jesus. at my wits ends trying to get a credit card over here, rejected for everything and tired of it. I tried to apply for the Amazon credit card everyone claims is easy for a foreigner to get, but the name character limit is 18. my name exceeds that.
I dropped one letter from my middle name to make it fit, but when i verify/connect with my bank that’ll pay the card every month, it says “sorry you can’t make a credit card for someone with a different name than you”.
wtf. how does anyone get a card around here with a long ass name like mine?
11 comments
I recently had that problem with an SMBC card. I was able to ask for paper documents where I sent in copies of my drivers license etc. and wrote in my name using a pen. People told me this was the way.
Usually you have to call your credit card company and explain/ask them what to do. That’s what I had to do; for both the companies I have credit cards through, I simply explained that my name was too long to apply online and they sent me extra papers in the mail I could fill out instead, which worked like a charm. They were Rakuten and Ponta cards
I just had this same issue. I’m glad to hear from the comments here that a paper application should work!
You probably have already, but have you tried epos card? I didn’t have any issues with it and I have a long ass name.
I have 4 names I just used two. Middle names aren’t necessary.
Use your first and shortest last name
I just didn’t use my middle name for the rakuten card, and set it up to pay at the conbini at first then did the banking later.
Well you know you can register a second legal name at city hall if you like?
You can register bill Smith 山田太郎 if you like. Once you do that, your 住民票 well be updated to die that name in parenthesis, and you can get your my number card, drivers licence out whatever updated, and then update your bank accounts too.
Source: I know people who have done it.
There is a write-up on turningJapanese.Info.
You will need some evidence that you use that name, but that could be utility bills or a business card.
That should make a lot of things easier.
Also, there are secured credit cards like “life card” that will normally accept just about anyone. (I have some Chinese friends who are self employed who got those).
Is your name also too long in katakana? My first name is too long in english, so I just entered katakana in both fields and I got approved right away.
My name was too long for the amazon credit card as well, and they just sent me a paper application and I got it no problems? Might be worth emailing or calling them.
I have 5 names 🙂 doing the paper application works, but for me applying in person made all those finnicky things easier. So my first credit card (after years of rejections) was a department store card – did the application with a human being who could call up about issues like my name etc. It was much easier.
I had an issue getting an Amazon card recently. Not because of a long name, but some sort of issue with the name on my bank being different. I think I may have written my name in English on the application when my bank is written in katakana or something along those lines. I was unable to set up the automatic bank transfer monthly payment online.
I requested the paper application and set it up that way. Received the card after a few weeks. Seems like paper application is the way to go!