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Publication #FCS7229

 

YOU and YOUR CREDIT: Credit Dos and Don'ts1

Joan P. Elmore, Michael S. Gutter, and Travis P. Mountain2

Credit Dos

  • Open a bank account. This will not appear on your credit report, but bank account numbers are often requested on credit applications.

  • Apply for a credit card. To avoid being denied credit, apply only for those cards whose requirements you are likely to meet. Department store or gas credit cards are usually easier to obtain than a bank-issued card with a Visa or MasterCard logo because the balances do not generally revolve. A secured card can reduce the chances of being rejected because the line of credit is tied to an asset, typically cash held in deposit with the issuing bank. If one exhibits responsible credit management for 18–24 months, it is reasonable to ask for an unsecured card. Normally, banks or financial institutions would also review secured cardholders’ credit management after 12 months in order to offer the unsecured credit card option.

  • Make sure the creditor reports the credit card account activity to the credit bureaus. Because the purpose of obtaining the card is to establish credit, you want to choose a card that will help you do that.

  • Charge purchases and make payments on time. Once you have used the card responsibly for three months, you may want to apply for a credit card from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. These cards will allow you more flexibility in charging purchases, but will also give you more opportunity to get in trouble. Remember a $5,000 credit limit is not $5,000 in additional income. It is only a different way to spend the money you already have.

  • Create a spending plan. Make sure that you are able to pay off the balance on the items you plan to purchase with a card. Write down all of your expenses and income. Adjust your spending accordingly. Keep a record of what you have spent. Your local county Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent can help with developing your spending plan.

If you are denied credit, ask why. Reasons may include income, employment, or credit history. You can request a free copy of your credit report to see if there is false data on it, and have corrections made.

Credit Don’ts

  • Don't overdraw your bank account. You will be charged fees, and you could damage a good reference.

  • Avoid missed or late payments to any creditor. That is a sure way to damage your credit rating.

  • Don’t let anyone borrow your credit or debit card, or allow them to have access to your bank account. You are responsible for any authorized use of your accounts.

  • Don't give your card number to anyone over the phone or Internet unless you initiated the transaction.

  • Avoid cash advances. They're expensive. You'll pay upfront fees of 1–7% on the amount you withdraw, and you'll be stuck paying a higher interest rate, often in the high teens or higher. And because there's no grace period on a cash advance, the interest charges will begin to mount as soon as the money comes out of the ATM.

For More Information

Below are links to each publication in the YOU and YOUR CREDIT series.

Credit Dos and Don'ts: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1064

Credit Card Basics: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1065

Managing Your Credit: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1066

Credit Reports: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1067

Credit Scores: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1068

Home Ownership and Credit: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1069

Further Resources: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1070

Series of Seven Parts, Bound as Single Document: PDF version - http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY107100.pdf

Footnotes

1.

This document is FCS7229, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date September 2008. Revised April 2012. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Joan P. Elmore, Extension agent IV, Jackson County Extension, Marianna, FL; Michael S. Gutter, financial management state specialist and assistant professor, Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences; and Travis P. Mountain, former lecturer, Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.