Monday, August 11, 2008

Not Everyone Has Perfect Credit

Not everyone has perfect credit. However, just because your credit history is a little tarnished doesn' t mean that you can' t get a credit card.



As a matter of fact, most people have had instances where it was difficult to pay the bills on time or some other problem that has affected their credit. If your credit score is particularly low because of little or no credit you may be limited in your choices for a credit card, but it is still possible to obtain one. Lenders take several things into consideration when deciding whether or not to approve a credit card application. Your credit score isn' t the only thing that a provider will look into when you apply for a credit card. Your overall credit history includes any late payments, if any, how much, credit you already have available and how much debt you currently owe. An applicant with a steady job and income will look more favorably than someone with a spotty employment history.


A potential lender will also look at your employment situation. If things are still not looking in your favor, there are a few things you can do to help your credit. Don' t apply for several credit cards at once. Pay off your current creditors as soon as you can, and avoid late payments as much as possible. Every time you apply, your credit score is affected negatively. Don' t apply for just any card. There are specific cards for people with little or poor credit.


Do some research and find out what credit card is most likely to accept your credit. Chances are you won' t have a very high credit line available to you either. Credit cards that are designed for people with less than perfect credit histories almost always have a higher interest rate than a typical credit card. However, just having the card can be very beneficial for you in the long run. And there are many situations where a credit card is necessary such as renting a car or a hotel room. It's always important to have a credit card for emergencies. If you have obtained a higher- interest card because of poor credit history, you should probably not carry a balance on it.


A good option if you have poor credit history is to get a secured credit card. The best way to take advantage of it is to put a few purchases here and there on it to build up some good credit. With this type of credit card, you make a cash deposit on the card which it deducts from when you use the card. As you can see, even without perfect credit there are still options to obtain a credit card. It works very much like a debit card, but a secured credit card will earn interest, and can help improve your credit score as you continue to make deposits to cover your purchases. Do some research and compare different credit cards online before your apply. Choose your card carefully and manage it wisely and you will be on your way to better credit and more options with future credit cards.

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