Comparar Aplicar ahora En el sitio web seguro En pocas palabras
Si tiene un crédito pésimo y está buscando una manera de reconstruirlo; Milestone Mastercard® es una buena opción. Hay un proceso de precalificación rápido que no afecta su puntaje crediticio, una tasa de interés modesta y una tarifa anual de $35 a $99.
Lea la reseña Requisitos de puntaje crediticio:Los requisitos de puntaje crediticio se basan en la propia investigación de tasas de aprobación de Money Under 30; cumplir con el puntaje mínimo le dará la mejor oportunidad de ser aprobado para la tarjeta de crédito de su elección. Si no conoce su puntaje de crédito, use nuestra herramienta gratuita de estimación de puntaje de crédito para tener una mejor idea de para qué tarjetas calificará. *Money Under 30 utiliza un puntaje FICO 8, que es uno de los muchos tipos diferentes de puntajes de crédito. *Un acreedor puede usar un puntaje diferente al decidir si le aprueba el crédito. Pobre 500-599 Regular 600-699 Bueno 700-749 Excelente 750-850 Lo que nos gusta:
Tarifa anual de $35 a $99
Fácil proceso de precalificación
La bancarrota anterior está bien
La precalificación instantánea está disponible para aquellos que califiquen
Un crédito menos que perfecto está bien
Acceda a su cuenta en línea o desde su dispositivo móvil 24/7
El historial de la cuenta se informa a las tres principales agencias de crédito de los EE. UU.
Cuota anual $35 - $99* APR regular 24.9% APR introductorio APR introductorio Compras N/A , N/A APR introductorio Transferencias de saldo N / A ,
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Análisis en profundidad de nuestras principales tarjetas de crédito para personas con puntajes de crédito entre 600 y 649 Tarjeta de crédito con recompensas en efectivo QuicksilverOne de Capital One – Lo mejor para recompensas diarias de devolución de dinero por un crédito justo Solicite ahora en el sitio web de Secure Capital One Características de la tarjeta: Tarifa anual:$39.
TAE:26,99% (Variable).
¿Recompensas?:1,5 % de reembolso en efectivo en todas las compras.
Por qué la tarjeta de crédito Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards es una buena opción para quienes tienen un crédito justo
La tarjeta de crédito QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards de Capital One es una tarjeta de crédito sin garantía, con recompensas en efectivo. Obtendrá un reembolso del 1,5 % en efectivo en todas las compras, todos los días; no hay categorías de gastos rotativos.
Su línea de crédito se puede aumentar después de solo seis pagos mensuales a tiempo. La tarjeta también incluye responsabilidad por fraude de $0 y una tarifa anual de solo $39.
Cómo usar la tarjeta de crédito Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards
Si mejorar su puntaje de crédito no fue suficiente, será elegible para un límite de crédito más alto después de realizar sus primeros seis pagos mensuales a tiempo. Eso ayudará a aumentar su puntaje de crédito de dos maneras:
Los pagos a tiempo le darán una buena referencia crediticia.
El aumento del límite de crédito puede mejorar su índice de utilización de crédito.
Por qué es posible que no desee considerar la tarjeta de crédito Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
El aumento de la línea de crédito podría tentarlo a aumentar también sus gastos y niveles de deuda. Si desea mejorar su puntaje de crédito, endeudarse más es lo último que necesita.
Tome esta tarjeta solo si puede pagar el saldo cada mes.
Vea los detalles de la tarjeta/solicite o lea nuestra revisión completa de la tarjeta de crédito Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards.
Tarjeta de crédito Visa® Petal® 1 "sin cargo anual":la mejor para reconstruir el crédito sin cargo Aplicar ahora en el sitio web seguro Características de la tarjeta: Tarifa anual:$0.
TAE:22,24% - 31,74% Variable.
Recompensas:2 % a 10 % de reembolso en efectivo en compras en comerciantes seleccionados.
Por qué la tarjeta de crédito Visa® Petal® 1 "Sin cargo anual" es una buena opción para quienes tienen un crédito justo
La tarjeta de crédito Visa® Petal® 1 "Sin cargo anual" acepta solicitantes con crédito limitado o sin crédito, y consideran su historial bancario y de ahorros además de su puntaje, para que puedan obtener una imagen completa de sus finanzas. Si se aprueba, Petal informa los pagos a tiempo a las tres agencias de crédito, lo que convierte a esta tarjeta en una excelente manera de comenzar a construir su puntaje de crédito.
Con la tarjeta de crédito Visa® Petal® 1 "Sin cargo anual", obtiene algunos de los beneficios que encontraría en una tarjeta que requiere un puntaje más alto. No solo no hay una tarifa anual, sino que también disfrutará de recompensas de reembolso en efectivo de entre el 2 % y el 10 % en comerciantes seleccionados.
Cómo utilizar Petal® 1 Tarjeta de Crédito Visa® “Sin Cuota Anual”
Todo lo que tendrá que hacer para comenzar a mejorar su crédito es pagar su factura a tiempo cada mes. Una vez que haya calificado para la tarjeta de crédito Visa® Petal® 1 "Sin cargo anual", se le dará acceso a una aplicación que lo ayudará a rastrear las ofertas actuales de devolución de efectivo disponibles para usted. Realice compras en esos comercios y obtendrá un reembolso en efectivo, que se entregará como un crédito en el estado de cuenta.
La aplicación de Petal también puede ayudarlo a administrar sus pagos mensuales y realizar un seguimiento de sus gastos, por lo que es una herramienta útil para tener a su disposición.
Por qué es posible que no desee considerar la Petal® 1 Tarjeta de Crédito Visa® “Sin Cuota Anual”
El 22.24% - 31.74% APR variable es bajo para una tarjeta de crédito diseñada para personas con crédito justo. Pero la tasa es variable y puede haber una gran diferencia entre el extremo superior e inferior de ese espectro.
También puede considerar una tarjeta de crédito Visa® Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" después de haber acumulado crédito, ya que la tarjeta de crédito Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® paga del 1% al 1.5 % de reembolso en efectivo en todas las compras además del 2% al 10% en comerciantes seleccionados.
Ver detalles de la tarjeta/aplicar.
Tarjeta de crédito Capital One Platinum:la mejor para reconstruir el crédito Aplicar ahora en el sitio web seguro Características de la tarjeta: Tarifa anual:$0.
TAE:26,99% (Variable).
¿Recompensas?:1% de reembolso en efectivo en compras elegibles.
Por qué la tarjeta de crédito Capital One Platinum es una buena opción para quienes tienen un crédito justo
La tarjeta de crédito Capital One Platinum es una verdadera tarjeta de crédito para personas con crédito justo o limitado y tampoco está asegurada. Los tarjetahabientes serán automáticamente considerados para una línea de crédito más alta en tan solo seis meses. No hay cuota anual.
La tarjeta de crédito Capital One Platinum también ofrece 1% de reembolso en efectivo en compras elegibles, $0 de responsabilidad por fraude y beneficios de exención de daños por colisión de alquiler de automóviles.
Cómo usar la tarjeta de crédito Capital One Platinum
Como todas las tarjetas de crédito para obtener un crédito justo, su objetivo principal es mejorar su puntaje crediticio al realizar sus pagos a tiempo.
También querrá evitar aumentar su saldo y dañar su índice de utilización de crédito. La línea de crédito potencial aumenta en tan solo seis meses después de la revisión del límite de crédito, lo que ayudará con esa proporción, siempre que no utilice el crédito adicional.
Por qué es posible que no desee considerar la tarjeta de crédito Capital One Platinum
Las recompensas de devolución de efectivo en combinación con posibles aumentos en la línea de crédito pueden hacer que usted pida prestado más de lo que puede pagar. Tenga cuidado con esta combinación.
Vea los detalles de la tarjeta/solicite o lea nuestra revisión completa de la tarjeta de crédito Capital One Platinum.
Tarjeta de crédito asegurada Capital One Platinum:la mejor para el extremo inferior del crédito justo Aplicar ahora en el sitio web seguro Características de la tarjeta: Tarifa anual:$0.
TAE:26,99% (Variable).
Línea de crédito:$200.
¿Recompensas?:N/A.
Por qué la tarjeta de crédito asegurada Capital One Platinum es una buena opción para quienes tienen un crédito justo
Como tarjeta asegurada, la tarjeta de crédito asegurada Capital One Platinum es especialmente buena para puntajes de crédito más bajos. También ofrece requisitos de depósito de seguridad que pueden ser inferiores a su límite de crédito. Por ejemplo, según su solvencia crediticia, su depósito puede ser de $49, $99 o $200 en una línea de crédito de $200.
No hay cuota anual. Su límite de crédito puede aumentar después de la revisión de la línea de crédito en tan solo seis meses, sin aumento en el requisito de depósito de seguridad.
Cómo utilizar la tarjeta de crédito garantizada Capital One Platinum
Haga su depósito de seguridad, sea considerado automáticamente para una línea de crédito más alta en tan solo seis meses y su límite de crédito aumentará. Capital One informa a los tres repositorios de crédito principales. Los pagos a tiempo mejorarán su historial de pagos, mientras que el aumento del límite de crédito mejorará su índice de utilización de crédito.
Por qué es posible que no desee considerar la tarjeta de crédito asegurada Capital One Platinum
Si su crédito está en el extremo inferior de la feria y necesita reconstruirlo, esta es una excelente tarjeta para trabajar. Pero si es posible, es posible que esté mejor con una tarjeta de crédito sin garantía, que le permitirá evitar el depósito.
Vea los detalles de la tarjeta/solicite o lea nuestra revisión completa de la tarjeta de crédito asegurada Capital One Platinum.
Tarjeta de crédito OpenSky® Secured Visa®:la mejor opción sin verificación de crédito Aplicar ahora en el sitio web seguro Características de la tarjeta: Cuota anual:$35.
TAE normal:18,89 % (variable).
APR introductorio:N/A.
Por qué la tarjeta de crédito OpenSky® Secured Visa® es una buena opción para quienes tienen un crédito justo
La tarjeta de crédito OpenSky® Secured Visa® es una buena opción de tarjeta de crédito para quienes tienen un crédito justo porque no verifican su informe de crédito, por lo que su puntaje de crédito no es un factor en su solicitud. También recibirá una decisión instantánea sobre su solicitud.
Como tarjeta de crédito asegurada, su depósito de seguridad es su línea de crédito. Puede elegir su propia línea de crédito, con un depósito tan bajo como $200 si le conviene, o tan alto como $3,000. Además, la tarifa anual es de solo $35, que es menos que otras marcas de tarjetas de crédito.
Cómo utilizar la tarjeta de crédito OpenSky® Secured Visa®
Para comenzar, deberá establecer su límite de crédito colocando su depósito de seguridad con OpenSky. Realizará compras con su tarjeta y sus pagos mínimos puntuales ayudarán a mejorar su puntaje crediticio.
Considere usar la tarjeta de crédito OpenSky® Secured Visa® para pagar sus facturas diarias, como la factura de su teléfono celular.
Con pagos puntuales, podría ser elegible para un aumento de la línea de crédito después de seis meses.
Por qué es posible que no desee utilizar la tarjeta de crédito OpenSky® Secured Visa®
Si tiene dificultades para pagar su saldo en su totalidad todos los meses, es posible que la tarjeta de crédito OpenSky® Secured Visa® no sea adecuada para usted. Llevar un saldo generará cargos por intereses, y esos costos adicionales podrían afectar su presupuesto.
Además, si no paga sus pagos mínimos a tiempo, no ayudará a su puntaje de crédito, ¿y no es ese el punto?
Ver detalles/aplicar.
Tarjeta de crédito Indigo® Mastercard®- La mejor tarjeta de crédito para personas que se han declarado en bancarrota recientemente Aplicar ahora en el sitio web seguro Características de la tarjeta: Tarifa anual:$0 - $99.
TAE:24,9%.
Línea de crédito:$300.
¿Recompensas?:N/A.
Por qué Indigo® Mastercard® es una buena opción para quienes tienen un crédito justo
Es posible tener una bancarrota en el pasado y tener un puntaje de crédito entre 600 y 649. Eso puede suceder si tuvo un buen crédito durante los últimos dos años, pero una bancarrota justo antes de eso. Si es así, la tarjeta de crédito Indigo® Mastercard® es una excelente opción.
Comenzará con una línea de crédito de $300 y la tarifa anual puede llegar a los $99. Pero es una línea no segura, por lo que no necesitará proporcionar un depósito de seguridad.
Cómo utilizar la tarjeta de crédito Indigo® Mastercard®
Realice sus pagos mínimos a tiempo cada mes y comenzará a desarrollar una buena referencia crediticia con cada una de las tres principales agencias de crédito.
Aún mejor, pague su saldo en su totalidad cada mes para evitar la acumulación de cargos por intereses.
Por qué es posible que no desee considerar la tarjeta de crédito Indigo® Mastercard®
Esta es otra tarjeta de crédito con una tarifa anual elevada. Según su crédito, puede ser cero, $59 o $75 el primer año y $99 a partir de entonces.
Vea los detalles/solicite o lea nuestra revisión completa de la tarjeta de crédito Indigo® Mastercard®.
Milestone Mastercard® – La mejor tarjeta de crédito para todos los tipos de crédito Aplicar ahora en el sitio web seguro Características de la tarjeta: Tarifa anual:$35 a $99.
TAE:24,9%.
Línea de crédito:$300 o más.
¿Recompensas?:N/A.
Por qué Milestone Mastercard® es una buena opción para quienes tienen un crédito justo
The Milestone Mastercard® is an unsecured credit card, with a minimum $300 credit line, and no security deposit required. It’s an excellent card if your credit score is in the low 600s, and you need to rebuild.
They report to all three credit bureaus, so your good payment history can move you up to the next credit score bracket — and the better offers that come with it.
How to use the Milestone Mastercard®
As is the case with all credit cards for people with fair credit, it’s critical to make your monthly payments on time. You should also make every effort to pay your balance in full each month.
Why you might not want to consider the Milestone Mastercard®
The annual fee is high for a potentially low credit limit. Depending on your credit profile, the annual fee will be either $35, $59, or $75 in the first year, and $99 thereafter. That’ll take a serious chunk out of a $300 credit limit.
See card details/apply or read our full Milestone Mastercard® review.
Summary of the best credit cards if your FICO score is between 600 to 649 (Fair Credit)
In the table below, we summarized the main information for each of the credit cards we presented as the best cards if your FICO Score is between 600 and 649:
Card/Category Initial credit limit Annual fee APR range Secured/Unsecured? Features Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Not specified $39 26.99% (Variable) Unsecured Cash back, $0 fraud liability Yes Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card $500-$5,000 $0 22.24% - 31.74% Variable Unsecured Cash back, reports to all three credit bureaus Yes Capital One Platinum Credit Card Not specified $0 26.99% (Variable) Unsecured $0 fraud liability Yes Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card $200 $0 26.99% (Variable) Secured, requires a deposit of $49, $99, or $200 N/A Yes OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card $200 - $3,000 $35 18.89% (Variable) Secured No credit check or bank account required to open an account Yes Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card $300 $0 - $99 24.9% Unsecured N/A Yes Milestone Mastercard® $300 or more $35 to $99 24.9% Unsecured N/A Yes
How we came up with this list
We started by isolating the cards known to be available to those in the 600 to 649 credit score range. From there, we pared the list down based on the following criteria:
Does the card issuer report to all three major credit bureaus — TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax — giving you an opportunity to raise your credit score with all three?
Are we featuring a mix of secured and unsecured credit cards? Secured cards may be necessary for those at the lower end of the fair credit score range, but not everyone is comfortable making a security deposit, and some at the upper end of this credit score range may qualify for an unsecured card.
Credit limits should be high enough to be usable, but not so high as to put you deep in debt.
Annual fees should be nonexistent or at least low (maximum under $100).
Does the card offer the ability to increase your credit line after a period of responsible card use and consistently repaid balances?
Does the card offer any extra features typically associated with cards for higher credit scores, like rewards or cash back?
What is fair credit?
Fair credit is a general term used to describe a span of credit scores from 580 to 669. That’s a very broad range, but it’s based on figures reported by major credit bureaus.
But that’s just the starting point. What’s considered a ‘fair’ credit score can vary by industry and sometimes even by lender.
For example, mortgage lenders generally will not make a loan to someone whose credit score is below 620. For all intents and purposes then, a credit score of 605 is considered poor for mortgage applicants.
A bank or credit union that makes auto loans may set the minimum credit score at 650, below which they won’t extend credit. From their standpoint, a credit score below 650 is considered poor.
This is why you don’t want to spend too much time in the fair credit score range. The best way to get out is by taking new, small credit lines, then making your payments on time every month. It will enable your good payment history to gradually overcome your bad payment history.
How to maximize a credit card for fair credit
The best way to use a credit card for fair credit is to make a small amount of monthly purchases and repay your charges in full each month.
The interest rates (APRs) on these cards may be higher than on credit cards designed for consumers with good credit, so you’ll want to avoid using them to pay off purchases over time.
As your credit improves, you’ll be better qualified to apply for a card with a lower interest rate or more lucrative rewards in the future.
The most important features of credit cards if your FICO score is between 600 and 649
If your FICO Score is between 600 and 649, shopping for a credit card is different than it would be if your score was, say, over 700. You’ll be less concerned with factors like cash rewards, travel benefits, and 0% introductory APRs. Your needs will be more basic, and will focus on a combination of the cost and usability of the card.
The main purpose of getting a credit card in this credit score range is to use it as a tool to improve or rebuild your credit score. Only then will you be eligible for the more generous credit card offers.
Here are the factors that are most important:
Annual Percentage Rate – APR
You may have noticed that many credit cards come with wide interest rate spreads, like 14.99% to 24.99%. With a credit score between 600 and 649, you’re much more likely to be offered an interest rate on the higher end of a given range.
This is a primary reason why we recommend throughout this guide that you keep your credit card balance to an absolute minimum. It’s possible to use a credit card to increase your credit score and to do so at a very low cost. But if you carry a balance, the interest cost will be substantial.
Cuota anual
The annual fee should be carefully assessed with any credit card you apply for, even if you have perfect credit. But it matters even more when you’re in the fair credit range. That’s because benefits offered by credit cards for fair credit are relatively minimal, so their combined value is unlikely to compensate or make up for a high annual fee.
That doesn’t mean cards with annual fees should be ignored completely. If you’re unable to get a credit card with no annual fee, a card with a relatively low annual fee is the next best option. It can still help you to either rebuild or improve your credit score, and if you use the card responsibly your score should eventually improve enough that you can cancel the card and switch to an unsecured card with no annual fee, or a card offering a benefits package that substantially outweighs its annual fee cost.
Additional card benefits
The fair credit range is where you start getting more generous credit card features. This could include $0 fraud liability for unauthorized charges, collision damage waiver on rental cars, free credit scores, and other perks.
On our list, we included several credit cards that provide cash back rewards.
All of these benefits are better to have than not. But they should never be the primary reason for getting a credit card when you have fair credit. In fact, certain benefits can even be detriments when misused. For example, cash back rewards could encourage you to spend more money than you can comfortably afford to repay.
Secured vs. unsecured
In the fair credit range there are more unsecured credit cards available than in the below 599 score range. But if you’re on the low end of the range, like a credit score in the low 600s, unsecured cards may not be available to you. In that case, secured cards will be a necessary option.
Let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of both card types.
Secured cards
Secured credit cards usually tie your credit limit to the amount of security you put up for the card. A $300 credit limit will typically require a $300 deposit. There are some cases where the deposit will be less than the credit limit, like the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card. If your credit qualifies, the security deposit will be as low as $49 for a $200 credit limit.
In many ways, secured credit cards work just like unsecured credit cards. You can use them to make purchases, and you must make monthly minimum payments against your card balance as required by the card issuer. Your card payments (or lack thereof) will be reported to the major credit bureaus, and will either improve or reduce your credit score. You’ll also be charged interest by the card issuer on any unpaid balances.
The major disadvantage to a secured card is that your credit limit is tied to the amount of security you can put up. If you have no cash at all, you’ll be unable to qualify.
But there are several advantages to having a secured card:
You’ll have a credit card available in situations where they may be required over cash or some other payment method.
They will enable you to improve your credit score.
Because they’re secured, they may come with either a very low annual fee or no annual fee at all.
Most will automatically increase your credit limit after a few months of favorable payment history.
Many secured card issuers will convert your account to unsecured once you develop a favorable payment history.
Unsecured cards
Unsecured cards are the typical format for credit cards. Unsecured cards for people with fair credit are typified by very low credit limits — often just a few hundred dollars.
The main advantage they have over secured cards is that you don’t have to put up a security deposit. They’re perfect for the person who needs to improve their credit score, but doesn’t have any cash to pledge for collateral.
The table below summarizes the difference between secured and unsecured credit cards:
Secured cards Unsecured cards Make purchases on credit Sí Sí Report to all 3 credit bureaus Sí Sí Annual fee Usually very low (≤$35) Can be as high as $500+ Interest rate Usually 18%-30% Usually 15%-25% Automatic credit line increases Sí On some only Convert to unsecured Generally, yes N/A
Tips to improve your credit
This is especially important when you’re in the fair credit range, for at least two reasons:
If you’re at the bottom of the fair credit range, you’ll want to move toward the top, and;
Your goal should be to move above the fair credit range.
Here are tips to help you do just that.
Get your free credit score and monitor it from now on
This will enable you to keep a finger on the pulse of your credit. Some free credit score services even provide simulators that will show you how you can improve your credit score, and by how much. You should take full advantage of these services.
Dispute any errors
If there is any information contained in your credit report that’s not accurate, you have an opportunity to fix it. Contact the creditor, report the error, and provide written documentation proving it’s wrong.
Get written notification from the creditor acknowledging the error. Also request the creditor report corrected information to all three credit bureaus. If they don’t, you’ll have to send the notification from the creditor acknowledging the error to all three credit bureaus yourself.
Allow at least 30 days after the successful dispute before applying for a credit product and pulling your credit score again.
Pay ALL your bills on-time from now on
A late payment here, a collection there, may seem fairly harmless at the time — especially if you’re in a cash crunch. But those are the stuff of fair and poor credit, and you need to avoid them at all costs.
One advantage you have with bad credit is that it becomes less important as time goes on. The sooner you begin paying your bills on time, the older the derogatory information will become, and the higher your credit score will be. So start paying all your bills on time all the time, now.
Don’t forget landlords and utility companies either. They will report to the credit bureaus if you have unpaid balances.
Pay off any past due balances
If you have any charge-offs or collections, pay them off as soon as possible. The same is true for judgments and tax liens. Paying them off won’t remove them from your credit report. But a paid delinquency is always better than an open one. Your credit score should begin to rise soon after these delinquencies are paid.
Go slow applying for new credit
We’ve already touched on this factor, but it’s worth reminding you that lenders don’t like seeing applicants applying for multiple lines credit. It could be an indication you’re having budget problems, and looking to solve them by obtaining additional credit. You should apply for no more than one or two new lines of credit per year.
Use an app to boost your score
Experian offers a service called Experian Boost that can improve your score by about a dozen or so points. You’ll sign up and connect your bank account to get credit for on-time payments for expenses like your phone and electric bills.
You can learn more about this free app by reading our complete Experian Boost review.
Payment alternatives for people with credit scores between 600 and 649
Using a credit card, whether secured or unsecured, is a great way to improve your credit score. But there are other means of payment available to you as well.
Debit card
As a sheer transaction method, debit cards function in a very similar way to credit cards — they can be used to make purchases in a store, online, etc. The main difference is that when you make a purchase with a debit card the money for the purchase is taken out of your checking account; you aren’t borrowing money from the card issuer, so you don’t accrue a balance and don’t need to make monthly repayments.
This inherent difference has both positive and negative effects. Here are two examples:
A debit card doesn’t help you build credit
Since there are no monthly repayments, there’s no payment history to be reported to the credit bureaus. Debit cards may enable you to spend like credit cards, but they’ll do absolutely nothing to improve your credit score.
A debit card CAN help you manage your finances
Debit cards might even be better than credit cards in this regard. Since you can’t spend any more money than you have in the checking account behind the card, you’re forced to stay within budget. And since there are no monthly payments, there are no interest charges. That helps to improve cash flow.
Successful use of a debit card can also help to prepare you for responsible use of a credit card. If managing your spending has been a problem in the past, a debit card can help by forcing/training you to live within your financial limits.
Prepaid cards
Prepaid cards have grown more popular in recent years, not only for people who are unable to be approved for credit cards, but also as a secure way of making online purchases. It may be worth having a prepaid card even if you already have a debit card and a credit card.
How do prepaid cards work?
Credit cards work on credit limits, while debit cards are connected to a bank account. Prepaid cards are just what the name implies — you have to pay a certain amount of money on the card in advance in order to use it.
When it comes to spending, prepaid cards work just like debit cards and credit cards. You can even “recharge” them by adding more money to them.
They work well for online purchases, because you don’t risk providing account information to an unknown online vendor. That eliminates the possibility of identity theft.
The limits of prepaid cards
If you’re looking to rebuild your credit or improve your credit score, prepaid cards will be of no value to you. Much like debit cards, since there’s no monthly payment, there’s no payment history to report to the credit bureaus.
The other problem is fees. You might have to pay a fee to purchase the card, and then each time you recharge it. They can be expensive to use if you have to pay $5 every time you put $100 on the card.
Store charge cards
Many people who have difficulty getting traditional credit cards opt instead for store cards. But can they help if you’re looking to improve your credit score?
How store cards work
Store cards are issued by individual merchants. You may have a credit card issued by Sears, JCPenney, Macy’s, or other retailers, but they’re not credit cards in the usual sense. They can only be used to charge purchases through that merchant. You will not be able to use the card to make other purchases, like groceries and gas.
Are store cards a good idea?
Because they’re credit cards, your payment history with store cards is reported to credit bureaus. If you make your payments on time, and keep your balance low, having one or two can help improve your credit score.
But they do have a few negatives:
As noted earlier, they can only be used with the issuing merchant.
They usually charge very high interest rates.
Store cards are established to encourage you to spend money with the merchant. If you have bad credit, going deeper into debt is the last thing you need to do.
Also, be aware that store credit card facilities are back office operations. Their sole purpose for existing is to provide credit for customers to purchase the merchant’s products and services. As a result, store card operations may be somewhat chaotic, raising the possibility of misapplied payments and negative credit ratings. They are not the best cards to rebuild or improve your credit.
The advantages and disadvantages of debit, prepaid, and store cards Debit cards Prepaid cards Store cards Require credit approval? Limited No Yes Report to credit bureaus? No No Yes Will improve your credit score? No No Possibly Purchases subject to interest charges? No No Yes
FAQs on Best Credit Cards if Your FICO Score is Between 600 and 649 ? ? Is it worth it to do a balance transfer with a credit card for fair credit? Generally speaking, no. First, many credit cards in this credit score range don’t offer balance transfers. Second, the credit limit may be too low to make a balance transfer worth doing. And third, your primary mission should be to pay off other debts, to lower your total amount owed. Balance transfers are usually about moving a loan from one credit line to another. ? ? How important are rewards if your credit score is between 600 and 649? All things being equal, you should prefer a card that offers cash back rewards. It will lower the cost of having the card, maybe even offsetting a very high annual fee. But rewards should never be the primary reason for selecting a card. You might be better off selecting a card with no cash back rewards, and no annual fee. The main purpose of a credit card with a fair credit rating is to rebuild your credit. Everything else is just a bonus. ? ? If I get one of these credit cards, then get a better offer from another one, should I cancel this card? Absolutamente no. Once again, we get back to credit utilization. Every credit line you cancel increases your credit utilization ratio by default. The better strategy is to keep the fair credit card, but not use it. ? ? How long will it take to raise my credit score to get better credit card offers? That really depends on what your credit score is, and the factors causing it to be low. If high credit utilization is causing the problem, your credit score will improve as soon as you get your debts paid down. But if you have a history of delinquencies, it can take a year or more. Delinquencies get better with age, but they don’t disappear – at least not for seven years. ? ? How long after being approved for one of these cards can I apply for another credit card? In the fair credit range, you never want to look as if you’re looking for credit wherever you can find it. It’s best to wait at least six months, and preferably a year, before adding new credit cards. Too much new credit will hurt your credit score, and limit credit card offers. Compare more recommended credit cards See our recommended credit cards (all credit levels)
Is your credit score not between 600 and 649? Find more top credit cards for your credit score (FICO score) range:
Best credit cards for a credit score above 750
Best credit cards for a credit score between 700–749
Best credit cards for a credit score between 650–699
Las mejores tarjetas de crédito para un puntaje de crédito inferior a 599
Note:According to our research, these credit cards offer the best chance of approval for applicants with credit scores of 600–649. This does not mean guaranteed approval, however, as creditors consider factors other than a FICO score.