How can I build my credit when I have no credit and no one will approve me for a credit card?
tjoman asked:
I’m married and have a car that was paid for in full, no mortgage (we rent), and I stay at home with our son. My husband has credit, although there are more negative items on his reports than positive ones. I have tried to apply for store credit cards (Kohl’s, JC Penny, etc) and I have also applied for a Chase credit card; I was turned down by all of these.
I’m married and have a car that was paid for in full, no mortgage (we rent), and I stay at home with our son. My husband has credit, although there are more negative items on his reports than positive ones. I have tried to apply for store credit cards (Kohl’s, JC Penny, etc) and I have also applied for a Chase credit card; I was turned down by all of these.
Best thing to do is to save up for a secured credit card and pay for it on time for a period of a year or so, this card will be reported to the three major credit bureaus, and then after this apply for one of these credit cards (unsecured).
They are really tightning up on it these days. Go to your local bank and ask them. Try it in your name only. They usuely start you out small like $300. Then you gradually work your way up.
This really is an epic catch-22, and it’s gotten even worse with the irresponsibility of many cardholders today. Save a little money (few hundred) and get a secured credit card. Make purchases and pay off the balance every month, eventually it will build.
If you were denied because of lack of credit in your name, follow the suggestions above related to secured cards or a small loan at a bank.
If you were denied because of negative items on your spouse’s credit report, consider divorcing, applying for credit as a single person, getting approved, and then remarrying.
1) ask your relative, or a good friend who has had good credit to add you as an authorized user on their credit card(they don’t need to give you a card). This should boost your score, theirs will not be hurt by you.
2) As you mentioned above, if you need a credit card now, a secured credit card might not be a bad idea. Please visit to research a secured credit card for you. I would recommend the Bank of America - Secured Visa® Card as BofA later might give you an option to upgrade to one of their regular cards.
There are many credit cards available to people with poor / no credit. Orchard Bank and First Premier are two of the most popular issuers. You’ll also have to decide between ’secured’ and ‘unsecured’. Since you won’t pay a security deposit with an unsecured credit card, I would try that first.
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This is a good article on improving your credit,
there are a couple of ways you could start building credit, you could get a small personal loan which you might need a cosigner or the best way will be getting a credit cards, you could get a credit card and use it for your every day expenses but make sure you pay in full at the end of the month that way it will show pay in full everytime the credit card company reports to the credit beuros. At the begining you will only be approved for the lower end credit cards but once you build credit in about 6-9 months you should be able to apply for a better card with better benefits such as free miles or cash back. Check out and go under bad or no credit section and you will find a few choices.
it really is quite a hard to have that financial freedom, if you have bad credit.. good news is that there are companies that offer savings/checking accounts, credit cards, etc for people with bad or no credit… the deals are not as great as when we have good credit but we have to start somewhere… to show stability, you could open a savings account… and handling your credit card well can also slowly build up your credit… have a couple of sites here that i think can help you out…