How to Get a Free Credit Card With Bad Credit

Bad credit limits your options when shopping for a new credit card. Although you may need a credit card to make online purchases, hotel reservations or just in case of an emergency, your poor credit score may place free credit cards out of your reach. Secured credit cards are often the only option for individuals with bad credit and these credit cards require a cash deposit. If you cannot afford to make a cash deposit on a secured credit card, you can get a credit card with no cash deposit and no annual fee through a process known as "piggybacking" (See References 1).

Instructions

1

Talk to friends and family members who have good credit. Ask if they are willing to add you on to their credit card accounts as an authorized user. Authorized users have all the benefits of a credit card account--including being able to build their credit score--without the responsibility of paying any fees that the card carries (See References 1).

2

Ask your loved one to call his credit card company and request that the company add you on to his account as an authorized user.

3

Fill out the necessary paperwork. Some credit card companies, such as Discover, do not require new authorized users to fill out paperwork before being added to a credit card account (See References 2). Some companies, however, do (See References 3). If the credit card company does not require a signature from you, you must still provide your loved one with your Social Security number before the company can add you to the account.

4

Wait for your new credit card to arrive. Use your new free credit card to make purchases and reservations. Pay your loved one for the purchases that you make on his credit card so that he may then apply the payments to his account.