How to Get a Credit Card with Less Than Perfect Credit

August 13th, 2010

To get on the fast track to a better credit score, one of the best ways to build up your credit and start developing a solid payment history is to get a credit card. You might think, “how can I get a credit card if my credit is bad, especially in the credit crunch?”, but you’re in luck. It just may cost you a bit more than usual, but that cost is worth a jump in your credit score.

Bad Credit Cards That are Good for Poor Credit

Credit cards do exist for those with poor credit. As with anything, they do come with a catch:

- Interest rates are often high – as high as 20% or more for certain cards. You can find cards that have a considerably lower interest rate. They are out there – You just need to look for them.

- Tons of additional fees tacked on each month or year. Get ready to pay a minimal monthly fee, start up fees and an annual fee, as well as regular finance charges and interest on your balance.

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- Low line of credit to start

So, in order to rebuild your credit, it will come at a price. Regardless of what skeptics say, having one of these cards can shoot your credit score up quite a few points. It also gives you a piece of credit to show a solid payment history for.

Other Credit Card Options for Poor Credit

Another option for those with poor credit are secured credit cards. The approval process for these allows nearly anyone to get accepted for a card. The way they work is that you will be required to put down a cash deposit, which sets your credit limit. So, if you decide to put down a $300 deposit, your credit limit is $300. This minimizes the risk of the creditor should you default on your account.

Regardless of what option you choose, both are excellent at rebuilding your credit. Before applying for any credit card, always be sure to closely read the terms so you’re aware of what you’ll be paying for in the long run. Don’t forget to make sure that they also report to all three credit bureaus as well.

Rebuilding credit can be tough, but with a little diligence and some research, you’ll be well on your way down the road of recovery with a clean credit history!

Filled Under: Credit Advice

Get Out of Credit Card Debt One Payment at a Time

When it comes to getting out of credit card debt, the only true way of getting rid of it completely is by paying everything off, one payment at a time.

Of course, there are simple ways to do this to make life a little easier on you.

We all know the stress of having a ton of credit card debt hanging over your head. Trust me – I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to barely be able to afford to live, let alone pay off any of my credit cards. It’s a vicious circle, more or less.

If you’re in a similar situation, here is an easy process for paying off your credit card debt:

Make Some Form of Payment

Always try to make the very minimum payments on every credit card you have. If possible, try to put a little extra towards a card that has the highest balance and interest rate. Pay the minimum balance due on all of your credit cards that have smaller balances.

Make Small Payments If In Collections

What if you have credit cards that you couldn’t afford to make the minimum payments on, so they went to collections instead? You may not be able to pay off the high balance, but collectors won’t be upset if you send them at least something.

This will do two things – Help them ease up off of your back, and help you pay down the balance on the account.

Option to Settle

Although it isn’t as good as paying off the account in full, some creditors will give you an option to settle your account, often for a sum that is much less than the balance due.

If you have the extra change lying around AFTER you made all other credit card payments, consider settling for the offered amount. You can even negotiate the settlement amount, if need be.

You see, tackling your credit card payments to get out of credit card debt is easy when you take it a small step at a time. Just remember to stay consistent and on top of your credit, and soon enough you will find yourself free from all of your credit card debt!

19 March 2009

How to Get a Credit Card with Bad Credit

Believe it or not, anyone out there can get a credit card, no matter how bad your credit may actually be. In fact, many people who have bad credit need credit cards in order to rebuild and re-establish their credit. And, lendors and banks understand this, which is why many of them created several kinds of programs built especially for those with bad credit.

While there are secured credit cards out there that ANYONE can use, I won’t be touching on those today (Secured credit cards determine your credit limit by how much of a security deposit you put down. If you want a $1,000 limit, you need to put down a deposit of $1,000). Instead, I’m going to tell you how to get an unsecured credit card with bad credit.

Sounds good, right? Well, let it be known that there are a few things you should know before you think about getting a credit card with bad credit:

High Fees

A lot of credit card programs designed for people with bad credit often come with high fees attached. Typically, you can expect to pay a program fee, annual fee, and a monthly service fee, much of which is already charged onto the card when you receive it.

Low Credit Limit

Don’t expect high credit limits with an unsecured bad credit card. Usually, you can expect limits to start out as high as $250-$300. Of course, should you continue to develop a great credit history with that creditor, you can expect to get small increases in your limit over time.

Other Hidden Fees

Read the fine print in every agreement before putting in your application. Some cards may require an application fee. Thinking about paying your credit card bill online? Some card companies charge for that, too. Make sure you look out for that stuff upfront, before getting yourself deeper in debt with hidden fees.

So, after knowing a little more about what a credit card for people with bad credit is all about, and feel confident enough in yourself and you’re credit that you would like to apply for one, I highly recommend the Orchard Bank Classic Card:

Orchard Bank Classic MasterCards

The Orchard Bank Classic Card is by far the best for someone with bad credit. And, the benefits are very similar to that of a regular credit card.

- Low annual fee
- Decent interest rate
- Credit limit increases are easy to achieve
- Free online bill pay
- Cash withdrawl at any ATM

If you’re interested in learning more about this card and what it can do to help you rebuild your credit, just head on over to Orchard Bank now to learn more!

17 March 2009

2 Simple Steps to Help You Repair Your Credit

Are you having a tough time trying to repair your credit? Credit repair is easier than most think. All it really takes is a little bit of your spare time and some elbow grease. While it does require some effort on your end, getting your credit report in line and possibly raising your score a few points is worth the work.

So, if you have a couple minutes to spare, here’s 2 simple steps you can take to repair your credit:

Get a Copy of Your Credit Report

The first thing you need to do before you even start to crack down on repairing your credit is to get a copy of your credit report. You can get a free copy of your report once a year at Annual Credit Report. This will give you a better understanding of where you currently stand (the only downside to this free report, is that it does not show your credit score).

While thumbing through your report, check to see if there are any inaccurate records that were recorded to your report. If you do find any, gather any and all proof that you have that shows the innaccuracy recorded, and contact the credit bureaus. By showing them solid evidence that a certain record is in fact incorrect, they will remove it immediately from your report, which could also cause your score to jump!

Make Payment Arrangements

If you have found everything else to be solid and sound in your report, start looking at accounts that are deliquent the most. Contact those creditors and work out payment arrangements. In fact, many creditors will negotiate a settlement offer with you, saving you tons of money. That’s an option available to you, should you want to save some money and pay off the creditor faster.

Another thing to consider – If you have some relatively small amounts due on certain accounts, consider paying those off first to get them out of the way. Then, start tackling some of your larger debt. This can also boost your credit score as well.

Follow these two steps, and you will see a considerable difference in your credit rating over the next couple months!

11 March 2009

Credit Repair Program – What Works Best?

Repairing your credit can often seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, it’s really only as hard as you make it out to be. Whether your credit is in shambles or is so low you don’t think you’ll ever be able to recover, there are ways to turn things around with little miracles known as “credit repair programs“.

A credit repair program can help you get back on track, as well as help raise your credit score over time. But with so many different credit repair programs out there to choose from, it can often be difficult to find one that is worth your time (and money).

When looking for the best credit repair program, for starters, don’t use anything that promises to raise your score overnight for a huge price tag. Those are companies that are simply selling false hopes, and you’ll waste a ton of money in the deal. Avoid these companies at all costs.

You could also consider tackling your credit repair on your own (for the most part). Programs out there like 37 Days to Better Credit do a great job in assisting you through the entire credit repair process, as well as the famed Credit Secrets Bible, which reveals all sorts of secrets on repairing credit and raising your FICO score.

Lastly, you could try using a non-profit agency in your town or city. These places don’t cost anything, but using them can make your credit head downhill in the beginning, as using these types of services are sometimes frowned upon. If you’re credit is extremely bad, I would highly suggest this, but for sub-par credit, I would suggest one of the two credit repair programs that I’ve mentioned above.

Remember – Credit repair isn’t that tough. Don’t wait until the last minute, and do something about it today, because it’s not going away any time soon!

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10 March 2009

Fast Credit Repair – Does It Exist?

Fast credit repair is one thing that everyone in a credit crunch is desperate to achieve. The pressing question, however, is how fast can you repair your credit? In other words, is fast credit repair a realistic thought? Maybe you can’t repair your credit overnight, but you can make your credit score jump a few points in a few days. In all actuality, it boils down to a few things, such as how bad your credit is and how quickly you can pay off a few debts.

When you want to begin to repair your credit, you first need to pull your credit report to gain a solid idea of what is all on your report. Go through all of the information on your report and verify that everything is correct. If you see anything that is out of the norm or doesn’t belong to you, contact the credit bureau’s immediately. Getting inaccurate filings removed from your report can actually boost your credit score quick, so do make sure you thoroughly check your report.

After verifying all of the information on your credit report, start looking at various accounts that you can start tackling right away. Try to look for accounts that have smaller amounts and pay those off as quickly as possible. Once you’ve paid them in full, request a written statement or receipt from that creditor, and then write a formal letter to all three credit bureaus with your receipt attached, showing that you’ve paid that account in full. In most cases, you will see your credit report reflect this in a week or so, rather than 45 to 60 days later when your creditor notifies the bureaus that your account was paid in full.

Those are just a few tips that can help you raise your credit score quickly. If you want to find out more about how to repair your credit quick, check out 37 Days to Clean Credit now for fast credit repair done right!

9 March 2009

Raise Your Credit Score in 37 Days or Less

Let’s face it – In today’s tough economic times, the credit crunch isn’t going to get any better any time soon. Financial institutions all over the world are cracking down on giving out any credit, reserving lines of credit only for those who show a strong credit history with a great overall credit score.

If your credit is anything less than perfect, you’re going to have problems getting approved for any lines of credit. While this may seem like the end of the road, it’s not. In fact, you can raise your credit score quickly and legitimately. And a better credit score means a better chance in getting approved for any line of credit.

How can someone raise their credit score? With this excellent credit repair program – 37 Days to Better Credit.

This one program can help you turn around your credit, no matter how bad it may be. It’s a proven system that will show you how you can legitimately get tons of “knicks” to your credit report removed. The more you can get removed, the faster your score will rise.

The great part about this credit repair program is that better credit is easily achievable. You will learn step-by-step how to eliminate all of the “bad stuff” on your credit report for good. So if your credit is less than favorable, you should look into this program, as it can make the difference in getting approved and not getting approved.

Click Here to Start Repairing Your Credit and Raise Your Score

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8 March 2009

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