The Difference Between A Secured And Bad Credit Card

The Difference Between A Secured And Bad Credit Card

by Tom Tessin

If you have bad credit or you're simply looking to re-establish your credit, you may want to look into a secured credit card. If you haven't heard of a secured credit card before, I'll explain how it works. A secured credit card is very similar to a bad credit credit card but instead it takes a deposit in order to use it. Some people may find this as a downfall but it's the only way some people can establish credit.
Before you go on your search for a credit card designed for bad credit, you're first going to want to decide if you should head toward a bad credit card or a secured credit card. The difference between the two is that one takes a deposit and the other is simply a credit card with a higher APR rate. Please keep in mind that the chances of you getting approved for a bad credit card are slimmer than a secured credit card.

What credit card should I choose then?

The first thing you're going to want to look at is how bad your credit really is. If you have declared bankruptcy in the past or your credit score is below 500, you're probably going to want to go toward a secured credit card because your chances of being approved are going to be great than a bad credit credit card.

A bad credit credit card is generally designed for people that have mediocre credit, so don't let the word "bad" fool you. Sometimes people look at the word bad and just assume they have bad credit. The thing they don't realize Is that you still can get denied for an application. Most people assume that they will be approved regardless. This is not the case with a bad credit card but with a secured credit card, you chances of being approved are great.

I'm still confused, what's the difference?

I'm going to point out the main points on each card. Let's first talk about a bad credit card. This type of credit card is designed for people with mediocre credit like I mentioned above. If you have declared bankruptcy, I highly recommend you apply for a secured card. A bad card generally has a higher APR compared to most regular credit card. Keep in mind that these cards also don't carry any rewards like most credit cards, so don't rely on this.

A secured card on the other hand is geared toward people with awful credit. Your chances of being approved for this card is very great since you have to send in a deposit for this card. If you don't pay off your bill in time, the bank will simply dip into your deposit. Also watch out for annual fees and minimum deposit requirements.

I'm hoping you have a better understanding of these types of cards. Remember, it's your goal to research each one in more depth and see which one works for your credit building. Once you have your card, remember to pay it off on time and learn from your mistakes in the past. If you learn from your mistakes, your credit will be great in no time.