Monday, June 11, 2007

7 Tips to Get a Credit Card if You Have Bad Credit

Yes You Can Get a Credit Card Even if You Have Bad Credit.
In these modern times, owning a credit card is truly a necessity. The advantage and convenience on paying bills and purchase transactions using the plastic cards is needed for today's busy people.
Furthermore, people are not always having sufficient funds to make acquisitions, whether significant or non-significant. Most retailers are also offering perks, discounts and attractive packages for credit card transactions.
Some people are not comfortable keeping cash on their purses. For security purposes, most people, from all works of life, are charging bills and purchases on their credit cards.
But getting a credit card is not as easy as using them on transactions. Although there are numerous banks and financial institutions, securing a credit card account is truly difficult because there are many considerations.
Credit history is among the most crucial factor that determines your capability to secure a credit card account. This is the particular aspect of consumers' finance standing that make getting that plastic card a really tough task.
If you are among those people who have poor credit history, or more known in the lending lingo as bad credit, you are surely headed for a tough time in getting a credit card.
Why? It is because most credit card issuers are preferring to give out credit cards only to those who are less risky and are proven to handle or repay any debts that may accumulate from credit card transactions.
The surge in volume of credit card users in the past years is now starting to pay off. Many credit card firms have been encountering difficulties collecting payments from people who have spent more on their credit card transactions than what they can actually pay for.
Even regulators are enforcing safeguards that would disallow credit card issuers from easily providing credit facilities to customers. The idea is to make sure the past mistakes on credit card approvals will not be repeated.
Guidelines for credit card applications for people with bad credit
But if you are really desperate to get a credit card despite your bad credit standing, you should not lose hope. As they say, if there is a will, there is definitely a way.
Before embarking on the initiative to get credit card, you should first ask yourself whether you really need one, or whether you will be able to handle it properly.
Your paying capacity should also be noted, because you surely would not want to get yourself under huge pile of debts from future credit card charges and transactions.
Here are seven simple tips that would help you get a credit card, especially if you are among those people who are categorized as having bad credit records.
1. There are credit card facilities currently available in the market especially structured for people like you. Bad credit cards are scattered all over the place and many banks and financial institutions are starting to offer them.
Bad credit cards are different from the regular credit cards in that these cards are designed and made especially for people with bad credit standing. The terms and conditions are much flexible, though the credit limit is also substantially lower.
However, you need to open one to establish your credit history. If you have successfully opened a bad credit card account, make sure to pay on time and control your spending, so you could tarnish your records. After some time, your standing will elevate into good credit, and so you would be able to get regular credit card facilities.
2. For a start, you could also open credit card accounts at minor retail stores. Retailers are often more than willing to provide you the lean chance to own a credit card so you could make purchases at their stores.
3. If you are applying for a regular credit card, you must first find a friend or relative who will be willing to sign in as your co-guarantor. That means, if you fail to pay bills in the future, the co-guarantor will allow the credit card issuer to charge your dues to him or to her.
4. If you can help it, try getting credit cards from any issuer or bank but not from a single store or retail chain. If you are aiming to use the card on purchases from a retailer, it is advisable to get a credit card from that retail chain. Otherwise, secure an account from other institutions who are giving more flexible and better terms.
5. Avoid getting credit cards that require annual fees. There are many other credit card issuers that do not collect yearly charges on memberships. You should get a waived-annual-fee credit card as much as possible especially if your budget is strained.
6. If the above mentioned measures fail, then resort to getting a secured credit card facility. Secured credit cards will require you to have or open an existing savings account in a bank that would serve as a security for your credit line. The credit limit that would be implemented in your credit card account will equate to a percentage of your total deposits in your savings account.
7. Finally, to open a credit card when you have bad credit history, you simply have to uphold your rights. If a credit card company denies you an account, demand a written statement why your application was turned down. Ask for a copy of your credit standing so you would have a reference and determine how you could improve your records.
Some people will surely advise you not to get a credit card instead. If you have enough money to spend, then just stick to your paying power.
But if you really need one, then go for it. Just make sure you have the intention to pay your bills on time so you would not have problems in the future.

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