreigners. Online application accepted my DL just fine. (and yet I was denied a week later ) Same stable job and residence for the past 2 years, not a single neg. mark against me other than denied credit applications (yes, I actually checked) and still, nothing. No ETC card for me...

[Mike Oxlong]

D
As to racism in Japan, my latest gripe is my past 3 years of failure, attempting to get a credit card here. I was at Costco a few weeks ago (after hearing how easy their Orico card is to get for foreigners) and the lady at the desk wouldn't let me use my Japanese DL or health ins. card as ID. She demanded my gaijin reg. card or said I'd have to apply online. I asked her to show me the list of acceptable forms of ID and sure enough, there it was (in English as well) DL, Health Insurance Card, gaijin reg. card, etc. When I pointed it out, she started explaining that despite what was on the document in her hand, she was specifically instructed to only accept gaijin reg., cards as ID's for foreigners. Online application accepted my DL just fine. (and yet I was denied a week later ) Same stable job and residence for the past 2 years, not a single neg. mark against me other than denied credit applications (yes, I actually checked) and still, nothing. No ETC card for me...

This thread might help give you some ideas...
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18413

[matsuki]

This thread might help give you some ideas...
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18413

Thanks, hadn't read that one yet.

I haven't yet given up but let me just say that since I have two middle names and experiences a ton of headaches with it right off the bat, one of the first things I did when I came here was register a Katakana/Kanji version of my name that made life easier here. (all my bills, health insurance, etc etc use that version of my name) I paid a visit to the credit reporting agencies offices and checked what they had on me (nothing but the previous application attempts) and I've been pretty cautious about which cards I've applied for as well as the issuing banks. It honestly seems like there is some system at play other than the credit reporting agencies. In the U.S., I thin they require the credit issuers to tell you why they are denying you credit if they deny you. Over here, seems like they don't have to and won't.

[American Oyaji]

Do you have a registered hanko? There are a LOT of doors that opened up after I got a hanko that was registered at the city office.

[CrankyBastard]

staying off topic: pick up an application form for a JCB Gold card, fill it in and send it off. After the first refusal, ask why, and keep applying until it gets accepted.

[Yokohammer]

Cranky is right, you gotta keep nagging them. You'll almost certainly get turned down the first time out these days, especially with no credit history. You'll find that some places will talk to you, and some will slam the door in your face. I found that American Express (Japan) wouldn't even talk to me, so I have vowed never to have one of their POS cards. Citibank, on the other hand, were willing to talk and were very helpful. You might want to give them a try.

[damn name]

...

[Samurai_Jerk]

What I can't understand is the inconsistency. I got an Amex through Shinsei Bank when I was a fresh off the boat on a pre-college visa and had no job but got rejected for a Shinsei Bank Visa a couple of years later when I had a job that paid well. When I applied for the Amex they did ask if I had a US Amex. I did and they took the card number so I guess there is some communication between the Japan office and others overseas.

[Yokohammer]

It's interesting how our experiences differ. I found Citibank to be dreadful to deal with. Oh well, maybe the person on the other end of the line determines our fate.

It may just come down to that. When I tried to speak to Amex they just kept repeating the same "we have our own internal screening system" mantra and would not give me any further information, no matter how nicely I asked. I was not rude or aggressive at all, they were utterly unwilling to help. But like I said, Citibank were great. Really helpful.

I've been here around 40 years, have permanent residency, speak/read/write the lingo up and down, have no debt, have been running my own company here for the past 25 years, have been married to a (the same) Japanese woman for the past 30 years, no criminal record ... blah, blah, blah ... but it was still an unbelievable pain in the arse just to get a simple credit card. Of course once you have one then it's a lot easier to get others, but one is usually enough, eh?

EDIT: Damn Name ... looks like you zapped your post ... have second thoughts or something? Was it the bit about flashing those blue eyes?

[matsuki]

Do you have a registered hanko? There are a LOT of doors that opened up after I got a hanko that was registered at the city office.

Yeah, both a reg. hanko as well as a jitsuin. (had them made when I first got here as my apartment contract couldn't be made without them. Thing is, most credit cards seem to encourage online application nowadays, which means no stamping or signing...and also prevents you from sending copies of any earnings documentation as evidence...maybe that's where I'm going wrong??

What I can't understand is the inconsistency.

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...but then again, if I ever had to choose a word to describe Japan, I think "inconsistent" would be my top choice.

Cranky is right, you gotta keep nagging them. You'll almost certainly get turned down the first time out these days, especially with no credit history. You'll find that some places will talk to you, and some will slam the door in your face. I found that American Express (Japan) wouldn't even talk to me, so I have vowed never to have one of their POS cards. Citibank, on the other hand, were willing to talk and were very helpful. You might want to give them a try.

Not 100% sure about Japan but repeated application attempts actually lower your credit score in the U.S. so are not advisable. (and not likely to receive a card that way either) But yeah, Japan may be different and with no credit history, not sure if that concept applies? (Anyone know how long it takes for a rejection note on your credit history to disappear? I'm guessing 1 year?)