What are the best starter cards? I currently have a secured Cap1 and QS1 with 500 CL and Fingerhut with 200 CL. I am thinking about opening another but I only seem to prequalify for cards I have never heard of. I've heard of predatory cards and don't want one of those.
Starting Score: 492
Have you checked your local or major credit union?
Welcome @Ecast6680 . Need a little history please to see what you could go for. As mentioned above. Check out Disco. Even if its secured it will graduate. Cap1 doesnt graduate any longer. And if the QS1 is 3 months old. Its hard, but try to get it to upgrade to the QS and then get some cash back.
https://verified.capitalone.com/sic-ui/#/esignin?Product=Card&Action=ProductUpgrade
Been in a credit union that was charged off over 20 years ago. What are the benefits of a credit union and what are some reputable ones? I have a Wells Fargo checking and savings account that's over two years old.
My EX Fico is 596 currently. I'm trying to get on track after being a daily drinker for 28 years. I'm 3 years sober now and have been working on my credit for a little over a year now. My Cap1 secured is 13 months old and my Qs1 is about 6 months old.
That's a bummer about Cap1 not graduating. Will that card ever get a CLI? I tried but got denied a couple of days ago after paying on time and paying it off 90% of the time. They said that I can't ask for a CLI on secured. Guess they have to do it themselves. Also asked for CLI on my QS1 but got denied. They said that it had recently gotten raised, from 300 to 500 after 5 payments, and that the balance is too high too often. But I always pay it off every month.
Congrats on being sober.
As far as your cards, I don't believe the Cap One secured gets CLIs ever, and it doesn't graduate. As for your QS1, I would see if you can PC it to a regular QS or at least get the AF waived.
For CUs, the benefits are that they are a bit more willing to give CCs to people with less than stellar credit, and their APRs are generally much lower than regular banks. Plus usually their customer service is far superior. Check other CUs local to you other than the one you burned, and even that one you could try calling up and asking if you can re-apply even though you burned them in the past. CUs also tend to forgive a bit easier than banks (not guaranteed, but just in general). Alternatively, you could try the popular CUs like Pendfed, NFCU, Alliant, SDFCU, etc.
As far as your cards, I don't believe the Cap One secured gets CLIs ever, and it doesn't graduate. As for your QS1, I would see if you can PC it to a regular QS or at least get the AF waived.
For CUs, the benefits are that they are a bit more willing to give CCs to people with less than stellar credit, and their APRs are generally much lower than regular banks. Plus usually their customer service is far superior. Check other CUs local to you other than the one you burned, and even that one you could try calling up and asking if you can re-apply even though you burned them in the past. CUs also tend to forgive a bit easier than banks (not guaranteed, but just in general). Alternatively, you could try the popular CUs like Pendfed, NFCU, Alliant, SDFCU, etc.
