Print Article for : One Secured Credit Cards

Your Online Guide » Credit Cards » Types of Credit Cards

[O123]One Secured Credit Cards

by Greg Aldrich, Gre

Secured credit cards are one of two types of credit cards. There are unsecured credit cards that generally only require your signature and a monthly interest rate, and perhaps an annual fee, and they will offer the consumer a designated line of credit. A secured credit card is much different, but it is an excellent way to create your credit history, or to build it back if, for instance, you have filed for bankruptcy in the past seven years or your credit is not looking so good.

Secured credit cards are easy to obtain by the general public because you are securing your line of credit with your own resources, usually with a savings deposit. This deposit will typically range from $500 to $1000, and your credit line with a secured credit card is then a percentage of that deposit, typically 50 to 100 percent. The issuing company will pay interest on your deposit, but in return there are application and processing fees associated with this type of card, sometimes totaling hundreds of dollars. Before you apply, be sure to find out what the total fees are and whether they will be refunded if you are denied a card. A secured card requires an annual fee and has a higher interest rate than an unsecured card.

Secured cards are usually easier to acquire because you are supplying the capital that you will be charging against, and this is the reason why they work well as a first credit card, or one you will be using to build your credit back up. You supply the capital and for the fees, they will manage your card and account for your transactions in a monthly statement for you.

Debit cards are a great example of how the secured credit card works. When you open an account at your neighborhood bank, they issue you checks and a debit card. You are welcome to use the debit card anywhere that credit cards are accepted as long as you have sufficient funds in your bank account. When your balance hits bottom you can no longer use your debit card until you replenish your account. It is this same principle with a secured credit card. As you run down your account you will periodically need to deposit more so you have the funds to make charges. These deposits are made by paying off the balance of the credit card in full each month. If you do not, you may forfeit your deposit and have the right to charge to the card revoked.

The process of a secured credit card is simple, but it is more costly when you include the fees, and for this reason, it is more inconvenient than an unsecured card. So to improve your credit history, keep your card with responsibility especially if you are planning any loans or investments in the future and will need record of good credit payments. Of course, keep in mind that the higher your credit score, the better your credit history will be. With a reputation of bad credit, your doors of opportunity will close quickly!

Copyright (c) Greg Aldrich

Secured credit cards are basically a savings account that uses a credit card to spend the funds. A cardholder will deposit money into an account and that amount becomes the limit for the secured credit card. You can only spend that much.

Advantages

The advantages of the secured credit card are many. First of all, there aren't interest rates to consider because you don't ever carry a balance. You can find a secured credit card through some banks and most credit unions that are simple to set up and reward customers for staying within their spending limits.

You can add money to the card if you wish and as you do so, you are creating a healthy credit history that can make it easier to get unsecured credit cards in the future. Unsecured credit cards are a great way to restore bad credit, usually taking about a year until you are able to apply for an unsecured card. These kinds of credit cards do report the activity to credit agencies, increasing your rating as you spend responsibly.

Disadvantages

The trick with secured credit cards is that you do have a limit, but if you have problems with spending, this is a good thing. If you run into an emergency, however, this can be a bad thing. You will only have the money that is on the card, so you might have troubles in those instances.

Another disadvantage is that some companies will charge an annual fee to use a secured card. Looking at the find print of these service agreements will alert you to the possibility of this and perhaps lead you to look elsewhere. Credit unions tend to waive the fee.

There are also a lot of disreputable companies that are trying to get consumers to sign up for a secured credit card to improve their credit rating, but also telling them that they need to pay exorbitant fees as well as purchase other unrelated services. If you see this kind of ‘deal' or notice that the phone number is a 900 number, don't sign up with them.

Secured credit cards can be a step in the right direction for those with poor credit, but only if you take the time to research what you're getting into and how it can truly help you.

Article Source : How To Make 3d Cards

About Author

Both Greg Aldrich & Beth Derkowitz are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Greg Aldrich has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Free Credit Report Score and Credit Cards. Greg Aldrich helps match consumers to the appropriate credit cards. His site, www.FindYourCard.com, allows anyone to sorted by features and apply on. Greg Aldrich's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.

Beth Derkowitz has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Card Offers, Credit Cards and American Express Card. . Beth Derkowitz's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.