Why can I not get approved for anything?

[Anonymous]

Hello,

  I am a 23 yr old college student trying to apply for my first credit card.I can not get anyone to accept me because of my lack of credit history. Ive tried Chase Freedom, Discover Student, tried at my own bank and they said no. I have no student loans, car loans or anything, always just spent what I had, lived within my means. Ive tried mulitiple times calling recon departments and they always come back saying either we dont approve first timers or no becasue of a lack of credit history. What am I missing? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[jacetx]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello,

  I am a 23 yr old college student trying to apply for my first credit card.I can not get anyone to accept me because of my lack of credit history. Ive tried Chase Freedom, Discover Student, tried at my own bank and they said no. I have no student loans, car loans or anything, always just spent what I had, lived within my means. Ive tried mulitiple times calling recon departments and they always come back saying either we dont approve first timers or no becasue of a lack of credit history. What am I missing? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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What Discover card did you try? Student version? Also, have you tried applying for a secured card? Citi, Bank of America, and Capital One offer secured credit cards. This would be a start.

Do not waste any more inquiries on unsecured cards for now. Get a secured card, charge whatever you can afford every month, and pay in full. After a year check Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi prequal sites, something should pop up. 

[Anonymous]

What are your scores?  If you are getting nowhere, even with the student cards, you may want to try for a secured card.  They are treated just like credit cards for reporting purposes and are a good way to start building a credit profile.  In the mean-time, stop applying if you are striking out because those pulls will only continue to hurt you.  

[Anonymous]

I havent checked my credit score cause I assumed it would be nothing cause I have never had a line of credit. I just hate the idea of a secured card cause the ones Ive seen charge a fee and I hate the idea of paying to spend whats my money anyways. Plus secured cards just seem silly, its not a line of credit at all, its a debit card. Its just frustrating cause I see other people my age getting approved no problem but I always get told no cause of credit history.  Im not even that interested in having a credit card cause Ive made due without and it just seems like another thing to have to take care of but I realize the value of a credit history now adays.

[Anonymous]

And it was the discover student card I applied for. It just seems odd being told no for a student card when I imagine their designed for people in my position.

[jacetx]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I havent checked my credit score cause I assumed it would be nothing cause I have never had a line of credit. I just hate the idea of a secured card cause the ones Ive seen charge a fee and I hate the idea of paying to spend whats my money anyways. Plus secured cards just seem silly, its not a line of credit at all, its a debit card. Its just frustrating cause I see other people my age getting approved no problem but I always get told no cause of credit history.  Im not even that interested in having a credit card cause Ive made due without and it just seems like another thing to have to take care of but I realize the value of a credit history now adays.

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You are having the wrong attitude for someone that has no credit at all. Many of us in here had to start with a secured card in order to establish some credit and be able to obtain better cards.

[jacetx]

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@Anonymous wrote:

And it was the discover student card I applied for. It just seems odd being told no for a student card when I imagine their designed for people in my position.

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Just because the card says student that doesn't mean that you are guaranteed an approval. These companies are taking a risk by offering credit to someone with zero experience with credit cards, hence why so many of us had to start with a secured card to show a history of repayment.

[Anonymous]

How long is a secured card usually required to show a credit history good enough for a non secured card? Somehting like 6-12 months? My ultimate goal would be to just have one rewards card, even though rewards really arent that much money if I can "get paid" for spending money I would anyways and it isnt an inconvenice for me I see that as a positive.

[jacetx]

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@Anonymous wrote:

How long is a secured card usually required to show a credit history good enough for a non secured card? Somehting like 6-12 months? My ultimate goal would be to just have one rewards card, even though rewards really arent that much money if I can "get paid" for spending money I would anyways and it isnt an inconvenice for me I see that as a positive.

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Usually 6-12 months, then try the prequal sites. Also, it has been discussed in the forum in several threads that you need at least 3 cards if you are interested in maximizing your FICO score.

[Anonymous]

What is a "prqual site?" Pre qualified?

Also is there a way to check my credit? So as im going I can see what it is? And would me doing that hurt my credit cause its like someone looking to approve?