Moved to CM from US in 2020 but had set up and continue to use a friend's address in our old zip code.

I wanted an additional fee free US debit card, so applied for a Capital One account in 2022. It went smoothly and quickly using friends address. In 2025 we decided to also get the Cap1 credit card... also no foreign transaction fees and the 1.5% cash rebate makes the effective exchange rate excellent. That application also went smoothly except for getting the cards delivered to Thailand without Cap1 knowing we lived here. My friend got lazy and didn't deliver the cards to another acquaintance that was headed to CM.

Our credit rating while living in US was around 830 and stayed there for years after moving. Lately, it has dropped slowly to around 800-810. We usually charge only our medical expenses and our monthly True phone and internet bills.

On 8/1/2023 at 5:08 PM, NanLaew said:

Where do the credit agencies get this address information on ANYONE from?

 

Now back to the hypothetical customer who now lives overseas and has successfully opened an account at the SDFCU with NO home address information requested or given. What would show as his credit score when he logs in?

I have an account at the SDFCU. The credit score thing is something you have to opt in for. I've never bothered, as I have that function on my Capital One account online.

On 3/7/2026 at 6:59 PM, Jingthing said:

Any recent experiences from expats with U.S. credit cards in Thailand that you'd care to report about?

One thing I found interesting is my Apple Card. When you first open an account in the USA, they send you a titanium card which you have to validate while in the USA. You also have the credit card function on your IPhone, but the account number is different on the phone than it is on the actual card. Anyway, my original titanium card expired while I was in Thailand, and they sent a new one to my USA address. But it can't be validated unless me and my phone are back in the USA and I haven't been back yet. But, the credit function on my phone was renewed automatically, with a new expiration date. And supposedly, that will continue to happen every time it expires, whether I'm in the USA or not. So, I never use the titanium card, but can still use Apple Pay, and I use that all the time for groceries and such. You can also use it for online hotel reservations, online merchants that accept Apple Pay, or at the Apple Store online.

Currently, the Apple Card is being managed by Goldman Sachs, but the plan is for a transition to Chase sometime soon.

As for the original question about maintaining a credit score? Why not? Unless you simply don't care about credit, but life without a credit card can be problematic. Making hotel reservations, for example. Or renting a car. Having a credit card is often very helpful and sometimes necessary.

1 hour ago, jas007 said:

One thing I found interesting is my Apple Card. When you first open an account in the USA, they send you a titanium card which you have to validate while in the USA. You also have the credit card function on your IPhone, but the account number is different on the phone than it is on the actual card. Anyway, my original titanium card expired while I was in Thailand, and they sent a new one to my USA address. But it can't be validated unless me and my phone are back in the USA and I haven't been back yet. But, the credit function on my phone was renewed automatically, with a new expiration date. And supposedly, that will continue to happen every time it expires, whether I'm in the USA or not. So, I never use the titanium card, but can still use Apple Pay, and I use that all the time for groceries and such. You can also use it for online hotel reservations, online merchants that accept Apple Pay, or at the Apple Store online.

Currently, the Apple Card is being managed by Goldman Sachs, but the plan is for a transition to Chase sometime soon.

As for the original question about maintaining a credit score? Why not? Unless you simply don't care about credit, but life without a credit card can be problematic. Making hotel reservations, for example. Or renting a car. Having a credit card is often very helpful and sometimes necessary.

I'm guessing it has already transferred to Chase, as Chase is hounding me to get it.

3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I'm guessing it has already transferred to Chase, as Chase is hounding me to get it.

According to Grok, Chase announced in January 22026 that it will become the new issuer, but the transition isn't expected for around 24 months, sometime in 2028. Currently, Goldman still manages the accounts.

1 hour ago, jas007 said:

One thing I found interesting is my Apple Card. When you first open an account in the USA, they send you a titanium card which you have to validate while in the USA. You also have the credit card function on your IPhone, but the account number is different on the phone than it is on the actual card. Anyway, my original titanium card expired while I was in Thailand, and they sent a new one to my USA address. But it can't be validated unless me and my phone are back in the USA and I haven't been back yet. But, the credit function on my phone was renewed automatically, with a new expiration date. And supposedly, that will continue to happen every time it expires, whether I'm in the USA or not. So, I never use the titanium card, but can still use Apple Pay, and I use that all the time for groceries and such. You can also use it for online hotel reservations, online merchants that accept Apple Pay, or at the Apple Store online.

Currently, the Apple Card is being managed by Goldman Sachs, but the plan is for a transition to Chase sometime soon.

As for the original question about maintaining a credit score? Why not? Unless you simply don't care about credit, but life without a credit card can be problematic. Making hotel reservations, for example. Or renting a car. Having a credit card is often very helpful and sometimes necessary.

We'll be moving back as soon as my affairs here are in order, and I will use my credit back there to get another mortgage, along with buying things. If you're going to stay in Thailand there isn't a need to worry, unless you're going to buy something substantial from overseas and have it delivered here, along with those credit cards or possible loans from back home.

5 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

We'll be moving back as soon as my affairs here are in order, and I will use my credit back there to get another mortgage, along with buying things. If you're going to stay in Thailand there isn't a need to worry, unless you're going to buy something substantial from overseas and have it delivered here, along with those credit cards or possible loans from back home.

Whether you care about your credit score or not, it's usually a good idea to have a credit card or two in case you need one. Renting a car, buying a plane ticket online, booking travel arrangements, or paying a minibar deposit for a hotel stay. If you have a credit card, it's all easy.

52 minutes ago, jas007 said:

Whether you care about your credit score or not, it's usually a good idea to have a credit card or two in case you need one. Renting a car, buying a plane ticket online, booking travel arrangements, or paying a minibar deposit for a hotel stay. If you have a credit card, it's all easy.

Or hospital

On 7/5/2026 at 4:42 PM, Yellowtail said:

Or hospital

YES. The last thing anybody would want would be to need a credit card to pay some hospital charges and not have one.

For example, I have insurance that pays inpatient care in full, with no limit. Estimated surgery charges were submitted and approved, but there was a "cost overrun," so to speak, and when it came to check out the morning after surgery, they wanted that additional money paid. I suppose I could have said no, but I talked tot he lady in accounting and she assured me that if I paid the bill with a credit card and the additional charges were subsequently approved, the hospital would refund my card immediately. So I paid with a credit card and a day later they called me to let me know that they would credit my account for the additional money I paid. For some reason I had to go back to the hospital with the physical card for that to happen, but I was staying just a short walk away, so no big deal.

I haven't read all the posts but wanted to clarify a couple of posts regarding SDFCU. I opened the account with my Thai address.

Credit score is only shown when logging in if you have signed up for it with your credentials. I have not done this.

SDFCU is partnered with WISE and transfers are accomplished in their entirety in seconds, no need for SWIFT unless you are trying to save on transfer fees (the WISE transfer fee for 10,000 USD is approximately 75USD).

Their VISA card is a 2% cash back card on all purchases.

22 hours ago, Siam71 said:

I haven't read all the posts but wanted to clarify a couple of posts regarding SDFCU. I opened the account with my Thai address.

Credit score is only shown when logging in if you have signed up for it with your credentials. I have not done this.

SDFCU is partnered with WISE and transfers are accomplished in their entirety in seconds, no need for SWIFT unless you are trying to save on transfer fees (the WISE transfer fee for 10,000 USD is approximately 75USD).

Their VISA card is a 2% cash back card on all purchases.

I haven't signed up for the WISE function yet. I started to do that, but the email address I used was supposedly already on file. Maybe I started to sign up for WISE once before, or maybe I did't. I didn't want to waste time figuring it out, so I just transfer money using the international wire function. It's $35 a pop, but I only do it once in a while, so on a monthly basis it's no big deal.