The short answer to the title of this article, do preapproved credit cards really exist, is yes. That yes, however, comes with a qualifier. Only certain types of credit cards are in fact preapproved. Unsecured cards are absolutely not. If any one should offer you an unsecured card that they claim is guaranteed to be approved then you know it’s a scam.
And here’s why that is. No bank or financial institution in their right mind, unless they’re trying to go out of business, will give unsecured credit to anyone that they do not thoroughly check out in advance to see if they are in fact creditworthy. Never before has that been so true is it is now.
Banks and financial institutions have been hit hard by record credit card defaults over the past couple of years. The poor economy has wreaked havoc on their bottom lines and they can ill afford to set themselves up in a position where they are vulnerable to more defaults.
Some are teetering on the brink of survival as I write this. Remember how many financial institutions took billions of dollars of taxpayer bailout money? The reason they needed it was in no small part because of the poor judgment they showed in granting credit to unqualified borrowers for both credit cards and subprime mortgages. They thought it was easy money, and it was at first… until it all blew up in their faces.
Preapproved Credit Cards
Having said that, there are in fact preapproved credit cards in the form of secured credit cards. These offers are usually sent to people that have moderate to severe credit problems. The advantage of using these cards is that it gives these consumers the chance to repair their credit ratings.
Having a strong credit rating opens the door to getting favorable interest rates on such things as auto loans, mortgages and credit cards (in some cases anyway). While it is true that credit is very tight right now, it won’t stay like that forever and in order to be approved for any of the forms of credit that I just mentioned consumers will have to have at least a good to excellent credit history to stand behind.
Typically the credit markets and the unemployment rate have had an inverse relationship. When the unemployment rate is low credit is rather easy to get because people are working and spending money. When the unemployment rate is high like it has been… well people that don’t work can’t pay their bills.
So the bottom line is that yes indeed, there absolutely are preapproved credit cards available on the market. They are however, designed for a specific need as we have pointed out here. If you should happen to believe that it may be beneficial to you to check out these types of offers further then by all means look into it. Just be very careful and do your homework so you know exactly what they entail.
Having a bad credit history will make it more difficult for you to get another card, but not necessarily prevent you from getting one. This is because many banks, if they feel that an individual with a bad credit history has good intentions to pay bills, will offer bad credit credit cards to re-establish a good credit rating.
Credit cards for bad credit fall under two catogeries – Secured and Unsecured credit card for bad credit.
With secured credit cards for bad credit, you will be required by the bank to deposit a certain amount of money that may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, into your savings account as security for your line of credit. Your credit line is a percentage of your deposit, somewhere between 50 to 100 percent. The bank will then issue you a card with a spending limit equal to your credit line, which will serve as collateral for use of the credit card for bad credit. The money in the savings account, or the collateral, will be used to pay the balance if you fail to pay your credit balance. It is also probable that you’ll be paid interest for your deposit but you may also have to pay application and processing fees.
As for unsecured credit cards for bad credit, the bank will not require you to deposit an amount as security or collateral. However, you will be issued a credit card for bad credit with a low spending limit that may range from a few hundred dollars to one or two thousand dollars, and very high fees. Your spending limit will also be increased if you continue to prove your ability, and good intentions of making payments in time. Make sure that the issuer reports to a credit bureau if you’re applying for a secured card to build or re-establish a bad credit record, so that a proper credit history can be built by the bureau.
When looking to apply for a credit card for bad credit, watch out for scams and deceptive ads. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a campaign and taken action against such misleading companies and agencies. Learn to identify frauds and scams by studying telltale signs such as those offering credit card without examining your credit report, a call to a “900″ number for which you are billed (without you knowing how much), and cards offered by credit repair companies.
When applying for a credit card to rebuild credit, most of the major credit card companies such as Bank of America, Bank One, Capital one etc will be able to assist you in getting a secured credit card. This will ensure improvement in your credit history because ever payment made in time will be reported to one or two credit bureaus. You may also eventually receive an offer for an unsecured card with a significant spending limit if you continue to follow rules and pay your credit card bills and other payments in time.
Credit Cards are basically here to serve your needs in times of emergency and incidents when you need to buy something that can’t be done in a manner of cash payment. Most credit card holders find it more convenient and safer to use rather than using cold cash. These people tend to use such cards in a responsible manner where they get to enjoy its benefits for using it wisely. On the other hand, some card holders tend to use it beyond necessary means. Though some are full of riches, there are those who end up with a huge amount of credit debt.
Having a credit debt that carries 15% interest rate could pull you down into your pocket. And when this could be changed for a balance transfer with zero rates within six months or 3% a year, it would only mean that a significant change has to be done. In fact, you have to consider that credit rates and fees are becoming more relevant these days.
That is why it is very important for you to compare credit cards. Such manner would give more knowledge on several available options and other deals and offers that the market has in store. The fact that the economy has been unstable all these years, credit providers have boost themselves in promoting seemingly perfect deals and offers where you could easily be drawn into. We all have witnessed on how a gradual increase of rates have occurred in the recent months. But if you compare credit cards today, you will most likely notice that such deals and offers would only increase in numbers in the years to come.
Despite the kind of status our economy has these days, research have shown that almost 60% of consumers have applied only on their respective banks for a new card. And only 6% were concerned enough to compare the market through the internet. With such manner, banks and providers have become more and more confident with several renewals when it expires. The best deals and offers are actually being saved for new consumers who have distinctively found them through several researches.
Comparing credit cards would only mean that you have done all you can possible to significantly minimize your credit card costs. You could still actually save money even though you don’t have credit debt that comes with interest rates. So always keep in mind to compare and contrast.
If you are looking for extra credit cards and have no credit or poor credit, one way that you can build up your credit score is to use a secured credit card. A secured credit card allows you to build up credit by making payments towards money that you loan yourself. A secured credit card is not like a debit card in that you are securing the card by a bank account that is held as collateral against the loan on the cards. Those who want to establish a credit history or regain a high credit score should look into extra credit cards that offer a secured card.
Most people look for extra credit cards as a way to secure themselves against financial emergencies. Others use extra credit cards as a way to build up their credit rating. By have a few secured credit cards that are used as extra credit cards, you can build a credit rating very easily.
Your credit rating is based upon the amount of money you have borrowed against the amount that you make. It is also based upon the past credit history and how you have paid off your debt. If you have no debt to pay off, then you do not have a credit history and may have a difficult time finding extra credit cards. The same holds true if you have bad credit, in that you have had late payments on your credit history. This can make it difficult to attain extra credit cards. Often, those that you do get will have a very high interest rate an annual fee.
If you are looking to raise your credit score, you can do so with a secured credit card. Unlike a debit card, your timely payments are recorded on your credit report. If you have several secured credit cards, you can build up credit very easily. As you do not have to worry about overspending if you have a secured credit card, you can use the card and then pay it off every month. A secured credit card has an interest rate just like a regular credit card. Unlike a debit card, you are still borrowing. The only difference is that you are borrowing against a collateral loan.
If you are worried about overspending, you can also use a secured credit card. Many people will use secured credit cards as their extra credit cards so that they stay grounded when it comes to expenses. You do not have to worry about overspending when you have a secured credit card as your limit is the amount you have put forth to secure the card. You will not only establish credit when you choose secured credit cards as your extra credit cards, but you will also save money when it comes to interest rates as these cards carry a much lower interest rate than unsecured credit cards. You can save money, keep yourself grounded with expenses and establish and build credit using secured credit cards that you apply for online.
Secured credit cards are special type of credit cards which are issued against a collateral. Generally a checking account or some other collateral comes into picture while issuing of a secured credit card. The credit limit of a secured credit card is equal to the value or amount available in the collateral. It is particularly rare to get a credit greater than this amount with a secured credit card.
Secured credit cards option are exercised generally by those with bad credit history and poor credit score to get themselves back on track. Credit card issuing companies, ask for collateral because they find providing credit cards to such people too risky. A good use of secured credit card can give the credit card issuer enough confidence to issue an unsecured credit card in your name.
A good thing to have with secured credit cards is that they should report your spending habits to the three major credit reporting agencies. Strange but true, not all secured credit card holders do that. Unless this feature is present in a secured credit card, it will be of little use for those trying to use it for rebuilding their credit history.
Though secured credit cards are linked with a collateral, they still have some fees and terms associated with them. Before going for a secured credit card, a person must check the various APR’s associated with the credit card. If the secured credit card charges an annual fee, the applicant should try to get one with the lowest amount of interest rates and annual fees. The billing period and grace period allowed for repayments should also be considered. Already suffering with a bad credit situation, the last thing to do with a secured credit card is to take a cash advance with it, simply because the cash advance attracts high interest rates and a cash advance fees.
Care should be taken that the secured credit card is actually used in a way that rebuilds credit history. Sticking to repayment schedule like a religion, and not over indulging with the credit card will help a lot in getting the most out of your secured credit card.
bly see them all the time at gas stations or advertised as a solution for people with bad credit. Prepaid credit cards act just like a regular credit card, except unlike a normal credit card there is no line of credit behind the plastic.
They are also known as Pay as you go cards. With a prepaid credit card you have a fixed amount of money you can use. Since there is no line of credit, you don’t have to worry about paying back any debt.
Credit cards are practically a necessity of life these days. When was the last time that you wrote a check. I’d wager that most of us just write one or two checks a year these days and the rest is done by card. It’s almost impossible to rent a car, reserve a hotel room, or make a large purchase without a credit card. Many businesses now require customers to have a credit card on file even if paying with cash or check. What can you do if you have bad credit or no credit?
As we said earlier prepaid credit cards are also known as “pay as you go” cards. They work in a similar way to traditional credit cards. The difference is that prepaid credit cards don’t involve borrowing money from the issuer. You preload the card with money and then use it wherever Visa or Mastercard are accepted. Late fees and interest charges are not applicable. Simply refill the card when the balance is low or depleted.
A prepaid card is much like the gift cards available from most high street chains in the UK, however, prepaid cards have a much wider acceptance, and can be used internationally. They are the same as credit cards, but without the credit. The majority of UK prepaid card providers offer cards embossed with your own name, and some are even CHIP & PIN cards.
A prepaid card is not a credit facility, so you do not need to pass a credit check. Even if you have bad credit or CCJs you are guaranteed to be approved for a prepaid card. However, you are still required to provide details verifying your identity and address (for example a passport, driving licence or national identity card plus a utility bill or an official letter with your permanent or temporary address). Some of the prepaid card issuers will even verify your details online, and give you an instant approval. By the way this is correctly called an electronic identity check, not a credit check!
A prepaid credit card such as a Visa or prepaid Master card can be used like any other credit card to make purchases. With a prepaid card, however, you load funds onto your card and use that money to make purchases and get cash — you are not borrowing money from a bank or other financial institution. The prepaid credit cards look, feel and work like a credit card but are pre-funded “stored-value” cards. This allows you to set spending limits for you or your kids.
So there you have your answer. It is a pre-paid, reloadable card can be used anywhere Visa or MasterCard is accepted — at stores, gas stations, restaurants, theaters, in the mall and online. Making a hotel and rental car reservation is a snap. You can also access cash at ATM\’s. The card is great for everyday purchases, special occasions, and emergency backup.