WTK: How to get a 1st time Credit Card

[Energy0091]

Hi, so I have recently graduated from university, just started working, and, after a few months, decided to go for a credit card.
After checking with RBL and RBC, I was told that I need to be employed with my current employer for at least 18 months, or be permanently employed, neither of which I am.

Is there any institution that offers a credit card that doesn’t have those particular prerequisites?

FYI: I have a JMMB debit card, which has a $200 USD limit and according to the manager at POS, this will soon be decreased to $100 USD/mnth, for all cardholders.

[bluefete]

Cool yourself, use your debit card until you qualify for a credit card.

Use the time to build up your credit ratings and savings.

Take a small loan from the bank of $500.00 and pay it back on time or before time. It might help when you do apply for the credit card.

But then I don't have a credit card either - by choice. One is used in my family. No need for 2.

[tarzan]

Most credit unions offer visa debits as well, you can probably shop around , see who has the highest usd allowance per month.

[VexXx Dogg]

Try FCB or Scotia.
Sometimes they flexible, depending on a range of factors.

[agent007]

Go to Republic Bank, fill out the application and attach the relevant documents such as 2 form of ID's, utility bill in your name, job letter/contract and your recent pay slips. It helps when you can show some savings in an account or a fixed deposit etc. They may or may not ask for your resume to assess your overall risk to them. I suspect you would be fine and may grant you a card but with a low limit (depending on your salary). Go brave, you have nothing to lose but experience to gain.

[zoom rader]

OP

Word of advice, don't get sucked in to taking or using CC.

CC are a scam and once you get hooked in using money that is not yours you spiral down.

Always use money that you have and don't be fooled by the points or cash back scheme.

The points and airmiles always change to the card company advantage and you have to spend $1000 just to get back $20.

CC is for idiots

[S_2NR]

FYI: I have a JMMB debit card, which has a $200 USD limit and according to the manager at POS, this will soon be decreased to $100 USD/mnth, for all cardholders.

200usd limit? Trinidad banks jokey yes.
Even refugees in the US and Canada get a higher limit for their first credit card.

[Zalos]

Try RBL or FCB.
FCB is easier, as they mostly just base it off salary.

You have to have some kind of assets or savings the bank can see as collateral, remember a CC is like a revolving loan.

[dogg]

OP

Word of advice, don't get sucked in to taking or using CC.

CC are a scam and once you get hooked in using money that is not yours you spiral down.

Always use money that you have and don't be fooled by the points or cash back scheme.

The points and airmiles always change to the card company advantage and you have to spend $1000 just to get back $20.

CC is for idiots

Only if you have no financial self-control.

I grew up in a frugal family. I've had had a credit card for ~20 years. Always paid in full monthly.

Points/cashback covers the annual fees plus i end up with a couple thousand extra cashback annually. This is from normal day to day living expenses.

However, If you can't budget properly or control your spending, you will get badly burnt with a credit card. If you have poor spending habits a credit card definitely isn't for you.

OP, credit card is a powerful tool, but with great power comes....

[mero]

Cool yourself, use your debit card until you qualify for a credit card.

Use the time to build up your credit ratings and savings.

Take a small loan from the bank of $500.00 and pay it back on time or before time. It might help when you do apply for the credit card.

But then I don't have a credit card either - by choice. One is used in my family. No need for 2.

Is how every sentence does contradict the one before nah.

[zoom rader]

OP

Word of advice, don't get sucked in to taking or using CC.

CC are a scam and once you get hooked in using money that is not yours you spiral down.

Always use money that you have and don't be fooled by the points or cash back scheme.

The points and airmiles always change to the card company advantage and you have to spend $1000 just to get back $20.

CC is for idiots

Only if you have no financial self-control.

I grew up in a frugal family. I've had had a credit card for ~20 years. Always paid in full monthly.

Points/cashback covers the annual fees plus i end up with a couple thousand extra cashback annually. This is from normal day to day living expenses.

However, If you can't budget properly or control your spending, you will get badly burnt with a credit card. If you have poor spending habits a credit card definitely isn't for you.

OP, credit card is a powerful tool, but with great power comes....

I have seen many folk run in hugh debt, they all believe that they have controll until its late.

Very few ppl can controll their spending when the money is not theirs. They alway believe that they can pay it back.

More that agv ppl have hugh CC debt

Its a Con that you have to use your cash back that you paid thousands of dollars for just to cover their fee.

To pay a fee to use a CC is a Con

[redmanjp]

the points/cash back would help cover the fees - but i wont spend a $1000 on something i dont need JUST to get cash back, i would use the CC on essential items like groceries, bills, etc that i have to spend money on anyway. as long as u pay your bill on time it's fine. i myself looking to get one as RBL not renewing my VTM so i need one to buy stuff online. but mostly foreign sites as i now have the new visa debit to cover local online transactions.

the thing is i at times have been late with paying bills so i would have to be careful myself- but if i can pay it conveniently via online banking then that should help.

[Mmoney607]

OP

Word of advice, don't get sucked in to taking or using CC.

CC are a scam and once you get hooked in using money that is not yours you spiral down.

Always use money that you have and don't be fooled by the points or cash back scheme.

The points and airmiles always change to the card company advantage and you have to spend $1000 just to get back $20.

CC is for idiots

Only if you have no financial self-control.

I grew up in a frugal family. I've had had a credit card for ~20 years. Always paid in full monthly.

Points/cashback covers the annual fees plus i end up with a couple thousand extra cashback annually. This is from normal day to day living expenses.

However, If you can't budget properly or control your spending, you will get badly burnt with a credit card. If you have poor spending habits a credit card definitely isn't for you.

OP, credit card is a powerful tool, but with great power comes....

I have seen many folk run in hugh debt, they all believe that they have controll until its late.

Very few ppl can controll their spending when the money is not theirs. They alway believe that they can pay it back.

More that agv ppl have hugh CC debt

Its a Con that you have to use your cash back that you paid thousands of dollars for just to cover their fee.

To pay a fee to use a CC is a Con

You'll pay more on fees with a debit card or Visa debit card than a credit card. Plus you get no benefits and no credit.

[ProtonPowder]

Looks like RBL tightened up.

Just a few years ago I was able to get a 1k usd limit card with RBL with <1 year employment, by having $7500ttd in a separate savings account as security.
Recently increased to 2k usd limit without issue.

Is a tool, use it and pay it off when the charges register ~3 days later. Sometimes it is fully necessary, like paying for tuition and membership to professional bodies outside of TnT. Never go a week without checking the banking app or online, the time goes quickly when you dont expect it to.

[zoom rader]

OP

Word of advice, don't get sucked in to taking or using CC.

CC are a scam and once you get hooked in using money that is not yours you spiral down.

Always use money that you have and don't be fooled by the points or cash back scheme.

The points and airmiles always change to the card company advantage and you have to spend $1000 just to get back $20.

CC is for idiots

Only if you have no financial self-control.

I grew up in a frugal family. I've had had a credit card for ~20 years. Always paid in full monthly.

Points/cashback covers the annual fees plus i end up with a couple thousand extra cashback annually. This is from normal day to day living expenses.

However, If you can't budget properly or control your spending, you will get badly burnt with a credit card. If you have poor spending habits a credit card definitely isn't for you.

OP, credit card is a powerful tool, but with great power comes....

I have seen many folk run in hugh debt, they all believe that they have controll until its late.

Very few ppl can controll their spending when the money is not theirs. They alway believe that they can pay it back.

More that agv ppl have hugh CC debt

Its a Con that you have to use your cash back that you paid thousands of dollars for just to cover their fee.

To pay a fee to use a CC is a Con

You'll pay more on fees with a debit card or Visa debit card than a credit card. Plus you get no benefits and no credit.

what fees ?

I dont pay any yearly or membership fees for my DC

[Mmoney607]

OP

Word of advice, don't get sucked in to taking or using CC.

CC are a scam and once you get hooked in using money that is not yours you spiral down.

Always use money that you have and don't be fooled by the points or cash back scheme.

The points and airmiles always change to the card company advantage and you have to spend $1000 just to get back $20.

CC is for idiots

Only if you have no financial self-control.

I grew up in a frugal family. I've had had a credit card for ~20 years. Always paid in full monthly.

Points/cashback covers the annual fees plus i end up with a couple thousand extra cashback annually. This is from normal day to day living expenses.

However, If you can't budget properly or control your spending, you will get badly burnt with a credit card. If you have poor spending habits a credit card definitely isn't for you.

OP, credit card is a powerful tool, but with great power comes....

I have seen many folk run in hugh debt, they all believe that they have controll until its late.

Very few ppl can controll their spending when the money is not theirs. They alway believe that they can pay it back.

More that agv ppl have hugh CC debt

Its a Con that you have to use your cash back that you paid thousands of dollars for just to cover their fee.

To pay a fee to use a CC is a Con

You'll pay more on fees with a debit card or Visa debit card than a credit card. Plus you get no benefits and no credit.

what fees ?

I dont pay any yearly or membership fees for my DC

Monthly fees, fees for point of sale and atm withdrawals. Credit cards are just the annual fees

[zoom rader]

OP

Word of advice, don't get sucked in to taking or using CC.

CC are a scam and once you get hooked in using money that is not yours you spiral down.

Always use money that you have and don't be fooled by the points or cash back scheme.

The points and airmiles always change to the card company advantage and you have to spend $1000 just to get back $20.

CC is for idiots

Only if you have no financial self-control.

I grew up in a frugal family. I've had had a credit card for ~20 years. Always paid in full monthly.

Points/cashback covers the annual fees plus i end up with a couple thousand extra cashback annually. This is from normal day to day living expenses.

However, If you can't budget properly or control your spending, you will get badly burnt with a credit card. If you have poor spending habits a credit card definitely isn't for you.

OP, credit card is a powerful tool, but with great power comes....

I have seen many folk run in hugh debt, they all believe that they have controll until its late.

Very few ppl can controll their spending when the money is not theirs. They alway believe that they can pay it back.

More that agv ppl have hugh CC debt

Its a Con that you have to use your cash back that you paid thousands of dollars for just to cover their fee.

To pay a fee to use a CC is a Con

You'll pay more on fees with a debit card or Visa debit card than a credit card. Plus you get no benefits and no credit.

what fees ?

I dont pay any yearly or membership fees for my DC

Monthly fees, fees for point of sale and atm withdrawals. Credit cards are just the annual fees

I pay no monthly fees on my DC. Where possible I use cash to avoid point of sale. ATm withdrawals I don't use in Trini.

[redmanjp]

so u avoid both POS and ATMs? so why have a card ?

[dogg]

To each his own.

Those of us with the financial self-discipline to properly manage a credit card will find that the rewards far far outweigh the risks.

Those who cannot control their spending should definitely not get a credit card.

[Energy0091]

Looks like RBL tightened up.

Just a few years ago I was able to get a 1k usd limit card with RBL with <1 year employment, by having $7500ttd in a separate savings account as security.
Recently increased to 2k usd limit without issue.

Is a tool, use it and pay it off when the charges register ~3 days later. Sometimes it is fully necessary, like paying for tuition and membership to professional bodies outside of TnT. Never go a week without checking the banking app or online, the time goes quickly when you dont expect it to.

It is for tuition. It has been a struggle acquiring the USD each month. I literally had to beg JMMB last month to give me a temporary increase so that I could’ve paid for my class, because I had no other option to explore at that point in time.

[ProtonPowder]

I feel your pain, I paying tuition on a UK based MSc and membership to a UK professional body which i why I requested the credit increase.

Its always a terrible spot to be in, try talking to RBL again and volunteer to put up a larger security in a separate bank account, like 10k ttd security on a 1k usd limit card.

[zoom rader]

so u avoid both POS and ATMs? so why have a card ?

When i was younger I used the card until they got ridiculous on the POS and ATM fees . I normally use the card for online airlines tickets ect. I have a UK card that I use and that has no fees attached to it on POS and certain ATMs, this card I use abroad.

[Energy0091]

I feel your pain, I paying tuition on a UK based MSc and membership to a UK professional body which i why I requested the credit increase.

Its always a terrible spot to be in, try talking to RBL again and volunteer to put up a larger security in a separate bank account, like 10k ttd security on a 1k usd limit card.

Will explore that. Thanks.

[trinigamer]

Try FCB, ask for their Tertiary card, just $75 annual fee, I did mine just out of university, had to secure it with UTC shares at the time, but that can be released after you show a history of paying on time.

[Computerman]

To each his own.

Those of us with the financial self-discipline to properly manage a credit card will find that the rewards far far outweigh the risks.

Those who cannot control their spending should definitely not get a credit card.

A CC is a tool for building up your revenue generating assets. If you are using it to cover expenses you doing it wrong! Having access to an 'instant investor' worth a few hundred thousand at a moments notice is a huge benefit IMHO.

But then... WTF do I know...

[assassin]

I agree fully. You have to pay utilities, bills, gas station etc every month. Why not use CC to pay and get bonus points?

I use my CC to purchase anything that I can. Just make sure and budget for the expenditure and repay monthly. I don't even mind paying a few $ more by a business who will accept CC. The rewards are worth it

OP

Word of advice, don't get sucked in to taking or using CC.

CC are a scam and once you get hooked in using money that is not yours you spiral down.

Always use money that you have and don't be fooled by the points or cash back scheme.

The points and airmiles always change to the card company advantage and you have to spend $1000 just to get back $20.

CC is for idiots

Only if you have no financial self-control.

I grew up in a frugal family. I've had had a credit card for ~20 years. Always paid in full monthly.

Points/cashback covers the annual fees plus i end up with a couple thousand extra cashback annually. This is from normal day to day living expenses.

However, If you can't budget properly or control your spending, you will get badly burnt with a credit card. If you have poor spending habits a credit card definitely isn't for you.

OP, credit card is a powerful tool, but with great power comes....

[88sins]

To each his own.

Those of us with the financial self-discipline to properly manage a credit card will find that the rewards far far outweigh the risks.

Those who cannot control their spending should definitely not get a credit card.

A cc is a tool for building up your revenue generating assets. If you are using it to cover expenses you doing it wrong! Having access to an 'instant investor' worth a few hundred thousand at a moments notice is a huge benefit IMHO.

But then... WTF do I know...

You half right, and half very very wrong
A cc is NOTHING like an "instant investor", it's actually just an instant short term high interest loan.

[RedVEVO]

so u avoid both POS and ATMs? so why have a card ?

When i was younger I used the card until they got ridiculous on the POS and ATM fees . I normally use the card for online airlines tickets ect. I have a UK card that I use and that has no fees attached to it on POS and certain ATMs, this card I use abroad.

Zoom have a UK Credit card is sooooo impressive and titillating

All the female Tuners must be pm-ing him now now.

So how do YOU pay for this credit card from Tobago or Trinidad or wherever you reside ?

Not trying to be facetious, just asking for Max and Tun Tun

[Computerman]

To each his own.

Those of us with the financial self-discipline to properly manage a credit card will find that the rewards far far outweigh the risks.

Those who cannot control their spending should definitely not get a credit card.

A cc is a tool for building up your revenue generating assets. If you are using it to cover expenses you doing it wrong! Having access to an 'instant investor' worth a few hundred thousand at a moments notice is a huge benefit IMHO.

But then... WTF do I know...

You half right, and half very very wrong
A cc is NOTHING like an "instant investor", it's actually just an instant short term high interest loan.

Lol... said like a man with a Black CC and no cash flow issues.

[Dave]

My cc is a total investment. Again as with everything there is a right way and a wrong of doing everything! If you don't know then you don't.

To each his own.

Those of us with the financial self-discipline to properly manage a credit card will find that the rewards far far outweigh the risks.

Those who cannot control their spending should definitely not get a credit card.

A cc is a tool for building up your revenue generating assets. If you are using it to cover expenses you doing it wrong! Having access to an 'instant investor' worth a few hundred thousand at a moments notice is a huge benefit IMHO.

But then... WTF do I know...

You half right, and half very very wrong
A cc is NOTHING like an "instant investor", it's actually just an instant short term high interest loan.

Lol... said like a man with a Black CC and no cash flow issues.