How to use a secured credit card?

What is a secured credit card?

A secured credit card is a credit card that requires you to deposit a certain amount of money into a savings account, money market account, or certificate of deposit. Your deposit is considered your security and some card issuers will even allow the deposit to earn interest.

Secured Credit Card

The amount that you deposit into the account is your credit limit. A secured credit card is not a debit card.

Who should consider using secured credit cards?

If you have no credit history at all, using a secured credit card can be a good way to begin establishing your credit. If you have bad credit, you may wish to use a secured credit card to help you improve your credit score. In addition, a secured credit card may be the only source you will have for obtaining a credit card. There are some transactions that require the use of a credit card. This might include car rentals or hotel reservations. If you need to make those types of transactions and cannot get an unsecured credit card, this might be the only way you can get a true credit card.

What to look for in a secured credit card:

Interest Rate: Do not be fooled into thinking that because you have no credit history or a bad credit report that you have to settle for exorbitant interest rates. Make it a point to shop around for the lowest rates that you qualify for before you apply for a secured credit card.

Fees: Pay close attention to any fees that will be charged to you or to your account once it is opened. There are some companies that will charge ridiculously high fees that will reduce your initial deposit before you even use the card. Stay away from those companies. Look for companies that have no fees whatsoever or for those companies that charge a small one-time fee to set up the account. Annual fees for attractive secured cards typically range from $20-$35.

Scams: It is sad to say that there are companies out there who are in the business of ripping people off. Your phone company will charge you a high rate for using a 900 number and you never get the information that was offered.

The best advice to avoid secured credit card scams is that if it sounds too good to be true it is. Credit Improvement Issues: Even with a very good payment history on your secured card it can takes many months before you begin to see improvement in your credit record. You have to be patient when repairing bad credit. Make sure that the company that issues the secured credit card to you will report your good payment history to the three big credit reporting agencies. Not all companies report and if they do not report you are simply wasting your time.

Keep in mind that they will also report your bad payment history if you do not pay on time.

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Secured Credit Cards

Every time you apply for a credit card or loan, each single inquiry from that lender will be recorded on your credit report making too many inquiries is a signal to a potential lender that you are a risky customer just shopping for credit and not for real funds.

True or not, secured credit cards may be the right type of credit card for you because it is secured by a deposit account owned by the cardholder. This deposit consists of 100% to 200% of the total amount of credit desired, that is held in a special savings account.

However, cardholders of secured credit cards still may expect to make regular payments as they would with any other regular credit card, with the only difference being the card issuer has the option of recovering the full cost of the purchases paid to the merchants out of the deposit if the cardholders does not pay their credit balance in a timely manner.

Most entities issuers of secured credit cards consider that if the cardholder does not make the required payment, the account must be paid anyway and before the security is released instead of taking the money from the security to pay the balance due. This is a risk for the cardholders because their card is not cancelled and the balance does not set off the deposit.

Understanding all the terms of the agreement and not fearing to ask when in doubt is important because secured credit cards are the most viable option to allow individuals with poor credit, bad credit history or no credit history.

In fact, secured credit cards are the best option for rebuilding or cleaning up your credit history report, particularly if Visa or MasterCard endorses them, but always bearing in mind fees charged for secured credit cards more often may exceed those standard fees charged for ordinary non-secured credit cards.

Secured credit cards can be an excellent choice for many people, but there are a few things to know:

* Almost all secured credit cards have an annual fee. But these fees can vary greatly from one issuing company to another. Shop around.

* Many banks no longer offer secured credit cards, but often credit unions do. If you want to go this route, you can open an account at many credit unions for as little as $5 and then look into the secured credit card there.

* Most issuing companies will require that you pay the balance in full each month. They don’t take your payment due from the money you have deposited – you must send a payment just as you would for a traditional credit card. These are usually not revolving credit accounts.

If you think a secured credit card is the right thing for you, there are some dos and don’ts to consider. First, the dos:

* DO shop around. Not all offers are the same. Don’t take the first offer that appears in your mailbox. Do your own research.

* DO look into getting a secured credit card with a higher balance if that’s what you need. In other words, if you have $3,000 to deposit, find an issuing company that will allow you to deposit that much to start so your limit will be higher.

* DO make sure this is the best option for you. If you have never had credit before, or you have severely damaged credit, this might be the only option. But if you think you can get a traditional card, that’s a better option.

* DO read all the fine print. Every single word. Some companies charge so many fees, your small $300 deposit might be eaten up in fees before you can ever use the card. Some require you to purchase insurance, for $50 or more a month. But many companies don’t do these things and those are the companies you’re looking for. Do your research and get the best deal for you.

Although secured credit cards are a good option for many people, there are some don’t considerations. These include:

* DON’T be casual about this credit card. If you have damaged credit, using a secured credit card is an excellent way to re-establish your good credit rating. If you have never had credit, this is a way to establish credit so you can acquire traditional credit later.

* DON’T try to go over your limit (or deposit amount). Not only will the charge not go through, but it will be a mark against you. Keep careful records each month you use the card so you know you’re not charging right up against the credit limit.

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