Why can I not get approved for anything?

[Anonymous]

I was in the same situation last month. Initially got denied for discover student for lack of income, but I read that you can put any money your parents provide you with as your income. So I reaplied with updated income and they approved me. What did you put for your income? 

[Anonymous]

Have you checked on the Capital One Journey card? When I was rebuilding, Cap 1 was the first one to give me a shot with my scores in the dumps. It was $300 SL but grew to $3300 in 6 months with me using and paying constantly. Then too,  I actually had a score, not a good one but I had one. A secured card may be the only way to go or become an AU on your parent's card for 6 months and then try again. Just something to consider.

[ddemari]

Basically you need to do some homework. 

Like if I got out a pad of paper and pen in your situation id do this; 

1. Order a free credit from freeannualcreditreports.org, even if its a bare report you can at least familarize yourself with what a credit report looks like

2. Since you have no payment history at all, you need to establish some. 

3. Get a secured card. Open a secured card with a bank like bank of america for example. With responsible use the card will unsecure in 12 months or less.

4. Once you get the secured card, 6 months from now you will be on your way to getting unsecured card offers.

5. Realize you have to start small, realistic and understand it takes time and effort. 

[Anonymous]

There are quite a few secured cards that eventually will graduate, so that could be an option also if you were interested in something like that.  There have been people who started out with a couple hundred dollar secured line that have had the card unsecure, product change into a rewards card, and now have a five figure credit line all on the same card.  It does happen if you're really careful and responsible with it

I made a list a while back of some of the more popular national secured cards where I've detailed whether they graduate, how they report, if they offer credit line increases, if they offer rewards, etc (you can find my list here ) and you can also see if your local bank offers one as well.

That's my thought on it.  If you can't get an unsecured student credit card for whatever reason, this would be the next option IMO.

[Anonymous]

Secured might be the way to go. I was lucky enough to get my first cc with Navy Federal when I was 23. It was unsecured but they started me off with a $500 cl.

[baller4life]

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@ddemari wrote:

Basically you need to do some homework. 

Like if I got out a pad of paper and pen in your situation id do this; 

1. Order a free credit from freeannualcreditreports.org, even if its a bare report you can at least familarize yourself with what a credit report looks like

2. Since you have no payment history at all, you need to establish some. 

3. Get a secured card. Open a secured card with a bank like bank of america for example. With responsible use the card will unsecure in 12 months or less.

4. Once you get the secured card, 6 months from now you will be on your way to getting unsecured card offers.

5. Realize you have to start small, realistic and understand it takes time and effort. 

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+100 and in that order! 😉

[Anonymous]

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@baller4life wrote:

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@ddemari wrote:

Basically you need to do some homework. 

Like if I got out a pad of paper and pen in your situation id do this; 

1. Order a free credit from freeannualcreditreports.org, even if its a bare report you can at least familarize yourself with what a credit report looks like

2. Since you have no payment history at all, you need to establish some. 

3. Get a secured card. Open a secured card with a bank like bank of america for example. With responsible use the card will unsecure in 12 months or less.

4. Once you get the secured card, 6 months from now you will be on your way to getting unsecured card offers.

5. Realize you have to start small, realistic and understand it takes time and effort. 

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+100 and in that order! 😉

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Absolutely! Great advice! 

[Anonymous]

Do you have parents or family members who can add you on to a couple of cards as an authorized user. The cards need to have a low balance and the cardholders need to be financially stable. Do that with 2-3 cards and once they report to the bureaus you can app for select cards in your own name.

If not as was said above, open 2 secured cards.

Without credit history no one will give you credit. This is a game and you have to know the ropes to gain the most from it.

[bk510]

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@jace8602 wrote:

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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.

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+1, OP I would try to get a store card or two (like walmart and amazon) use it 6 months or so and app for Cap1 cards.

[Anonymous]

For my first card, I tried the discover it. It's not the student card, but I told the representative that I was a student and he asked me a couple more questions, then was instantly approved.. It's really hard to get your first card, but I was told that discover was the easiest way... I guess it varies by person.