NEED a CREDIT
CARD NOW
?

Read the top guide on how
to get a CREDIT CARD NOW
and find what you're
looking for!

Having bad credit won't
prevent you from getting a
credit card, but it will make it
more difficult. Follow these
steps to get a credit card
despite your bad credit. Need
a credit card now?

1.  Apply for credit cards at
smaller retail stores.
Sometimes these companies
are more willing to give you a
chance. If your application is
accepted, make a small
purchase and pay at least the
minimum payment every
month and on time. (If you pay
more than the minimum
payment, you won't pay as
much in interest charges.)   2.  
Go to your bank, savings
institution or credit union. If
they already have your
business, they may be more
willing to give you a credit
card.
Need a credit card
now?
3.  Apply for a secured credit
card if all else fails. You will be
required to open and maintain
a savings account as security
for your line of credit. Your
credit line will be a percentage
of your deposit.   4.  Ask a
friend or family member to
co-sign for a credit card.
Remember that their credit
counts as well, so choose
someone with good credit. If
you can't pay back the loan,
they must, and it will appear
as a blemish on their credit
rating.    While you are trying
to get a credit card, keep
paying all your other bills on
time.   Need a credit card now?
Once you get a credit card,
you'll start getting offers for
other cards in the mail. Be
wise: You should have no
more than three credit cards -
one or two with a small credit
limit and one with a larger limit
for emergencies.    Don't get a
credit card from a single store
or chain of stores. Use Visa,
MasterCard, Discover or
American Express, as these
are widely accepted. Need a
credit card now?
Do not get a credit card that
has an annual fee. There are
lots of credit cards available
that don't charge annual fees.  
  If you are denied credit, by
law the issuing company has
to tell you why. Request a free
credit report to see what is in
it.   Don't overspend. Use your
credit cards to your
advantage. Only buy
something that you can pay for
in cash. This will keep you
from buying more than you
can afford.    Many credit
cards carry interest rates of 18
to 21 percent. If you cannot
pay off your balance every
month, you are spending more
than you can afford and need
to stop using your credit card
until you can pay off the
balance.    Credit card interest
is not tax to rebuild credit the
quickest, never charge more
than 50% of your credit limit
and never carry a balance
more than 50% of your limit
(although tempting). Also, do
not pay balance in full each
month, but do no let a balance
carry for more than 6 months
(if you can easily pay it off).
Optimal would be to revolve 1
month, pay in full the next, and
keep this cycle. In 18 months
you will have established very
good credit ratings.
CREDIT CARD GUIDE CONTINUED FROM PART 1 ON THE
LEFT HAND SIDE  OF THIS PAGE


NEED a CREDIT
CARD NOW
?

Read the top guide -part 2- on how
to get a CREDIT CARD NOW and
Find what you're looking for!

HOW TO ESTABLISH GOOD
CREDIT AND GET A CREDIT CARD!
If you've never had credit in your own name, it
can be difficult to get a car loan or credit card.
Having no credit history can be as much of a
problem as having a bad credit history.
Students, other young people, and newly
divorced or widowed women who have always
obtained credit jointly with their husbands often
find themselves in this situation.
Need a
credit card now?

It seems like a vicious circle: you can't get credit
because you've never had credit, but you've
never had credit because you can't get credit.
What's a person to do?
Don't despair. Here are a few tips to help you
establish credit in your own name.
~ The best way to establish a credit history is to
apply for a small loan or line of credit from your
local bank or a credit card from a local
department store. Ask whether they report to a
credit bureau. If they don't, having the card or
loan won't help you establish credit. Need a
credit card now?
~ To get a credit card without a cosigner, you
must be at least 18 years old and have a
source of steady income. Gas cards are
relatively easy to get. Apply for one and use it
to establish credit, but pay it off every month to
show that you can pay your bills responsibly.
Need a credit card now?

~ If you can't get a small loan or gas or
department credit card on your own, try to find
someone to co-sign for you. Again, make
payments regularly and on time.
~ Increase your chances of getting the loan
you're applying for by coming up with a large
down payment. If you don't have the cash,
consider borrowing from a family member.
Need a credit card now?

~ If you don't have a checking account, open
one. You have very little credibility with lenders
if you don't have at least a checking account
and preferably a savings account as well. Need
a credit card now?
~ Just as importantly, be sure not to overdraw
your bank account. Bouncing checks sends a
signal to potential lenders that you can't
manage your daily finances and are therefore
not a good credit risk.
~ Know what lenders and credit card issuers
look for when issuing credit. There are other
factors that affect credit approval besides just
your payment history, such as how often you
move and how often you change jobs. It also
helps if you've had an apartment or utility in
your own name. If you don't have a telephone
number in your own name, you may find it more
difficult to get credit.
Need a credit card
now?

~ If worse comes to worst, you may find it
necessary to get a secured credit card. These
cards require you to deposit money in an
account to secure the loan or credit limit, and
they often have fees and higher interest rates.
If you default on your payments, the lender
takes the money from your account. After a few
months of making payments on time on the
secured credit card, you may be able to obtain
a regular credit card. Remember to make sure
the company reports to a credit bureau before
applying for a secured card, or the card won't
help you establish a credit history.
Need a
credit card now?

Before you apply for a credit card or car loan,
get your ducks all lined up. Think like a lender.
Applying to a number of credit cards in a short
period of time can decrease your chances of
getting approved. Need a credit card now?

Lenders see this activity on your credit report
and steer clear because they think you're
getting in over your head, so pick and choose
carefully and have a plan of action. Need a
credit card now?

Being rejected for credit can also look bad.
Apply only to cards whose requirements you
are likely to meet. Need a credit card now?
Read the small print and call the company to
make sure your income and other factors
qualify you for the card. Just because you get
an offer in the mail doesn't mean you qualify.
With careful planning and a little knowledge of
how lenders issue credit, you CAN establish a
credit history fairly painlessly.
Need a credit
card now?
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