Recommended Credit Cards

[TXskyblue]

Bummer, did you try CapOne?

USAA's secured credit card will look good on your credit report, but be aware of two things: 1. You can never raise your credit limit. It will be $500 forever. Most places allow you to send more money and increase it. Not USAA.
2. USAA does no unsecure/graduate. Even if you end up with perfect credit reports and a credit score of 850, they will never release your funds. If you want an unsecured card with USAA, you must apply for a brand new card and then you can close your secured card. This means you will lose valuable age on your account.

If you qualify for USAA, you likely qualify for NFCU. I have nothing but good things to say about NFCU and their secured credit card.

[Bummer]

My Chapter 13 BK was discharged at the end of July. I applied for a Barclays card (for Apple financing) in August and was denied. I called the reconsideration line and was denied again. Instead of applying with other companies and risking a report hit for a denial, I decided to open a secured card through USAA. I sent $500 in and I'm hoping that this will help my credit score rise in the next few months.

I've received literally dozens of letters for what are basically horribly shitty credit offers with just awful terms. I'm hoping that I can qualify for quality credit offers again. Prior to my bankruptcy I had really quality cards with great rewards and whatnot. I miss them!

Is there anyone out there in a similar situation?

[tippytoes]

(Used to be pinkpeanut01 and have been here for 3 years, but my user name/pwd has been lost.)

Got a new card last week. Approved for Discover IT. Credit score is in the upper 600s, TU 682 last time I had a real credit report pulled by a lender. Credit limit is $1,500. I applied online but was not automatically approved, so I figured it was declined. They called me a few hours later to ask when my BK was discharged. It was April 2012. She asked me when it was filed. I told her 2011. She said, "Congratulations! You're approved!" Leads me to believe they wanted a certain length of time post-discharge before they'll approve?

Here's a rundown of what I have since discharge:
- CapOne - Unsecured. Started with $1,000 CL within the first year of my discharge. Auto increased to $1,500. 10-month intro 0% APR, now at 25%. Set up to auto-pay my cell phone bill, so now I pay my card off every month instead of just paying the cell phone company.
- Barclay - Unsecured. Started with $2,500 CL 1-1/2 years post-discharge. 0% intro APR for 6 months, just increased to 25%. Auto CL increase to $5,500 last week after paying off $1,000 balance. (This card is used for our Girl Scouts troop, and I had made two large purchases for trips and then paid it off within the same month once I collected money from our troop. I guess Barclay liked that!)
- Discover IT - Unsecured. $1,500 CL. 0% APR for 14 months, then 23%.

- Kohl's - Survived BK, but CL cut from $3,000 to $2,000. No idea what the APR is, as I pay it off in full when used, usually to get the % off deals.
- Toys 'R Us - $600 CL. No idea what the APR is. Opened to get discount when doing Christmas shopping. Paid it off right then and haven't used it since. Probably should use it so they don't close it.
- JC Penney - $800 CL. Opened to get 20% off on back-to-school shopping. Gets paid off in full at the same time it is used, which is rarely.
- Dell Financial - Survived BK with $5,000 CL.

Total non-store CLs approaching two-year discharge anniversary: $8,500
Total store CLs: $8,400

The big difference between now and when I got in trouble is now I am terrified to use credit unless I know 100% it is being paid off within the month! I am done with cards now and have no need to apply for anymore.

Have been declined by CareCredit and Amazon CC since discharge.

[basketsbears]

Hi,

We just applied for an received our first, and only CC post Ch. 7. Discharged October 2012, capital one $3000 limit. 0% until sometime this fall. Going to use for reimbursable business expenses/conferences.

I was surprised!

Lynn

[Pjmax]

Based on recommendations in this thread, I applied for the Barclays Reward Mastercard.

They pulled TU. I won't pay for my FICO, but Credit Karma's TU FAKO says 703. I'm about 6 month post-BK.

Approved for $1,500.

Barclays now provides a monthly TU Fico score.

[TXskyblue]

Based on recommendations in this thread, I applied for the Barclays Reward Mastercard.

They pulled TU. I won't pay for my FICO, but Credit Karma's TU FAKO says 703. I'm about 6 month post-BK.

Approved for $1,500.

[catleg]

I am thinking of adding another secured card

Wells Fargo is good but you'll have to open a checking account first. I don't think you need to keep it open.
Spend as much as you can and make frequent payments and you can get limit increases and eventually unsecured.
Also Kohls card is pretty easy to get too (unsecured)

[anykey]

I am thinking of adding another secured card

[catleg]

Other cards approved for : Cabelas ($500)
Declined: Bass Pro (turns out it's FIA card services), all Chase deals, all Citi deals, 0% financing for a mattress shot down by GE MB.
Approved for $300 by Macys but wanted like a $6k-8k bed so thanks but it doesn't help.

[catleg]

Another update: cap one $300 limit card with $59 annual fee, got a limit increase to $500. (I am only discharged less than 6 months ago). So I then apply for Cap One Quiksilver, and they match the higher limit on my Barclayscard and round it up to $3000. Cap One showing me some love!

[catleg]

Update: got Barclaycard US airways card about month or two after discharge, basically matched my highest open account limits with Wells Fargo.
A few months and a few $k of spending later, apply for $1000 boost from Barclay and I'm approved.

[catleg]

Wells Fargo has a secured card with an annual fee of $25.
First I got a limit increase to $700 (i.e. 200 unsecured on top of 500 deposit).
Then shortly after the 1 year mark ,they converted to unsecured.
Then recently I got another increase to 1100.
You have to have a WF bank account and then from the online screens you can submit an app and they will take the deposit money straight from the bank account.

[Arbyone]

Well guys I have been hunting for a credit card and I have found that I should look for a secured credit card first. So after hunting for a while I have found one that the APR is at 17.99%, Annual Fee of $19.00 and the report to all 3 credit reporting agencies. I have been a bit nervous about it but just submitted the application and now waiting for approval. its from First Bankcard (a division of First National Bank of Omaha) . Now waiting for a response. Chap. 13 date Filed12/06, date discharged 1/13 .

[newgirl1]

No I have heard others say that it was told to them by their attorney to apply for something. But I saw my credit score and decided to give it a try. My BK did not involve any CC debit mostly med bills so I took it upon myself to go for it and it worked out. I was just sharing my experience and in no way am I advising anyone do what I have done. It is just to say that BK is not the end of the road and it is not set in stone that you can not obtain "real credit" post BK or post discharge either. PS my attorney emailed me that the Trustee closed everything and stated no liability in my case so the discharge is just a paper I am waiting on. I have no plans for any major purchases in the near future either ie, car etc. not interested in any of that anytime soon. Thanks.

[Pjmax]

You're not even discharged yet. Did someone tell you it was a good idea to apply for credit before discharge?