Applying for Your Credit Card

Now that you have decided which credit card offers you the terms you like, you are ready to apply for the credit card. In addition to the information you give the credit card company, the company may get information about you from other sources, such as your credit report or from other interactions you have or had with the same credit card company. All this and other information will determine whether you are approved for the credit card and what terms you will be given.

Be sure that the information you provide to the credit card company on your application is accurate and up-to-date. Also be sure your credit report is accurate and contains correct information before you apply for a credit card or any type of credit.

If you are not approved for the card, you will receive a statement telling you why you were not approved. This statement can be helpful. In many cases, this statement will tell you how to get your free credit report that the credit card company used in deciding whether to give you a credit card. The statement and credit report can alert you to any problems or inaccuracies on your credit report. It can also give you an idea of how healthy your credit is at that point.