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Choosing and using secured credit cards

by Peter Andrew
Choosing and using secured credit cards

Let’s start with the basics. What are secured credit cards? As the name suggests, they are cards that are secured by collateral. In other words, you have to make a cash deposit upfront, which normally becomes your credit limit. Your money may be lodged in a deposit account, a money market account or a certificate of deposit, but you won’t be able to touch it as long as you have your card.

A recent Better Business Bureau survey found that 94 percent of banks give you interest on that deposit, but you are going to pay interest on any card balances you carry forward, and the annual percentage rate (APR) charged is usually higher than credit card rates for unsecured accounts. So you probably don’t want secured credit cards unless you’re in one of two positions:

  1. You’re so young that your credit report is nearly a complete blank. Time columnist Dan Kadlec recently told the story of his 21-year old daughter, who had never owed a dime, but was turned down when she applied for mainstream student credit cards on the grounds that she had only a limited credit history.
  2. You have blemishes on your credit report that mean you’re unlikely to be approved if you make credit card applications for unsecured plastic.

Secured credit cards: what to look for

If you’ve been turned down for unsecured credit cards, you may feel vulnerable and ready to go with any deal that gets you a piece of plastic. Don’t. Providing you can come up with the necessary deposit (often $300 to $500), there’s a very good chance you’re going to be approved for the secured card of your choice, even if you have been through some rocky times financially. Here are the four key things to look out for when making your choice:

  1. Credit report repair. One of the best things about secured credit cards is that they can allow you to boost your credit score and repair damage to your credit report. However, not all cards can do that. You need to be sure that the one you choose reports your activity to all three of the big credit bureaus. Otherwise nobody will know about all the exemplary behavior you’re going to be displaying over the coming months.
  2. Annual fee. Just about all secured credit cards come with annual fees. Some are much higher than others, so look out for low ones.
  3. Credit card rates. As previously warned, the APR you pay on your new card is likely to be (though isn’t always) noticeably higher than that charged on mainstream plastic. However, some issuers rip off secured card customers, and you should seek out the decent credit card companies that offer sensible rates. Of course, if you’re sure that you’ll always be able to zero your balance every month, then you shouldn’t have to pay interest, and the APR issue becomes irrelevant.
  4. Other fees and charges. Many attorneys admit that they’ve never read their credit card agreements, and you can see why. It’s not any easy task. However, some credit card companies attach hidden fees and charges to their secured products that can prove ruinously expensive. So bite the bullet, and make sure you know what to expect. Be particularly aware of charges for cash advances and accessing account information, and fees for late payments and going over your limit.

Using secured credit cards

For many, the main point of having a secured card is to repair their credit reports. If that’s your aim, you’re likely to succeed most quickly if you:

  1. Always pay on time
  2. Never go over your limit
  3. Avoid using more than 30 percent of your available credit
  4. Use your card regularly
  5. Zero your balance each month

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 cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.

This content is not provided by any company mentioned in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any such company. CardRatings.com does not review every company or every offer available on the market.

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