I shat my credit into single digit range threeish decades ago (yeah, I’m a boomer puke). I couldn’t even get a bank account until about eight years ago.
I finally was able to get an acct, got a secured card, and built my credit up to 729. ‘Upgraded’ my secured card to unsecured, but left the limit at $300 to keep me in check.
Then I made the mistake for applying for a modest credit line with my bank. Not only did I get denied, but the hard credit hit put me under 700.
Then my credit took another major hit because I used that card for more than 31% of its limit.
Never once made a late payment, neither.
As I hoped that a line of credit could afford me access to an oral surgeon (which I really need to even consider dentures, as I have mucho malo in my mouth), and as I have no interest in writing a grant to cover it, I’m fucked, as oral surgeons don’t seem to take Medicaid in my shit state.
If I survive another yearish, Medicare might be helpful, but the problems in my pie-hole might not wait that long.
I do not want a handout. I want the chance to pay it off and not leave it to Medicare…and not die of the infections spreading to either my brain (such as it is) or my heart.
Why do you use credit cards in the first place? As a non American I never really understood that. Why doesn’t America just have the “normal” (from my perspective) bank cards that just let you use money from your bank account. Why do you need to borrow and pay back? It seems like such a weird system, not just weird also dangerous, where you can end up in debt.
Agreed. Weird system, and dangerous for many. That’s why I only allow myself a very limited card, which is what I used to build my shitty credit back up.
Credit cards offer more fraud protection, at least where I live, while debit cards offer nothing much. I buy on credit and pay it off fully every month.
American here. We have normal cards, they are called debit cards and are what most people use. Generizing a lot here, but credit cards are for people who were never financially educated, desperate poor people, or people who only use them to get plane miles or cash back.
It’s absurd to me to put myself in debt for all but the most desperate of cases.
Most good credit cards have some form cash back, as in they give you a little bit of the credit card processing fee they place on merchants. Credit card benefits vary from card to card.
We use credit cards so much because it builds our credit score, which makes it significantly easier to take out loans for large purchases (eg car, house, etc) or rent an apartment.
We do have “normal” cards, they’re called debit cards. You are right that it’s weird and bizarre and dangerous. You shouldn’t be using credit cards if you’re living paycheck to paycheck imo.
As much as I can see the appeal of gaming the system, I don’t look good in orange.
Also, I have gigs to attend to (filthy bass player here), as well as taking care of my sweetheart, who has wicked mobility issues. I don’t think I can do that from a cell.
It seems there are details missing from your story. I find some similarities to your story to my credit history and I’ve had drastically different results.
The single digit score was what I was told by a friend in banking who looked it up for me, years ago, but I’m not arguing with you, as I didn’t see it with my own eyes.
She could have been lying.
Boomer = old person. Puke = asshole, fucker, or other insult.
I shat my credit into single digit range threeish decades ago (yeah, I’m a boomer puke). I couldn’t even get a bank account until about eight years ago. I finally was able to get an acct, got a secured card, and built my credit up to 729. ‘Upgraded’ my secured card to unsecured, but left the limit at $300 to keep me in check.
Then I made the mistake for applying for a modest credit line with my bank. Not only did I get denied, but the hard credit hit put me under 700. Then my credit took another major hit because I used that card for more than 31% of its limit. Never once made a late payment, neither.
As I hoped that a line of credit could afford me access to an oral surgeon (which I really need to even consider dentures, as I have mucho malo in my mouth), and as I have no interest in writing a grant to cover it, I’m fucked, as oral surgeons don’t seem to take Medicaid in my shit state.
If I survive another yearish, Medicare might be helpful, but the problems in my pie-hole might not wait that long.
I do not want a handout. I want the chance to pay it off and not leave it to Medicare…and not die of the infections spreading to either my brain (such as it is) or my heart.
(Yaay, America!)
Why do you use credit cards in the first place? As a non American I never really understood that. Why doesn’t America just have the “normal” (from my perspective) bank cards that just let you use money from your bank account. Why do you need to borrow and pay back? It seems like such a weird system, not just weird also dangerous, where you can end up in debt.
Agreed. Weird system, and dangerous for many. That’s why I only allow myself a very limited card, which is what I used to build my shitty credit back up.
Credit cards offer more fraud protection, at least where I live, while debit cards offer nothing much. I buy on credit and pay it off fully every month.
American here. We have normal cards, they are called debit cards and are what most people use. Generizing a lot here, but credit cards are for people who were never financially educated, desperate poor people, or people who only use them to get plane miles or cash back.
It’s absurd to me to put myself in debt for all but the most desperate of cases.
Most good credit cards have some form cash back, as in they give you a little bit of the credit card processing fee they place on merchants. Credit card benefits vary from card to card.
We use credit cards so much because it builds our credit score, which makes it significantly easier to take out loans for large purchases (eg car, house, etc) or rent an apartment.
We do have “normal” cards, they’re called debit cards. You are right that it’s weird and bizarre and dangerous. You shouldn’t be using credit cards if you’re living paycheck to paycheck imo.
Have you considered committing a crime and getting caught so that you can go to prison for a year or two and get free dental?
As much as I can see the appeal of gaming the system, I don’t look good in orange.
Also, I have gigs to attend to (filthy bass player here), as well as taking care of my sweetheart, who has wicked mobility issues. I don’t think I can do that from a cell.
I like the cut of your jib, tho’.
Best of luck then, friend 🙏
Even though we Australians get mostly free healthcare, teeth are still considered luxury bones that we have to pay for out of pocket too.
Imagine a country for which this sounds even remotely viable.
It seems there are details missing from your story. I find some similarities to your story to my credit history and I’ve had drastically different results.
Also, single digit credit scores aren’t a thing.
What’s a “boomer puke”?
Not really any significant details missing.
The single digit score was what I was told by a friend in banking who looked it up for me, years ago, but I’m not arguing with you, as I didn’t see it with my own eyes. She could have been lying.
Boomer = old person. Puke = asshole, fucker, or other insult.