Credit card question....

  • Thread starter Deleted member 4644
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D

Deleted member 4644

So today I applied for a credit card and got rejected. I was concerned so I looked up my credit history....

I have ZERO credit. hahaha....

So I applied for a bank student credit card. Here is my question:

The lady said something like, if you don't maintain a balance and pay the 16.74% at least a few times a year, you won't build much or any credit.

Does she mean that I have to pay interest? I had intended on paying off the balance in full every month.
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
Originally posted by: kranky
Pay it in full every month and ignore her advice.

Agreed. You don't need to carry a balance to earn credit. At the age of 21 and having two CCs never carrying a balance I had a 750 credit score. Always make payments on time as well.
 

webcammie

Senior member
Aug 24, 2005
545
0
71
agree with kranky. pay in full every month and on time. you do not and should not pay for interest just to get better credits.
 

jadinolf

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
20,952
3
81
Originally posted by: LordSegan
So today I applied for a credit card and got rejected. I was concerned so I looked up my credit history....

I have ZERO credit. hahaha....

So I applied for a bank student credit card. Here is my question:

The lady said something like, if you don't maintain a balance and pay the 16.74% at least a few times a year, you won't build much or any credit.

Does she mean that I have to pay interest? I had intended on paying off the balance in full every month.

Your lady is an idiot. Tell her jadinolf said that.
 
D

Deleted member 4644

Thanks guys. Do you suggest any other card? Maybe something with some "cool" or useful features? I will not have any problem controlling myself or paying off these cards. I have heard of Amex Blue and MC Plat Student?
 

Taggart

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2001
4,384
0
0
Originally posted by: LordSegan
Thanks guys. Do you suggest any other card? Maybe something with some "cool" or useful features? I will not have any problem controlling myself or paying off these cards. I have heard of Amex Blue and MC Plat Student?

No, one CC is fine for now.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
78,948
405
136
Originally posted by: LordSegan
Thanks guys. Do you suggest any other card? Maybe something with some "cool" or useful features? I will not have any problem controlling myself or paying off these cards. I have heard of Amex Blue and MC Plat Student?

I would just be happy to be approved if I were you. Wait until you have 1-2 years of credit history before looking for the best rewards cc.
 

Taggart

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2001
4,384
0
0
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: LordSegan
Thanks guys. Do you suggest any other card? Maybe something with some "cool" or useful features? I will not have any problem controlling myself or paying off these cards. I have heard of Amex Blue and MC Plat Student?

I would just be happy to be approved if I were you. Wait until you have 1-2 years of credit history before looking for the best rewards cc.

And then pick up the new Emigrant-Direct cc with 30% cash back :p
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
She's bullsh!tting you.

And honestly, the first rejection is what matters. After the first rejection (from my bank no less) I was approved and given a $1,000 limit on the Citibank Dividends Platinum card. That is with no credit history and no income history.
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Originally posted by: LordSegan
Thanks guys. Do you suggest any other card? Maybe something with some "cool" or useful features? I will not have any problem controlling myself or paying off these cards. I have heard of Amex Blue and MC Plat Student?



You want maximum cashback because cashback = win. It will be rewards in terms of the $ value in the end. While rewards you feel like you're getting this hotel room later on, if you add up your cashback, it should usually be more.

Get hte Citi student 5% card. Blue for Students is pathetic cuz you get like no benefits. Blue Cash ont he other hand gives you UP TO 5%, but you need to spend a lot, otherwise its 1% for gas/groceries and 0.5% for all other. Citi gives you 5% for g as/groceries and 1% f or everything else regardless of how much you spend.

I recommend getting 2 cards (Citi first) and later a Costco/AMEX card (the 3/2/1 one) where you get 3% travel? 2% eating out? 1% the rest.. I always get the 3/2 mixed up, so someone correct me, but you basically want as much cash back as possible.

Pay your balance in FULL. I do that all the time. Stick with your first card for at least 6 months. Even if it's a piece of crap with no cashback (like my first card), and by then you should have a fatty credit line if you had no late/balance problems.

Me: 10/04: approved for a POS BoA $600 student card
4/05: AMEX Blue for students 8k line
6/05: BoA Effectiva (1% cashback): 9.4k line
7/05: Denied for Citi Dividend Platinum Select
9/05: Cancelled my first PoS card (havent used it in like 4 months), combined Student and Effectiva card into a 10.4k credit line, still using Effectiva Visa
9/05: Approved for Citi Platinum Select 1.5k line (only?? wtf?)
9/05: Approved for Costco AMEX card (will cancel AMEX Blue for Students soon enough).

My FICO score as of 7/22/05 was 726. I just turned 19 one month ago.