First credit card help?

Del: First credit card help?
So I just applied for my first credit card (I’m an 18 year old college student, no credit history) – it was a Discover student card that I found on a list “designed for students with low or no credit history” – and my application just got declined because I have no credit record available. WTF?? How am I supposed to sign up for a card then? Does anyone know of a good student / starting credit card that I could sign up for that’ll actually accept me?
I have a job – and that’s my point, how am I supposed to get credit if there’s no such thing as a credit card that takes people with no credit???
Oh and also my bank only offers visa platinum as far as credit cards – which is a bad choice for me for a lot of reasons (huge annual fee etc. – its designed for people with credit experience making a lot of income)

Answers and Views:

Answer by Dixie Darlin’
All the banks and credit card issuers are really cracking down on giving people credit cards. Student or not you will need a job, also and I know this sounds bad, but you have to have credit to get credit.

Go to the bank that you do business with, ask them if they have a secured credit card, if they do open an account with $ 200-$ 500. Use the card each month for small purchases, and pay it off in full each month.

After a year of consistent on time payments, you should be able to qualify for a unsecured card or convert the secured card.

Answer by StephenWeinstein
Currently, there may temporarily be no unsecured (regular) credit cards available to anyone with no credit history. That situation may or may not change in the future. If you do not wish to wait to see if the situation improves, then:

1. Go to a bank that offers “secured” credit cards to depositors with no credit history.
2. Deposit money at that bank.
3. Obtain a “secured” credit card from that bank.
4. Use the “secured” credit card to build a sufficient credit history.
5. After building a sufficient credit history, apply for the card that you originally wanted.

Answer by Lori O
Getting a loan or credit card has become increasingly more difficult. Try getting a secured credit card for a year (pay it off each month, and expect a $ 50 yearly fee on it), then try applying for an unsecured card.

Answer by Tracie R
I had the same problem a few years ago. I couldn’t even get a store card because i had no credit. So how am I supposed to get credit?!?!? But I then applied to Capital One. They gave me a credit card. It was real lame and piddly ($ 500 credit line), but that was all I needed. I was able to get another card shortly after that worth more. But starting out at 18, $ 500 is safe.

Good luck!

Answer by Apollo
Isnt life ironic. Stuff like this pisses me off. A secured credit card is horrible but it works.