No one is immune to money troubles – most of us have been in a tight financial spot at least once in our lives. Whether it’s because of unemployment, illness, divorce or other family issues, or gotten in over your head due to student loans, medical bills or other expenses, your credit score may have suffered. But good news – no matter how far your score has fallen, there is always a way to improve it.
Some of the most preferable options are to get a secured credit card, become an authorized user on another account or simply get a prepaid card. While the last way won’t lead you to the credit improvement directly (prepaid cards help you form a habit of managing your finances wisely), the first two can become your first step towards good credit.
Limited / Bad Credit
You can apply if: you have defaulted on a loan more than once or have been declined for a credit card in the last 3 months.
| Annual Fee | $29 |
| Regular APR | 22.9% (V) |
| Reporting Credit Bureaus | Yes |
| Inst. Response | No |
Bad Credit
Required FICO score for this card: 350 to 619
You can apply if: you regularly miss or skip payments and max out your credit balance; you have more than one foreclosure, repossession, or a bankruptcy declared.
| Annual Fee | See website |
| Regular APR | 0.00% |
| Reporting Credit Bureaus | Yes |
| Inst. Response | Yes |
Bad Credit
Required FICO score for this card: 350 to 619
You can apply if: you regularly miss or skip payments and max out your credit balance; you have more than one foreclosure, repossession, or a bankruptcy declared.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Regular APR | 24.90% |
| Reporting Credit Bureaus | Yes |
| Inst. Response | Yes |
Bad Credit
Required FICO score for this card: 350 to 619
You can apply if: you regularly miss or skip payments and max out your credit balance; you have more than one foreclosure, repossession, or a bankruptcy declared.
| Annual Fee | $29 |
| Regular APR | 19.99% (Variable) |
| Reporting Credit Bureaus | Yes |
| Inst. Response | Yes |
Any Credit
Required FICO score for this card: Any
You can apply if: you don’t know your credit score. You can be approved for this card regardless your credit history.
| Annual Fee | See website |
| Regular APR | See website |
| Reporting Credit Bureaus | Yes |
| Inst. Response | Yes |
Despite the fact that you are drowning in debt and thinking that you are completely and utterly ruined your credit score, there still is a credit card you can apply. In fact there are several options to improve bad credit. They are:
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Rebuilding credit takes patience and diligence. The key is to find the card that works for you and use it carefully and responsibly. That means doing a few things over several months or years, depending on how damaged your credit is. Make small purchases and pay off your balance on time to improve your creditworthiness.
Making small purchases means not spending more than you can easily pay off each month. If you get a secured card or get a card as an authorized user – you do need to use the card to make purchases to fix your credit history. Avoid the temptation to make purchases you cannot afford to pay off.
Always make payments on time – this is very important when you are repairing credit. It is a good idea to set up automatic payments so you never miss a due date. Depending on the card you use, you can also often set up text and email alerts so you know when a payment is due.
Using your card responsibly means staying under the credit limit and abiding by the credit card agreement. In time your credit score will bounce back and reflect your responsible use of credit. Credit card issuers will see that you are a good risk and that you are very likely to pay your debt.
Once you improve credit score, you will be eligible for lower rates, more rewards, and different credit cards. But you do have options to repair your credit, so take advantage of the best one for you now.
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68 The Fingerhut Credit Account is offered to US residents by WebBank, a Utah-chartered industrial bank, located in Salt Lake City, UT. Member FDIC, who determines eligibility and qualifications for the terms of credit.
69 If you apply and are accepted for a Fingerhut Credit Account issued by WebBank, who determines eligibility and qualifications for the terms of credit.
70 Click apply to view See Card Terms & Conditions for Details.