How To Get a Credit Card After Bankruptcy (Without a Government Bailout) |
By Chris Buchheit on August 9, 2010
.jpg.aspx?width=75&height=75) While credit cards in general are not the best idea in the world, sometimes they are necessary. Especially in this economy, it is very important to build and maintain a good credit history if you ever plan on buying a house or a car.
But what happens if you go bankrupt? Can you still get a credit card? Contrary to popular belief, bankruptcy, while devastating to your personal finances, is not necessarily the end of the line. In fact, if you follow a few simple steps, you can be on the way to financial recovery.
There are a few steps to take in getting a new credit card. The first is rebuilding your credit history. You can do this by accepting pre-approved credit offers, which will be plentiful in your post-bankruptcy mailbox. Before you do so, know the terms and conditions, and understand what you are agreeing to, and know it will. After bankruptcy, you have very little room to maneuver financially. You may have to resort to using a co-signer to get the credit card, but do not take this responsibility lightly. If you falter again on your credit, you will have taken the co-signer’s credit with you.1
Using this method, it is absolutely possible to recover your finances after bankruptcy. As long as you are responsible with the credit card and your finances in general, you will be well on your way.
However, there are a few quid pro quos. Because the credit card company sees the bankruptcy, they will of course believe that there is more risk in giving you a credit card, so you will be forced to pander to them for a while. Not only will you more-than-likely have to pay them a few hundred dollars as collateral, your fees will also be higher than normal should you go over your limit, but your interest rates will also be higher than before.2
The opportunity for recovery after bankruptcy is absolutely there. Rebuilding your credit and financial record is the first step to this recovery. The most important thing to do is to reign in your finances and take personal control over them.
Sources:
1 http://www.ehow.com/how_2111977_credit-card-after-bankruptcy.html
2 http://ezinearticles.com/?Getting-A-Credit-Card-After-Bankruptcy---3-Things-You-Should-Know&id=211861 |
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