Beware of Credit Offers Aimed at Recent Bankruptcy Filers
“Secured†Credit Card
Another type of credit marketed to recent bankruptcy filers as a good way to reestablish credit involves “secured†credit cards. These are cards where the balances are secured by a bank deposit. The card allows you a credit limit up to the amount you have on deposit in a particular bank account. If you can’t make the payments, you lose the money in the account. They may be useful to establish that you can make regular monthly payments on a credit card after you have had trouble in the past. But since almost everyone now gets unsecured credit card offers even after previous financial problems, there is less reason to consider allowing a creditor to use your bank deposits as collateral. It is preferable not to tie up your bank account.
Source: Using Credit Wisely After Bankruptcy Pamphlet, National Consumer Law Center, Boston, MA, www.nclc.org.
