Is it possible to get a no fee credit card for someone with no credit?

[balloonshark]

I'm not looking for lectures. I'm just exploring the possibility of getting a credit card without fees to pay bills and shop online so I don't have to use my debit card. I will pay off what is charged to any credit card monthly to keep a zero balance.

Haven't had a loan since 2001 so I have no credit. I have avoided banks until I finally had to get a free checking account at Huntington bank a few years ago to save on money orders. I have Amazon Prime and a Paypal account for shopping if that helps since they have cards.

I want to stress that the card will be paid off monthly and that I only want one because it offers protections that a debit card does not. I find myself having to use my debit card online more and more without paypal.

 

[highland145]

Secured visa but you have to put $ up front. You get it back after a year of paying on time and an unsecured card.

 

[BoomerD]

Or...he could just go visit our resident loan shark and get a bubbacard...

 

[Scarpozzi]

Check Amazon....they have a Chase card I think. You can always start with a $300 limit or something modest... it's what I did when I was 18. Fees usually are tied to 'perks and rewards'. My first credit card was from my bank. They make money because they charge upwards of 17% interest and 2% transaction fees. They don't deserve annual fees too unless you get something good in return.

 

[OccamsToothbrush]

Secured card is one way to go. With a secured card you can get credit even if you've defaulted on loans and are viewed as a bad risk. But for a person with no credit history it's even easier. You can get a no-fee, unsecured card with no credit history, that's how you build credit. It will have a relatively low credit limit and a very high interest rate, but if you pay off your balance every month that won't matter. Charge, pay in full, repeat for a year and you'll have a good enough record to get a real card. Try CapitolOne, they specialize in that kind of thing.

 

[highland145]

Or...he could just go visit our resident loan shark and get a bubbacard...

He won't get that $ interest free.

 

[OccamsToothbrush]

He won't get that $ interest free.

He will if Bubba can't find him. Take the loan, move to Burkina Faso, profit. And besides, even if you get caught, kneecaps can grow back after they get torn off, right?

 

[BoomerD]

He won't get that $ interest free.

He won't get ANY money interest free...

 

[balloonshark]

Thanks for the input. I don't remember hearing about secured cards before. I'll look into it. I also see the Capitol One card OT mentioned.

It looks my bank has a no annual fee card with the choice of rewards or lower interest. I understand that if I could qualify I would have a low credit limit and higher interest rate.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

He won't get ANY money interest free...

Incorrect. I haven't paid interest on my main cards in many years. Not a penny. I pay off in full each month like the OP is planning to do.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

It looks my bank has a no annual fee card with the choice of rewards or lower interest. I understand that if I could qualify ...

Ask them first before you try anywhere else. If you have a checking or savings balance and haven't had any problems for some time, they'll be more likely to approve than others.

 

[BoomerD]

Incorrect. I haven't paid interest on my main cards in many years. Not a penny. I pay off in full each month like the OP is planning to do.

But do you have established (good) credit?

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Yes (hovers around 800), but I got it that way by paying off the cards in full each month so I didn't carry a balance to incur interest charges.

OP can do the same thing starting out. The stated interest may be high, but as long as the balance is paid off, none will be assessed.

 

[Hans Gruber]

I don't think the OP will need a secured credit card since the OP has had credit/loans in the past. But something like a $500-1000 limit.

 

[BoomerD]

Yes (hovers around 800), but I got it that way by paying off the cards in full each month so I didn't carry a balance to incur interest charges.

OP can do the same thing starting out. The stated interest may be high, but as long as the balance is paid off, none will be assessed.

Now you're getting my point. Are zero interest cards available? Hell yes. Is he gonna get one with no or bad credit? Fuck no.

 

[OccamsToothbrush]

Now you're getting my point. Are zero interest cards available? Hell yes. Is he gonna get one with no or bad credit? Fuck no.

You're not getting your own point, if you even managed to make one. Nobody is looking for a "zero interest" card and that was never mentioned once in this entire thread except by you. Not paying interest is something hundreds of thousands or even millions of people manage to do every month. Get a card with 500% interest, pay if off in full every month, PAY ZERO INTEREST. What part of that is too complicated for you? I have not paid a penny in interest in 20 years and don't even know what the rate on my primary card is because I don't give a fuck. I pay it off and carry no balance.

OP is looking for a zero FEE card with no credit history.

Is such a card available? Yes. Is he going to get one? Easily. I had a freaking zero fee card when I was 17. It had like a $100 limit (which back then wasn't bad) and high interest, but getting it was a piece of cake and it's just as easy now. And I didn't pay interest back then either.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

But you're missing mine. It doesn't matter if the card he gets states 30% interest. It only matters that he pays off the balance in full every month before the due date. By doing so, he'll never see an interest charge.

He DOES have to be careful though to understand when and how any card assesses interest. Most do it only on any balance left unpaid after the due date. Charge $500, pay $100, get assessed interest on the $400 remaining.

SOME cards assess interest from the date of purchase. Even if you intend to pay it off by the due date, you can still see interest applied between the purchase date and the statement date. Charge $100 on the 10th and $150 on the 25th. If the statement date is the 26th, you'll see more interest on the $100 purchase. Those are the less ethical cards.

 

[highland145]

I don't think the OP will need a secured credit card since the OP has had credit/loans in the past. But something like a $500-1000 limit.

2001 means no credit but he definitely should check with his bank.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

OP is looking for a zero FEE card with no credit history.

Is such a card available? Yes. Is he going to get one? Easily.

Could be a matter of terminology .. fee .. interest. There are cards with no annual fee. Both of my major cards are that way. It's less likely that somone with no history will get one of those though. Credit is tighter these days.

But that's why I suggested he contact his bank first.

 

[ElFenix]

someone with a job who pays bills on time (even if they aren't loans) can almost certainly get something without it being secured and a fee

 

[BoomerD]

You're not getting your own point, if you even managed to make one. Nobody is looking for a "zero interest" card and that was never mentioned once in this entire thread except by you. Not paying interest is something hundreds of thousands or even millions of people manage to do every month. Get a card with 500% interest, pay if off in full every month, PAY ZERO INTEREST. What part of that is too complicated for you? I have not paid a penny in interest in 20 years and don't even know what the rate on my primary card is because I don't give a fuck. I pay it off and carry no balance.

OP is looking for a zero FEE card with no credit history.

Is such a card available? Yes. Is he going to get one? Easily. I had a freaking zero fee card when I was 17. It had like a $100 limit (which back then wasn't bad) and high interest, but getting it was a piece of cake and it's just as easy now. And I didn't pay interest back then either.

He won't get that $ interest free.

that's what started the "no interest" part of the conversation.

 

[highland145]

someone with a job who pays bills on time (even if they aren't loans) can almost certainly get something without it being secured and a fee

There is (?) supposed to be a change where utilities are included. Haven't seen it on a report. Might be another credit agency besides equifax. Imo, would be a good thing.

 

[Brainonska511]

someone with a job who pays bills on time (even if they aren't loans) can almost certainly get something without it being secured and a fee

Pretty much this. I've known plenty of people who don't have a credit history who manage to get a no annual fee card, even some of the ones with better rewards.

 

[bononos]

Its probably a good idea to buy items on credit now and then just to maintain or build up your score.

 

[Red Squirrel]

When I turned 18 I got a card and don't think there was a fee. Given I had no steady income I would not have been able to afford a fee so made sure there was none. It was just used for online one time purchases which I would pay back. (using birthday money, or money from summer job etc). Everyone should get a card when they turn 18 as it's a good way to build credit. The requirements are pretty low. As long as you know how to breathe you should be able to get one.