May 10
It is becoming increasingly apparent that if you have a less than desirable credit history than you will find it difficult or nearly impossible to obtain a standard credit card. The financial crisis has sent shock waves through banks and the days of handing out credit cards to anyone are over. However if you have poor credit don’t despair there are Bad Credit Cards on the market, these are credit cards that have been designed specifically for individuals with poor credit records.
Bad Credit Cards are similar to standard credit cards although they do possess some key differences that are important to consider before applying for one of these products. The key disadvantage to Poor Credit Cards is that the interest rate tends to be much higher than that of a standard credit card as the credit card issuer is taking out a larger risk with an individual with a less than perfect credit rating. Another disadvantage to Bad Credit Cards is that they simply do not offer as many of the attractive features such as rewards schemes and cash back offers that many standard credit cards do to individuals with good credit.
A good feature of a Bad Credit Card to look out for is the ability to be able to rebuild credit. This essentially means that if you keep up with your bills for this card then you will steadily be able to improve your credit rating and in the future you may have the chance to be eligible for good credit rating products. The disadvantage to this of course is that if you do not keep up with your payments for a Bad Credit Card then it could damage your credit score even further and worsen your financial situation.
If you have a poor credit rating but want to enjoy the benefits of using a card on the internet or in shops, a great, less risky alternative is a Prepaid Card. Prepaid Cards usually accepts people from all credit backgrounds and work through customers loading them up with money and only being able to spend what they have on the card. This allows individuals to keep in control of their spending and there is no chance of damaging their credit score even further.
May 01
Poor Credit Rating Cards Explained
If you have a bad credit history then you are unlikely to get the credit card that you want. This is because given the current economic climate, banks are becoming tougher on who they grant lines of credit to. If you have a bad credit history then you are considered to be more of a risk than most, and this risk is one that many card providers are unwilling to take. However, there are now credit cards available for those who have been refused elsewhere. Poor credit rating credit cards are specifically aimed at those with a bad credit report and those who have little or no credit. They provide financial freedom for those with bad credit.
Generally, you are likely to get accepted for one of these cards whatever your financial past. They have all the same features and advantages of any standard credit card, they have worldwide acceptance, you can use them to make purchases online, over the phone, in shops and restaurants and they have useful security measures. Credit cards are an easy way of financing purchases and they are a more convenient, not to mention safer alternative to carrying around large amounts of cash. But bad credit credit cards are also designed to help you improve and rebuild your credit history. As long as the card is used correctly this will help you repair some of the damage to your credit score.
Are there any drawbacks to poor rating credit cards?
The main disadvantage of poor rating credit cards is that because you are considered to be more of a risk by the card providers, because of your credit history, you will find the interest rates can be much higher than standard credit cards. You will also find that you are likely to be given a lower credit limit because of this reason. Having said this, if you use the card sensibly, making your monthly payments on time, you will improve your credit score which will stand in your favour in the future when applying for financial products and can mean that you are granted a lower interest card with a higher credit limit. There can be fees, associated with these cards so make sure you read the terms and conditions thoroughly before applying.