Much, if not most, of the rest of the world doesn't have a credit score either.
This is exactly the function that pawn shops provide in the West, although their usage has dropped significantly since the introduction of consumer credit.
You often have to pay six months of rent in advance to rent. I know lots of people that have been cut off electricity or phone service but you can get it reconnected in hours or less if you pay the bill.
The one nice thing is that there are NO late fees, reconnection fees, overage fees, etc. You just don't get service.
In my corner of the EU, banks require a guarantor (or even two!), plus a copy of your salary slips. And plenty of people are simply not approved.