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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 918323 times)

Offline Thingywingy

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1080 on: May 23, 2013, 04:24:08 PM »
Can anyone verify that being added as an AU with non-Amex card improves credit score even though they dont take SS?
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline MEIR613

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1081 on: May 23, 2013, 04:38:05 PM »
Can anyone verify that being added as an AU with non-Amex card improves credit score even though they dont take SS?
I can, but it's YMMV. 

Offline Thingywingy

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1082 on: May 23, 2013, 04:55:18 PM »
How can it be picked up by credit agency without SS?
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline htg123

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1083 on: May 23, 2013, 05:54:45 PM »
It just does...the credit reporting agencies will somehow link them...even without having the SSN

Offline Shmulyg

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1084 on: May 24, 2013, 01:48:31 AM »
It just does...the credit reporting agencies will somehow link them...even without having the SSN
+1
My father's 1993 card is on my report. He claims he never gave them my social. I don't recall what company it originally was (something obscure), but they were bought out (or something) and now it's a BoA.

Offline lechatchileh ariber

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1085 on: May 24, 2013, 01:56:06 AM »
It just does...the credit reporting agencies will somehow link them...even without having the SSN
++1
I had a chase united regular for one and a half years, never gave a social (wasn't American)
got sent a prg invite from amex in the mail(which means nothing)
but they approved me without any recon
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Offline Racer7400

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1086 on: May 29, 2013, 07:49:43 PM »
recently added someone In a bank branch
tried to add my wife as a joint account today in a branch, the banker said that they don't do this anymore. Can anyone confirm this.

EMES

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1087 on: May 29, 2013, 08:25:33 PM »
tried to add my wife as a joint account today in a branch, the banker said that they don't do this anymore. Can anyone confirm this.
was it a big branch ?
I recently did it in in Brooklyn 65 th st and 18th ave

Offline Racer7400

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1088 on: May 29, 2013, 08:31:10 PM »
was it a big branch ?
I recently did it in in Brooklyn 65 th st and 18th ave
idk what's considered a big branch. It was the one on Kennedy and the 9 next to the gas station in Lakewood. Maybe someone can fill in whether its a big one or not.

EMES

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1089 on: May 29, 2013, 08:56:27 PM »
idk what's considered a big branch. It was the one on Kennedy and the 9 next to the gas station in Lakewood. Maybe someone can fill in whether its a big one or not.
i wouldn't say that it's small since that's there most active branch in lakewood , and have. All sort of bankers there.

But try calling this Brooklyn branch Tom at 718-331-1701 and ask if they are still doing or where u can.
Regular Customers service probably won't know or be reliable 

Offline Racer7400

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1090 on: May 29, 2013, 09:29:36 PM »
i wouldn't say that it's small since that's there most active branch in lakewood , and have. All sort of bankers there.

But try calling this Brooklyn branch Tom at 718-331-1701 and ask if they are still doing or where u can.
Regular Customers service probably won't know or be reliable
i will try that.

Offline nobiggy

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1091 on: May 29, 2013, 10:38:15 PM »
credit score 720 with less than 10% debt on 3 cards is it safe to apply for some cards?

Offline Smokey Joe Robinson

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1092 on: May 29, 2013, 11:13:29 PM »
credit score 720 with less than 10% debt on 3 cards is it safe to apply for some cards?

based on that info I would say yes
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Offline Moshe123

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1093 on: May 29, 2013, 11:36:13 PM »
credit score 720 with less than 10% debt on 3 cards is it safe to apply for some cards?

IIRC,  you're still lacking history.

Online avadah

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1094 on: June 01, 2013, 05:19:56 PM »
What card is good for someone with no credit no forex and no annual fee and is not capital one (asked too many questions)? It's for someone who's now on Israel so Dan's suggestion of the Gap card won't work.

EMES

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1095 on: June 01, 2013, 10:18:51 PM »
What card is good for someone with no credit no forex and no annual fee and is not capital one (asked too many questions)? It's for someone who's now on Israel so Dan's suggestion of the Gap card won't work.
discover student card

Offline meshugener

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1096 on: June 02, 2013, 10:20:35 AM »
IIRC, you can apply for the Gap card online, so Israel shouldn't be a problem.

I think Dan even has a link.
http://www.dansdeals.com/go/
gap doesn't link to card app, but maybe he can post the link.
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Offline mnscout

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1097 on: June 02, 2013, 02:21:54 PM »
credit score 720 with less than 10% debt on 3 cards is it safe to apply for some cards?

Depends on how many cards and how long your credit history is.

Offline htg123

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Re: Credit Card For Beginners
« Reply #1098 on: June 02, 2013, 04:05:21 PM »
Which bureau does gap pull from?

Offline mnscout

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