How to Get a Bad Credit Credit Card Online

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By Jennifer Claerr
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Get a Bad Credit Credit Card Online

There are many sites where you can get a credit card for bad credit online. However, it's very important to watch out for scams. Many companies claim to guarantee approval of unsecured credit cards to take advantage of people with bad credit. Many of these scams charge an upfront fee for credit cards, then fail to deliver. The solution to this problem is to apply for a credit card with a reputable lender. While you may have to make a deposit for a secured or prepaid card, you should never pay an upfront fee for a credit card designed for bad credit.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Go online and visit the Federal Trade Commission's website. Learn about the tactics that scam artists use to defraud unsuspecting consumers out of their money. For example, slogans such as "BAD CREDIT! NO PROBLEM!" are a sign of a scam. Also, watch out for 900 numbers that might charge your telephone line if you call them. Beware anyone who offers to repair or clean up your bad credit history. Watch out for anyone who claims that they can get you "easy" credit.
Step 2

Navigate to a website such as the Bank of America or Citibank website to apply online for a secured or prepaid credit card. Reputable online lenders such as these will be your safest and most convenient options.
Step 3

Check another site such as Credit.com or CreditCardGuide.com if you're unable to get a secured or prepaid credit card from a major lender. Navigate the link for credit cards designed for people with bad credit.
Step 4

Check out the reputation of any online lenders you're not familiar with. Go to the Better Business Bureau website and do a national search on the issuing bank's name. You can usually find the issuing bank by clicking the "Apply" link in the online credit card comparison site. Favor lenders with BBB accreditation. Make sure that the lender has at least a satisfactory rating with very few complaints from customers.
Step 5

Go directly to the issuing bank's website to apply for the credit card. This is a safer option than applying on online comparison sites, as it reduces the risk that third parties can intercept your financial information. Make absolutely certain that you fill out the application on a secure website. You can tell that a website is secure in Internet Explorer by the padlock icon that appears by the address bar. In FireFox, the padlock icon appears in the lower right hand corner.