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If you are here reading this forum/thread, you probably have heard, seen or know someone who has been leveraging credit card points for free or very low cost travel and want to get involved. While it may be very tempting to jump right in and apply for a bunch of credit cards, it is advisable to read through the forums before doing so.

For those who have no credit history, building your credit score is strongly recommended and may even be needed before applying for any credit cards.

Step 1 - Try and get added as an Authorized User (AU) on an established credit card. This card should be kept in good standing and preferably have a low credit utilization ratio.
Some have had success with Amex to get your card backdated to the primary cardholders "member since" date. Having this done will increase your credit history to that of  the account holders first Amex card.
UPDATE Amex no longer backdates any cards. Any authorized user card will show up on the AUs report as a new account, opened on the date that the AU was added. Amex is now one of the worse choices to get added as an AU to, for credit building purposes.
Chase, Citi, Bank of America and others are more likely to show the full history of the primary cardholder on the authorized user's report than Amex is.

Additional Option - In conjunction with being added as an AU, you can  sign up for a secure credit card.
A secured credit card works almost like a debit card (you need to lay out your credit limit), but this functions as a regular credit card and will help build your credit score.

Step 2 - Once you are setup as an AU, it is best to wait a few months before applying for your first card.

Your first card should be a store credit card, which are easier to get approved for, especially with very limited credit history.
Some of the store cards people apply for are Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Kohl's, Macy's, Target etc. While these cards will not give you major signup bonuses to travel with, they do give you access to exclusive promotions and other perks when purchasing from the store.

Additional Options - The CapitalOne Journey card seems to be easier to get approved for, though understand they will pull your credit from all three agencies, while most banks only pull from one.

Discover has a student card you can apply for here. This can also be an easier option to getting approved for your first card. Their regular IT card (not student) seems to be pretty easy to get approved for with little to no credit history as well.

Step 3 - Pay your bill before your statement closes (cut off date), but leave a minimal amount remaining to be paid after your statement closes. This will help ensure that you have both a low CC utilization while establishing a good credit payment history. (This applies to new spending from this month.  Anything already 'due' should be paid in full.)

Step 4 - After using your first card for a few months, you will be ready to apply for the cards you will have read and heard so much about. Remember that getting accepted for a credit card is a combination of many factors like credit history and your credit score, but it is also dependent on the income that you claim* you make.  Income is not part of your credit report or score.

Step 5 - This is a brief synopsis of what to do when applying for credit cards. There are additional factors one should understand before applying for credit cards. DDF is a great resource and there are many people willing to answer your questions (which you should ask, albeit after attempting a search) 

*If you are under 21, you are legally only allowed to report personal income. Personal income, however, can include allowances and scholarships.
If you are over 21, you can claim any income which you have reasonable access to in order to pay back the bill, which includes the income of others in the household (spouse/parent), or anyone supporting you. Additionally, while most banks will not have you verify your income, it does happen and you should be prepared to show them. This is particularly prevalent with American Express, and is known as a Financial Review (FR).
« Last edited by S209 on September 09, 2018, 01:45:26 AM »

Author Topic: Credit Card For Beginners  (Read 918550 times)

Offline yosefsv

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4480 on: August 31, 2019, 09:28:16 PM »
Pm me for a sign up link
Its against the rules of DDF
If it benefits even just one fellow DDFer, its worth posting it.

Offline Shlomo1

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4481 on: September 02, 2019, 01:25:18 PM »
Haven't heard otherwise
So how can it be a good idea as your first CC?
Thank You

Offline TimT

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4482 on: September 02, 2019, 01:47:20 PM »
So how can it be a good idea as your first CC?
Thank You
Perhaps easier to get approved ? I dunno. Who said it’s a good idea ?

Offline Yammer

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4483 on: September 02, 2019, 02:38:01 PM »
Amex Biz CC sole proprietorship that got a CL of 2k ... with a decent income. When asking for CL increase, up to what can I request without causing an issue? I want  to jump to a 20-30k CL..is that even feasible?

Offline Joel

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4484 on: September 02, 2019, 04:41:08 PM »
Amex Biz CC sole proprietorship that got a CL of 2k ... with a decent income. When asking for CL increase, up to what can I request without causing an issue? I want  to jump to a 20-30k CL..is that even feasible?
Amex biz is a charge card, you shouldn't have any type of limit technically.

Offline Joel

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4485 on: September 02, 2019, 04:44:31 PM »
would it work to lock 2 of them?
NO


So how can it be a good idea as your first CC?
Thank You
Easier to get approved

Offline TravelSER

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4486 on: September 02, 2019, 04:49:31 PM »
Amex biz is a charge card, you shouldn't have any type of limit technically.
?? They have both.

Offline Yammer

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4487 on: September 02, 2019, 07:12:42 PM »
Amex biz is a charge card, you shouldn't have any type of limit technically.
-1
?? They have both.
Correct. It's the Amex Business Plus. It's a reg CC

Offline Joel

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4488 on: September 02, 2019, 07:55:17 PM »
-1Correct. It's the Amex Business Plus. It's a reg CC
I stand corrected.
You can request a credit line increase every 6 months 3x your current CL.
With amex you wont get a HP for a CLI request. Good luck!

Offline Yammer

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4489 on: September 02, 2019, 11:17:36 PM »
I stand corrected.
You can request a credit line increase every 6 months 3x your current CL.
With amex you wont get a HP for a CLI request. Good luck!
Thanks.

 I'm wondering though if i go waay higher ( as the current CL is a joke ). Like a min of 15k or more like 20-30k

Offline Joel

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4490 on: September 02, 2019, 11:20:32 PM »
Thanks.

 I'm wondering though if i go waay higher ( as the current CL is a joke ). Like a min of 15k or more like 20-30k
You wont get aproved for more then x3.
Mabey you can transfer existing CL from another amex card. I know you can transfer personal to business online but not vice versa.

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4491 on: September 02, 2019, 11:21:41 PM »
You wont get aproved for more then x3.
Mabey you can transfer existing CL from another amex card. I know you can transfer personal to business online but not vice versa.
If I request more will it be a no, or is there a chance for a partial?

Offline Joel

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4492 on: September 02, 2019, 11:23:01 PM »
If I request more will it be a no, or is there a chance for a partial?
Never tried, but you can try and see what happens since it's only a soft pull.

Offline sams

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4493 on: September 03, 2019, 01:52:39 AM »
Anyway to get a late payment removed from credit reports besides asking creditor or disputing ?

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4494 on: September 03, 2019, 08:54:32 PM »
You wont get aproved for more then x3.
Mabey you can transfer existing CL from another amex card. I know you can transfer personal to business online but not vice versa.
Update.

Requested more, was only approved for x3...

Offline grodnoking

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4495 on: September 03, 2019, 09:32:24 PM »
If I request more will it be a no, or is there a chance for a partial?
Never tried, but you can try and see what happens since it's only a soft pull.
Dont request more than 3x. Can cause a FR.
Edit: see I'm too late. It can cause an fr but not necessarily.
I'm not who you think I am.

Offline mord1

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4496 on: September 05, 2019, 09:08:58 AM »
I am starting my mother off on getting some cards, what is the current order you would do?  0 apps within 24 months.  I want her to have an american and united card for free bags, but other than that- she is in for all points

Offline Joel

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4497 on: September 05, 2019, 10:27:23 AM »
I am starting my mother off on getting some cards, what is the current order you would do?  0 apps within 24 months.  I want her to have an american and united card for free bags, but other than that- she is in for all points
does she have any prior credit history?

Offline mord1

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4498 on: September 05, 2019, 05:47:23 PM »
does she have any prior credit history?
AU for years,  i never realized she didnt have any of her own cards,  been on a mortgage,  good score,  I think she would be able to get anything.  I was thinking sapphire reserve, united explorer and freedom unlimted, to start-  will chase approve all 3 in a short time span?

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #4499 on: September 05, 2019, 06:56:24 PM »
AU for years,  i never realized she didnt have any of her own cards,  been on a mortgage,  good score,  I think she would be able to get anything.  I was thinking sapphire reserve, united explorer and freedom unlimted, to start-  will chase approve all 3 in a short time span?
Go easy with chase start with the preferred then citi premier. After 3 months go for another chase card depending on what you can benefit most then an amex card after that another chase. Dont go to quick with chase and pop in a few other applications in beetwine