Secured Credit Cards

Our Online Card Buys *

	Typical APR Variable	Max Int Free
	8.5%	56 days
	8.8%	56 days
	14.9%	56 days
	14.9%	56 days
	14.9%	56 days
* Based on Lowest Standard Rates and is not a full search of the whole market

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Secured credit cards have much in common with prepaid credit cards . The key point is that they arent really credit cards at all. That is to say secured credit cards do not advance credit in the way ordinary credit cards do.

Like prepaid cards, secured credit cards must be funded in advance. However, some secured credit cards will not directly draw on the money you put in to cover your spending, using it instead as security in case you default on a repayment.

Secured credit cards and prepaid credit cards are not cheap to run. They tend to be attractive to those people with bad credit history or no credit history. Using secured credit cards sensibly can help rebuild a tattered credit record without running the risk of going back into debt.

Among the advantages of having a secured credit card is that more and more retailers are refusing to take cheques - increasingly requiring customers to pay using credit or debit cards.

The application process for secured credit cards is much simpler than applying for an ordinary credit card for one simple reason - as you arent actually applying for credit, no credit checks are required, no verification of employment, etc.

Use the moneyextra credit cards comparison tool here

Last Updated: May 2007 © Moneyextra.com

Our senior editor Robin Amlôt recommends you should consider taking independent financial advice before acting on any article. Please contact us for help with your individual circumstances if any assistance is required.