What's the first step for someone with no cards?

[Imperfectfuture]

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@Themanwhocan wrote:

The standard approach is to get a Secured card from your bank or credit union. After 6-12 months of using the card very lightly and always paying in full, then they will have a very good credit score.

When I did that, after 12 months (and not properly optimizing my spending) I had a 732 when I then applied for a regular credit card.

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Kudos to the winning answer.  Started with secured CU card in 2013. Added rebuilder card in April 2014 (lots of baddies still on reports).  Since she doesn't have anything, a secured card with CU should get you started nicely.

[happypill]

Great advice.  I'll get them started with a secured card to start building their history.

[Themanwhocan]

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@Imperfectfuture wrote:

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@Themanwhocan wrote:

The standard approach is to get a Secured card from your bank or credit union. After 6-12 months of using the card very lightly and always paying in full, then they will have a very good credit score.

When I did that, after 12 months (and not properly optimizing my spending) I had a 732 when I then applied for a regular credit card.

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Kudos to the winning answer.  Started with secured CU card in 2013. Added rebuilder card in April 2014 (lots of baddies still on reports).  Since she doesn't have anything, a secured card with CU should get you started nicely.

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I should add that my secured card was $1000 with US Bank, and 2 days shy of a year I applied for the US Bank Platinum card and was granted a $8500 limit card. It was a very good start... And since I cancelled the secured card (they wouldn't unsecure) I didnt have to pay another annual fee.

[DantGwyrdd]

I personally started with a rejection from Dell financing and a couple of months after that got pre-approved for a Capital One Platinum.

If I was starting again, I'd try with a Discover and/or Capital One Plat (or some other issuer having a rep for being fine with new/thin files) first and see what happens and then IF that doesn't yield a card, only then would I go the secured route. I really doubt a couple of inqs on a brand new file would do much, if anything, towards preventing anyone from getting a secured card.

[Discover2016]

When I got my Discover card last year I had no credit history at all, blank sheet of paper basically.

[vanillabean]

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@Discover2016 wrote:

When I got my Discover card last year I had no credit history at all, blank sheet of paper basically.

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Oh my God, I don't know what to say. Somebody slap me! Is this for real, can it possibly be true that you can obtain a credit card without first having a secured card or being an authorized user on someone else's card. Be so kind as to tell us it's a harmless joke, a cheerful attempt at having fun at our expense. Please!

[Imperfectfuture]

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@Anonymous-own-fico wrote:

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@Discover2016 wrote:

When I got my Discover card last year I had no credit history at all, blank sheet of paper basically.

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Oh my God, I don't know what to say. Somebody slap me! Is this for real, can it possibly be true that you can obtain a credit card without first having a secured card or being an authorized user on someone else's card. Be so kind as to tell us it's a harmless joke, a cheerful attempt at having fun at our expense. Please!

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What??

[Boragard]

Applying!

[Discover2016]

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@Anonymous-own-fico wrote:

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@Discover2016 wrote:

When I got my Discover card last year I had no credit history at all, blank sheet of paper basically.

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Oh my God, I don't know what to say. Somebody slap me! Is this for real, can it possibly be true that you can obtain a credit card without first having a secured card or being an authorized user on someone else's card. Be so kind as to tell us it's a harmless joke, a cheerful attempt at having fun at our expense. Please!

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No joke lol. I got my Discover with no history last September and I was surprised to say the least.

[Imperfectfuture]

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@Discover2016 wrote:

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@Anonymous-own-fico wrote:

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@Discover2016 wrote:

When I got my Discover card last year I had no credit history at all, blank sheet of paper basically.

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Oh my God, I don't know what to say. Somebody slap me! Is this for real, can it possibly be true that you can obtain a credit card without first having a secured card or being an authorized user on someone else's card. Be so kind as to tell us it's a harmless joke, a cheerful attempt at having fun at our expense. Please!

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No joke lol. I got my Discover with no history last September and I was surprised to say the least.

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Methinks my_own_fico was being a bit off facetious, maybe a little fun this weekend?