how do i get a credit card in my name?

[MRT144]

well i finally want to start building up good credit so i figure i need a credit card to help. Ive applied to two places already and got rejected so now i dont know where else to go...

who offers young students like myself credit cards?

[MikeH]

I got mine from my bank, the others wouldn't give me one 'cause I had no credit history. Oh the irony of it.

[MRT144]

yes, that is the same exact problem im running into. no credit history! ahrg! the annoyance!

[MikeH]

Try your bank, even if the rate is a bit ****, keep it for a few months then get a real one.

[Rogan Josh]

I just went and asked and they gave me one. That was quite a few years ago though - maybe the banks have changed thei policy now, but I would have thought that if you are paying a stable income into your account they wouldn't have a problem.

These days I am getting tons of letters each week offering me new credit cards.

[Urban Ranger]

If you have a full time job, they'll give you one. If you are a U student at a respectable place, they'll give you one. If you are a bum, they won't.

[Frankychan]

At my college campus, they have stands where they offer credit cards to students....what sucks is that nowadays you need a credit card to do things. A lot of students have commited suicide because of the hidden dangers to credit cards.

Watch out and happy hunting.

(oh yeah, look for the APR. My first credit card was 24%...I'm still paying it off )

[MRT144]

well i plan to use it only for large purchases such as a laptop and music equipment. otherwise im going to use my check card which acts as a debit card.

[Skanky Burns]

I tend to use my credit card for everyday purchases (so I don't pay any bank fees for each purchase) and then pay off the entire lot at the end of the month. I also got a credit card with 48 days interest free, so I have yet to pay any interest on my credit card despite constantly using it this past 4 years.

[MikeH]

You have to pay charges for using a debit card?

[SpencerH]

I was in the strange situation of having a European credit card but couldnt get an american one when I moved back here because my american credit history was too old. 'You dont have a credit card so you cant get a credit card'. Talk about catch-22! Some banks will give out secured credit cards to folks with no credit-history. In that case the credit limit is a function of how much money you agree to lock-up in their bank. I thought that sucked. I built up my credit with a chevron card that can be used at chevron stations. After 6 months with positive cash flow into my bank account and the gas card my bank issued me an unsecured card. How nice of them! One thing to do is to get a small loan then pay it back quickly. It'll cost you a few dollars but it gives you a credit history. The banks see that you're sensible with your money. Also, dont always pay off your cards. Leave a little money outstanding. You'll accrue interest on it but pay it all off next bill period. Again, the credit card companies like that and your credit rating will go up.

[Rogan Josh]

Originally posted by SpencerH
Also, dont always pay off your cards. Leave a little money outstanding. You'll accrue interest on it but pay it all off next bill period. Again, the credit card companies like that and your credit rating will go up.

I always pay my bills straight away so as not to accrue interest, and it hasn't hurt my credit rating. In fact, they keep putting up my credit limit without asking and I keep asking them to put it back down again, because I don't think it is a good idea to have such a huge credit limit on a card.

[Lincoln]

Don't fall into the credit trap. Only use the card when you have money in the bank to repay what you are spending with the card. To build up your credit get a card from an oil company and repay it promptly or get a loan from your bank that is based on your savings and pay that back promptly. But don't fall into the trap! When I was your age my bank mailed me a Master Card without asking. But they learned a valuable lesson (and so did I). I do all my business with cash now including buying a home. It is the only way to go and you can use a debit card to rent a car or whatever.

[Bereta_Eder]

I wont get a credit card even if they have to walk over my dead body (well in that case maybe)


i know not happy people with credit cards!

[Sava]

It's good to have some credit, or else you risk disrupting your chances for home ownership and good auto loan rates in the future. Capital One gave me my first credit card, although by that point I had already paid off my first car, so I had established credit. Once you get a card, use it for your regular expenses, but pay it off immediately. Doing this builds up good credit. Also, if you are smart at such management, you can actually make money by taking advantage of the delayed payment.