| |
| |
|
Credit Information |
|
|
|
Save This Page allspectrum.info Resource exchange submission form: Secured Credit Cards- Consumer Tips
Whether you have no credit or damaged credit, secured credit cards are a good tool for building a good credit history. Several months ago Tom, a member of CreditBoards.com, filed for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Now he is in the process of rebuilding his credit history. It's a task that is not easy, but with patient persistence he is seeing progress already. Daily he checks his credit score and is slowly seeing improvement. 1 - In addition to correcting every mistake, even the smallest ones, on his credit report, he is using a secured credit card. 2 - This secured card is an important tool in the overall process of building or rebuilding credit. Who should consider a secured credit card? Someone who has no credit history. Someone with a damaged credit history. What is a secured credit card? Secured cards are credit cards opened with a deposit into a savings account, money market or certificate of deposit. The amount of deposit required varies from card to card, but generally minimum amounts range from $250 - $500. These funds are considered your security and will even earn a little interest since they are being held in a savings account. Your credit limit is determined by the amount you deposit into the savings account. Sometimes the limit will be for the full amount of the deposit; other times it will be a percentage of the total. It is important to keep in mind that a secured card is a credit card, not a debit card. If full payments are not made each month, then interest is charged on the outstanding balance. And the lending institution uses the security money to pay off the debt only as a last resort. Even though the card is secured, it is still possible to damage credit. What are the benefits of a secured credit card? Establishing credit. If you have never had a credit card, a good first step in establishing good credit is applying for a secured credit card. Assistant Professor of Economics at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN, Jerry Plummer says, "A secured card is most useful for the person starting out on their credit history, since it says that the person is willing to take the extra step to establish credit." Reestablishing credit. If your credit history is damaged, you may only be able to qualify for a secured credit card. Using this secured card appropriately and within the set parameters will help rebuild your credit and qualify you for an unsecured card. If you have had to file for bankruptcy, however, you may not qualify until it has been discharged. Preset limit cannot be exceeded. If poor spending habits were part of the cause for bad credit, then a secured credit card will help keep spending in check. Useful for transactions that require a credit card. Hotels and car rentals require the use of a credit card. If you don't qualify for an unsecured card but you do for a secured card, then you are still able to make the transaction. What should I look for or avoid when shopping for a secured credit card? Fees. This is the area you will really want to research when shopping for a secured credit card. Some cards will come with fees that run into the hundreds of dollars, eating away much of the credit you secured with the savings account. Professor Plummer says a card with no fee is the best, but a small one-time fee can be okay. Annual fees for attractive secured cards typically range from $20-$35. Be sure to watch out for hidden fees such as "registration charges" and "setup fees." Interest Rate. Just because you have no or poor credit doesn't mean you have to settle for the highest interest rate. Interest rates for attractive secured cards should not exceed 19%. Shop around and get the most competitive rate available. Read the fine print. Linda Tucker, Director of Education for Consumer Credit Counseling Service for Arkansas and Memphis, TN, stresses the importance of reading the fine print. Doing so will let you know your exact obligations to the issuing company: for example, the grace period, what happens if you don't make a full payment, and what fees are attached if you don't make the full payment. Understanding these details will help make sure you are not further damaging your credit. Fraudulent Offers. As with unsecured cards you need to watch out for fraudulent offers.The Federal Trade Commission gives the following advice to protect yourself from credit card fraud:
When will I qualify for an unsecured credit card? It can take several months to see an improvement in your credit history. Bankrate says it's a good indicator when you start receiving flyers in the mail for unsecured cards that your credit is improving. However, it's a good idea to continue taking things slowly. Using a secured card will help you learn healthy habits so that when you do get an unsecured credit card you remain in control of your spending and credit. Where can I find a secured credit card? Most companies don't advertise secured cards. But you can visit the Card Reports section of http://www.CardRatings.com to find out where and how to apply. Click on the link entitled "Cards for Consumers with Poor or No Credit". Other tips Tom recommends sticking with only one or two cards and keeping spending to a minimum. The goal is to pay the card off each month. Tucker emphasizes the importance of paying the amount due each month; otherwise late fees can be charged, interest rates raised, privileges lost, and credit history negatively affected. Make sure you are getting a credit card as opposed to a gas card or a department store card. Make sure a reputable bank or credit union, even a local one, is issuing the card. And, don't automatically assume a bank is issuing the card. Not all issuers report to the three major credit agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). It's important to get a card that does report to all three agencies; otherwise you will be wasting your time. Fortunately, secured cards normally report to the credit agencies just like unsecured cards (you should verify this before applying). If you have filed for bankruptcy, you may need to wait until it has been discharged before qualifying for a secured card. Get one only if you cannot get credit, since you have no credit record; or if you have poor credit. Plummer says, "Many companies will not even count them as credit, such as automobile F&I (Finance and Insurance) people, although they will not admit it." So, if you don't really need a secured card, you will be doing more harm than good. Finally, whatever situation you are in, no credit or poor credit, the best way to build good credit is to set up a budget and then stick with it. 1 You can pay membership fees to any one of the three credit bureaus - Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax- to be able to check your credit score online daily. Visit our Credit Information section for more details. Tom recommends purchasing Microsoft Money 2004, which comes with a one-year membership to Experian (value of $99.00). 2 To find out more about correcting errors on your credit report, read our article How to Correct Mixed or Split Credit Reports. About The Author Amy Cooper-Arnold is a staff writer for http://www.CardRatings.com. Amy has been employed in various accounting-related positions. She will graduate this December from Austin Peay State University with a degree in English.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Identity Theft - How Can You Prevent It Happening to You? The nightmare of identity theft strikes an estimated 750,000 people every year. How can you keep from being one of them? While there is no guarantee that you won't become a victim, there are some steps you can take to decrease the risk and protect yourself. Balance Transfers Introduction Credit card balance transfer involves using a credit card to pay off the amount outstanding on one or more credit/store cards. The total debt then moves to one card. Is it Safe to Use Online Car Finance? Online car finance is convenient. You can apply over the net and shop around for a good deal from the comfort of your home. How Can A Qualified Mortgage Consultant Help Boost Your Credit Scores? Consumers interested in purchasing or refinancing a home will pay an interest rate based on current market conditions and their ability to pay back the loan. The borrower's income and debt ratios are taken into consideration by the lender, as well as the predictability factor provided by credit scoring. Credit Report - How Your Credit Score is Determined Most consumers are aware that they have something known as a credit report that is used to determine whether or not they would qualify for a loan. Fewer are familiar with the FICO score, a creation of the Fair, Isaac, and Co. Credit Score - for Scoring the Right Loan Somebody once said, "There is always a way of knowing your limitations and going beyond it." It is fundamentally true with respect of credit score. Credit Cards or Store Cards - Which Is Better? Introduction In this article, a presentation is made of the differences between major credit cards and credit cards offered by specific stores to their customers. The purpose of this article is to provide a general overview of major credit cards and store cards to aid consumers in making decisions regarding which lines of credit lines would be the best for them in a given set of circumstances. Rebuild Your Credit the Right Way the First Time If you are one of the millions of people out there with bad credit you need to step up and start doing something to get yourself back into credits good graces. Having good credit is the only way to assure that you will get the best interest rates on any loans and credit cards that you apply for. Legislators Ponder New Credit Protection Laws Legislators in Washington, D.C. 7 Surefire Ways To Repair Bad Credit Do you have a poor credit rating? If so, you are one of tens of thousands of Americans with the same problem. In fact, it seems that this has become a national 'disease. Credit Report - Watch Out for Parking Tickets The economic downturn of the last five years has affected millions of Americans, but it has also affected the budgets of states, cities and counties. With limited tax dollars with which to work, various government entities have had to try to stretch their budgets to allow them to continue to function. Student Credit Cards STUDENT CREDIT CARDS With graduate debt averaging over £12,000, the ability to spread the cost of further education using a student credit card is obviously attractive. Adding to their appeal is the fact that these cards are relatively easy to obtain. SuperCharged Secret 5, Credit Card Utopia LIVING IN CREDIT CARD UTOPIALet's just take a brief moment to recap:If you've been following along on this journey with me, learning the 5 Super-Charged secrets to Credit Card Utopia, then you now know 4 very important things:You now know how to take advantage of zero to low interest credit card offers.You now know that there is safety in numbers, and you know the magic "Who's Who" of the major credit card companies. Credit Enhancements: Seven Tips For Enhancing Business Credit Transactions What are the avenues available to businesses with weak credit profiles or to companies pursuing credit transactions that are perceived as too risky by credit providers? Many companies apply for credit at banks, finance companies or equipment leasing firms and are routinely rejected due to the high degree of perceived credit risks. When approaching a credit provider, it is helpful to understand what can be done to reduce the risk of a credit transaction in the eyes of the provider. Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle! Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle! (Part 1 of 2 on Credit Scoring)Just when most people finish with school and can stop worrying about test scores, there's a new kind of scoring that enters the picture. It's called credit scoring. Making Sense of the Information in Your Credit Report If you've ever applied for a credit card or loan, you've probably had your credit report reviewed by the lender. Your credit report has a huge impact on your financial future, so it's well worth your time to be sure that you understand what your credit report says about you. All Is Fair In Love, War, and, Your Credit Report - At Least It Should Be! Understanding the FCRA Fact: Over 150 million Americans have credit report with the three major credit reporting agencies. Approximately 50 million of these credit reports contain errors, many of which are inaccurate. Defeating Credit Card Debt With Self Control Credit card debt is a major social problem in some Western countries. To rid yourself of credit card debt, it is best to recognize the problem as both a social and individual problem. Various Types of Credit Cards - Part 2 Several different types of credit cards offer several different options, depending on what your needs are. Some are geared toward individual consumers while others are set up in ways that work best for small business needs. Why Americans Find Predatory Lending Offensive "Menis - the author translates as "indignant rage" - It is the kind of rage arising from social betrayal that impairs a person's dignity through violation of "what's right." (p21), Achilles In Viet Nam - Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character, Jonathan Shay, M.
|
car loan with bad credit or no credit
yes car credit
used car bad credit
bad credit car loan financing
car n credit
bad credit car financing
refinance car with bad credit
car no credit check
buy a car with bad credit
car bad credit
car credit center
bad credit car finance
buying a car with bad credit
buy a new car with bad credit
car no credit
bad credit car dealer
car loan bad credit history
car rental without credit card
no credit card car rental
car loan for people with bad credit
no credit car loan
carecredit
new car bad credit
refinancing car loan with bad credit
bad credit need car
bad credit car refinancing
how to get a car loan with bad credit
© 2006
