Help me find a credit card...

[Gizmo]

I think in the US you guys have things which are basically prepaid/secured cards? Which basically they "hold" some funds from you and give you a limit up to that but let you use it and pay it like a credit card? (Basically allowing you to build a credit reference without risk to them)

Or am I dragging this out of the 'fantasy' part of my brain?

[Andara Bledin]

We do have secured credit cards, which do build some credit, but they're not on the same level as an actual credit card, but they can lead to being able to get an actual credit card.

One of the fastest ways to build a record is to buy something through a rent-to-own shop. You'll end up paying more (10-20% if you pay it off before the cut-off for interest to kick in) than you would for buying the item outright, but it's a major boost to your record. I had to do that with a fridge (no money and can't go without a fridge), and that's what gave me the boost necessary to qualify for a credit card. The only ones I qualified for (other than secured) were the annual fee ones, and at $30, it's not much of a burden; I get more than that back in rewards.

^-.-^

[TheSHAD0W]

They were the first ones I applied with, and got the rejection letter in the mail today.

Durp.

Jester, the rejection letter should include an offer to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, and I recommend you take them up on it. You can also get it at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/ . Take a looksie and make sure your issue isn't something more than "no credit record".