Credit FAQ
How can I find out about my credit profile?
Choose "Credit Reports" from the main menu of this web site and select any of the offers to order a copy of your credit report.
Secured or unsecured credit card?
For secured credit card, a deposit is required. The deposit is kept in a savings account by the credit card issuer usually for a one year grace period. After that period you may be granted unsecured credit depending on your agreement with the creditor. Unsecured credit cards do not require a deposit, however an account setup fee and/or annual fee might be required by the credit card issuing company. The amount varies depending on the creditor and your credit profile. If you have good credit you can usually obtain very good terms such as no setup fee, no annual fee, and low-introductory APR.
You should apply for secured credit card if:
- your credit profile does not qualify you for unsecured credit (See below what a credit profile is).
- you are asked to pay setup or annual fees that you consider too high and you would rather confront the deposit.
- you have been denied of unsecured credit recently and you are unable or unwilling to repair the problem that lead to denial.
- you prefer secured credit for personal or financial reasons.
You should only apply for unsecured credit if you meet the requirements of the creditor you are applying with.
Why should I get a copy of my credit report?
It might be necessary for you to get a copy of your credit report to find out about your credit worthiness. When you apply for credit, the creditor looks at your credit report to decide if they are going to grant you the credit you applied for. Another good reason is to make sure that the information on your credit report is accurate. Derogatory information on your credit report may affect your credit rating even if it was placed there by mistake. Possible criminal activities, such as identity theft, will also be revealed once you review your report.
Too many rejected applications are not good. True or False?
Yes, it is true. Some creditors may reject your credit application if you have too many recent inquires on your credit profile made by other creditors. It may make you appear desperate for credit.
Why would anyone need credit monitoring?
Unauthorized entries in your credit profile may appear as a result of fraudulent and/or criminal activities (such as identity theft). Credit monitoring will enable you to find out about such activities before they may cause sufficient damage to your credit profile.
If I order a credit report how does it affect my credit?
The companies that we recommend for such services will request a copy of your credit profile on your behalf. Every inquiry including the ones on your behalf will show up on your credit profile as a new entry. The nature of the inquiry will be indicated on the new entry. Creditors do not use such inquires in their approval process. You should read the service agreement before ordering a credit report to make sure that they are pulling your record on your behalf.
I have recently been denied of credit. Should I apply again?
Do not apply for another credit card without making sure that you will qualify. If you didn't do so yet, find out the reason for denial. This can be done by contacting the credit card issuer that denied the credit and questioning them about the reason for denial. Also, you can ask them for the name and phone number of the credit bureau they used to obtain a copy of your credit profile. If you call the credit bureau within 60 days of the denial, then you are entitled for a free copy of your credit report. The reason for denial is usually one of the following:
- insufficient credit history
- bad credit
- too many accounts
- too many new accounts
Once you know what the problem is you can make your plan on how to deal with it.
If you have too many accounts or too many new accounts you may need to simply wait and let your accounts age naturally while keeping a good payment history. Alternatively, you may want to eliminate some accounts that you don't really need. If you are unsure about your decision, it is best to consult a credit professional.
I see similar services offered on this site. Which one do I choose?
We recommend the top two companies available for each category of service. Although services offered on this site are selected based on quality, the terms, prices, and requirements may vary. You should read the details of each service you might be interested in and choose the most appropriate one.
I have no credit history, how do I establish credit?
The simplest way is by obtaining a secured credit card from a creditor that offers to grant you unsecured credit after a grace period, which is usually one year. It is vital that you keep yourself to the terms agreed on with the creditor. The most important of such terms is to be on time with your payments. The terms are not limited to only that. Make sure that you understand your agreement with the creditor. Not keeping yourself to the terms will not only risk your qualification for unsecured credit, but it might even degrade your credit profile.
I have bad credit, what do I do?
You should contact a credit professional who is specialized in credit repair to assist you.
What is a credit profile?
Credit profile refers to a consumer credit file from the credit reporting system, which is made up of various consumer credit reporting bureaus. It is a picture of how you (as an individual) paid back the companies from whom you borrowed money, or how you have met other financial obligations.
There are usually five categories of information in a credit profile:
- Identifying information
- Employment information
- Credit information
- Public record information
- Inquiries
What is an inquiry and how does it get on a credit profile?
An inquiry is a listing of the name of a credit grantor or authorized user who has accessed your credit file. Each inquiry is posted to the credit file so you know who has obtained a copy of it. Credit grantors post an inquiry before offering you a pre-approved credit card application. These are listed as "promotional" inquiries on your credit file because only your name and address were accessed, not your credit history information. They are NOT sent to credit grantors or businesses for reasons of credit reporting. They are listed for your informational purposes only.
