Ask Terry Questions I don’t have a credit score!

I don’t have a credit score!

By Terry Savage on December 05, 2016 | Credit/Debt

I am a 46yr. old man with a credit score of 0. How should I start going about earning credit?

Terry Says

Really -- zero??   That's hard to believe.  Have you actually checked your credit score?  You can get it free at CreditKarma.com and at Discover.com.   During all these years you must have had a car loan, or a credit card, or other debt which was reported to the credit bureaus! But if you are one of those rare people who have never used credit, there is an easy way to start building good credit.  You need a "secured" credit card -- a card that is offered by a bank where you make a deposit in a savings account, typically at least $500 or $1,000.  Your deposit becomes your line of credit on a VISA or MasterCard that looks and works just like any other credit card.  Use it wisely, paying your bill in full and one time every month.  They will report that activity to the credit bureaus, and very soon you will start getting offers of more credit -- so be careful!  To find a secured card, go to Bankrate.com (or click on the highlighted link) and search for cars, checking minimums required, and any fees, as well as the low rates paid on the savings account.

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