What is the best way to get my first credit card?
Credit Card
Team Melendez asked:
I am trying to get a credit card to start establishing credit. I am a college student. What is the best way to try to get one? Or what provider is the best like Mastercard or Visa, etc. I’m having a hard time getting one and co-signing is not an option for me at this point.
Harry
I am trying to get a credit card to start establishing credit. I am a college student. What is the best way to try to get one? Or what provider is the best like Mastercard or Visa, etc. I’m having a hard time getting one and co-signing is not an option for me at this point.
Harry
July 10th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Sara
don’t worry they will find you..the CCC have deals with the collages to target the new fish
July 14th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Hector
You don’t say how old your are. You have to be of legal age. Then try for a card at Best Buy or Circuit City when you want to purchase something and start your credit. I understand that gas cards are getting harder to get. Try a clothing store that give credit to everyone. I could help with women’s but not sure of men’s. Dillard’s actually set up shop on campus and offered cards with very low balances combines with tshirts and other goodies if you signed up. It’s hard to get the first one, so be sure you pay your balance off. As soon as you get the first one and use it for a few months, then start applying for those with lower interest. There are some that offer no interest for 12 months and some that offer other benefits. Look them over but be careful. They stay in business by getting you hooked with a balance.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Dolores
there is no BEST way to get a credit card. Credit cards are the worst things to have.
Dig in the post officew trash at college you find a million credit card applications.
July 21st, 2009 at 2:51 am
Roger
check the archives for step by step inst.
July 24th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Lucy
bank or credit union where you have a checking or savings account. As long as you’re employed and haven’t bounced any checks, your bank will probably be willing to issue you a card
If your bank isn’t willing to issue you a card right away, you can try a department-store or gasoline card those are way to easy to get
July 25th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Chris
OK so i had no credit and i obtained 2 credit cards within the first 2 months of turning 18 (a few months ago).. i applied for a citibank mastercard platinum select card (citicards.com) and a chase visa student card (chase.com).. For the chase card, i got a 500 limit and for citibank i got 1000 credit line. I was surprised myself because I didnt have credit.. I didn’t have a cosigner either…..So Good luck!!
July 26th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Reginald
Many credit card companies offer college cards to students. I believe Citi offers a college card with no minimum income and no co-signer required! Beware not to apply for credit too much in a short period of time as it makes you look desperate to creditors and this will adversely affect your credit score. I recommend checking your credit score for free at freecreditreport.com (well, at least for the 1st 30 days). Another good way to establish credit is to apply for department store cards such as jcpenny or sears. Be sure to pay at least the minimum BEFORE the due date or twice the min. The best situation would be to pay off the balance in full every month. Good luck and use credit wisely.
July 26th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Douglas
The best way to start building your credit record is to take out some form of easily attainable form of credit, such as a store card or mobile phone, and pay your bills in full and on time for a few months. You should also make sure you are on the electoral register and get your name on a few utility bills in your house. Once you build up a credit record, credit card providers will be more willing to offer you credit, as they will have an understanding of your relationship with credit. See my article for more information.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Connie
a prepaid card scores over credit cards especially if the owner has a not so perfect credit history.
The rejection is non existent in case of prepaid credit cards, there are no credit checks, no employment verification, and approval is guaranteed.
With a bit of dilligent shopping and comparision of various prepaid credit card offers, it is not difficult to find a prepaid card with no annual fees, no late payment fees, no repayments, and no penalties whatsoever. So, the ownership costs of a prepaid card can be negligible.
With prepaid cards it is very easy to promote financial discipline. Since you can only spend what you have, there is no overspending, and hence no debts.
Some prepaid cards do report their use to major credit bureaus and hence are a good instrument to rebuild credit history.
Prepaid cards have wide acceptablility, and in some cases they are even more readily accepted than credit cards. Apply online at: