Credit Card Alternatives if You Have Bad Credit
Although it's harder to get credit than it was a few years ago, it's still possible to get a credit card if you've stumbled financially. Here are three alternatives if you've been turned down for traditional credit cards:
Subprime Credit Cards
These cards are marketed to people with poor credit. In fact, if you've declared bankruptcy, you probably have already received offers for subprime credit cards. As tempting as these offers might be, you need to be careful. Typically these cards come with low credit limits of a few hundred dollars, sky-high interest rates, and high annual fees. Those fees are now limited by new federal credit card regulations to no more than 25 percent of the first year's credit limit, but there may be other costs, such as an upfront processing fee. For a credit card with a $500 limit, the annual fee alone would stick you with a $125 balance before you even say, "Charge it."
Prepaid Credit Cards
Prepaid credit cards have proliferated in the last few years, and now they're on sale seemingly everywhere--from Super Walmarts to tiny convenience stores. These cards have Visa, MasterCard, or Discover logos, and you use them as you would a regular credit card. But instead of racking up debt, you load the cards with your own money, draw down the balances as you charge, then reload them. The downside? You have to buy them and pay fees, which may include costs for monthly maintenance, ATM use, bill pay, and other standard services. You also don't get the same liability protections as you do with regular credit cards if they're lost or stolen.
Secured Credit Cards
To get a secured credit card, you must open and maintain a savings account, which can serve as backup in case you default. Your credit limit is the amount of money you keep in the account or a percentage of your balance. Some secured credit cards offer you interest on your savings account. The upside? You get a chance to improve your credit, and if you handle the card well for a year or more, the issuer might offer you a traditional, unsecured credit card.
No matter which alternative you choose, make sure you understand the credit card terms and fees, and shop around for the best deal.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we can not guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying. Check our full list of credit card offers for updated terms and conditions.
This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.
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Published 06/09/11
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