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The Catch 22 of Building Credit When You Have None

Posted by J.S.

August 18, 2008

In today’s world it is almost impossible to obtain anything without having a good credit line behind you. However, when you are an individual who is just starting out in the financial world and you haven’t even had the chance to establish any credit yet, this can become extremely frustrating. You have to already have credit, to get credit. This type of problem can make any individual feel defeated very quickly. So where do you begin in this viscous circle?

Before you begin, it is important to realize how important it will be in the long run to make it a point to always pay your bills on time, and protect any type of credit you receive, no matter how small it may seem. After all, your credit line will end up following you around for the rest of your life. It can either be something that is extremely helpful to you, or it can be something that can end up causing you a lot of nightmares.

Almost everyone in today’s time either has, or plans to have cable or satellite T.V. Or, what about a telephone, or other utility? These are small things that you will more than likely want at some point in your lifetime. The bonus to having them is most of these companies report to credit bureaus. The important thing to remember is you need to climb the ladder of building good credit one-step at a time.

You could also consider obtaining a department store credit card. They generally start you out with just a small line of credit, but even this can be extremely beneficial when you are trying to build your credit history.

Students have an advantage to the credit building process. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express offer help to students who are trying to build their credit history with a low interest student credit card. Another major benefit is many times college students are offered special promotions when obtaining their student credit card.

If you have a savings account, you could consider opening a secured credit card. Approval on these cards are based on the amount of money you have in your savings account, which ensures the lending institution is protected in case you default on paying off your credit card in the amount of time agreed upon.

If you don’t already have a checking or savings account open in your name, doing so could help your chances in lending institutions seeing that you have some financial credibility.

There is also what is called a ‘no credit history’ credit card that you might consider applying for. These cards are generally unsecured cards that do not require security from a savings account. If you are unable to open the card in your name alone, some individuals use a co-signer such as a family member to help them obtain an unsecured credit card.

Building a good solid line of credit history can be frustrating to say the least. If you will stay consistent and determined, it will happen. It will also prove to be a huge advantage to you, when you stay diligent in your efforts.