applying for credit card with bad credit

[Anonymous]

i want to apply for a credit card but the last 2 times i've tried to do that i was denied because i have bad credit. I've paid off more than half of my debt since the last time i applied and I also had a citibank student credit card that has since been in collections (for 5 years) and that account will be paid in full july 2008. i want a credit card to help boost my credit score, should i wait until that citicard is pif or try now,I just don't want that inquiry on my credit report because i know that the inquiries lower your score also....

Message Edited by hlpmebettermycreditplz on 04-20-2008 05:43 PM

[guiness56]

What type of scores to you have? There is a site called Whogavemecredit.com you can look at. Could be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we'd need to know your scores.

You might want to try applying with Bank of America. If you miss the mark, they may counteroffer with a "99/500" card, where you put a $99 deposit down for a credit card with a $500 limit. Definitely a good deal, and they DO graduate from secured to unsecured, generally in 6 to 12 months provided you keep a clean credit history. In the meantime, it's a positive tradeline reporting as such, which helps to wear away at the damage done to your credit by your previous mis-steps.

I would also contact the bank you have a checking account at. If you have an established, good relationship with a bank, that's as good as 30 to 50 FICO points in terms of getting a credit card backed by them.

[FretlessMayhem]

I concur with the others. What do your scores look like?

[Anonymous]

bad tu 529  exp 502 eqf 624

[Anonymous]

with you EQ score- I would work with your local Credit union and open a checking account and ask about CC-

When was your last late?

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hlpmebettermycreditplz wrote:

bad tu 529  exp 502 eqf 624

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[haulingthescoreup]

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@Anonymous wrote:

bad tu 529 exp 502 eqf 624

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And also, just to confirm, are these FICO scores, bought here at myFICO.com? If you got your scores from TrueCredit, etc., they're not FICO's. (Just making sure.)