I am so frustrated about my upcoming eye surgery

you will have a case manager assigned to your surgery. Get with her and she will help you resolve these issues. Also get a credit card not a debit card. You can dispute credit card charges if needed to but a debit card takes money out of your account and takes longer to resolve issues.
Major bank credit cards are probably the safest form of payment when it comes to theft or fraud. Fraudulent charges are absorbed by the CC company, not the cardholder. It's the opposite situation with cash, checks or debit cards.

I agree with @Georgiagranny. It's time to set your fears aside and take the plunge. When it comes to credit cards your fears don't line up with the reality of your (virtually nonexistent) risks.

You're an independent woman, Deb. I suspect you'd feel a whole lot better arranging and paying professional drivers rather than begging massive favors of acquaintances. (BTW, unlike taxis, Uber advises you of the ride's cost before you agree to have the driver show up at your door.)
 

I did apply for a CC at the local bank years ago and was turned down - 'no credit history' they cited. How can I get a credit hostory if I can't get a card? It like applying for your first job and can't get hired because you have no work history. That discouraged me and I never tried again.
 
I did apply for a CC at the local bank years ago and was turned down - 'no credit history' they cited. How can I get a credit hostory if I can't get a card? It like applying for your first job and can't get hired because you have no work history. That discouraged me and I never tried again.
Go in and talk to a manager at your bank and have them give you a recommendation. There’re a variety of CCs. Once you get used to using it, you can change to another card because now you’ll have a credit rating.
 

I did apply for a CC at the local bank years ago and was turned down - 'no credit history' they cited. How can I get a credit hostory if I can't get a card? It like applying for your first job and can't get hired because you have no work history. That discouraged me and I never tried again.
You own a home and have money in that bank, correct? That should be enough to get your credit going.
 
Will your bank issue you a secured credit card? You would deposit an agreed upon amount of money in a separate (I think) account at your bank. The credit card they issue will have a limit of the "secured" amount that you deposit.

Hard to believe, with your assets, that you were turned down totally.

(edited to change UP to UPON)
 
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Deb posted
I did apply for a CC at the local bank years ago and was turned down

But since then What?

Googled this
instant approval credit card offers

Maybe trying applying online would work
 
Deb posted
I did apply for a CC at the local bank years ago and was turned down

But since then What?

Googled this
instant approval credit card offers

Maybe trying applying online would work
I agree.

An observation:
My 9 month old grandson is becoming increasingly mobile. Three weeks ago, he fell on his bottom every time he tried to stand up. Now he pulls himself up without a problem and has moved on to the next skill: holding onto the furniture while walking alongside (aka cruising). He is thoroughly undaunted by hundreds or thousands of failed attempts. He falls and gets right back up and tries again.

The older we get the more likely we are to give up after a single unsuccessful attempt. Then we wallow in our our victimhood, trotting out our litany of why we don't have what we want: life isn't fair, it's too hard, "they" didn't explain it to me properly, I liked it better the old way, nobody will help me, etc. (I'm as guilty as the next person.)

It's funny - people say "Don't be such a baby." Seems to me we should be saying, "Don't be such an adult." If babies acted like adults, they'd cry in their cribs forever.

Deb, if first you don't succeed, try, try again.
 
Fine. You're a homeowner with a healthy bank balance. You also have utilities and insurance in your name.

No matter what anyone suggests you come back with, at best, a specious response. For crying out loud! You seem to really like to feel put upon and misunderstood and seemingly hopeless.

Get off your como se llama and make an effort to help yourself live a more convenient life.
 
A secured card, like @Kika said. That will very soon, after using it a few times, you will be eligible for the unsecured type. A secured one is an excellent idea.

Years ago, when my husband & I had no credit history we got store cards that most everyone can get without a credit history, used them, paid in a timely fashion and within a year we were eligible for any card we wanted.
 
Doubtful that she needs a secured card. She's a property owner with a positive bank balance. She's had insurance and utilities in her own name for years.

No credit history is a valid reason in many cases. No credit history is not a roadblock in Deb's case.

The roadblock in Deb's case is Deb. Apparently, complaining is easier than solving the problem.

And I'm done. If Deb wanted a solution, she'd have one.
 
I own a home, car, have no debts to my knowledge and have PLAENTY of money in that bank. I just don't understand it. BTW - it WAS the manager I talked with about it.
Do you have any of your money in an investment place like Fidelity? I think Fidelity can issue credit cards (I don't have one but have gotten advertisements in the mail from them).
 
Do you have any of your money in an investment place like Fidelity? I think Fidelity can issue credit cards (I don't have one but have gotten advertisements in the mail from them).
I'd like to warn against applying for a credit card that is associated with Fidelity. I had an issue/dispute filed with the Visa card associated with Fidelity. I filed the dispute BEFORE the payment was due. The card company said the would investigate & put a temporary hold on payment.

The investigation came back as they would honor the request by the seller & debit my bank account. Fidelity has a branch office here so I went there to explain the seller was someone I didn't order from. That what was delivered was not what I ordered. I presented documentation proving my reason for the dispute. Fidelity rep said they would contact the credit card company on my behalf. The dispute was settled in my favor. Meanwhile I cancelled that card.

Short version Elan financial the parent company for the Visa account isn't a good company to be associated with.
 
Knight, your response is valid and exactly the excuse she will use why she must never have one. What she‘s not realizing is that problems are rare and even more rare that the issue isn’t solved right away. A CC is secured.
 
Knight, your response is valid and exactly the excuse she will use why she must never have one. What she‘s not realizing is that problems are rare and even more rare that the issue isn’t solved right away. A CC is secured.
Sadly very true. Deb presents problems, posters offer good advice that is ignored in favor of dragging out her issues. But it's understandable, she lives alone & if posts were followed over the years her parents influence left her distrusting a lot of things. Maybe given a little more time & encouragement from those who care like you, she will adapt to some modern technology like a cell phone & trusting the use of a credit card.
 
It's not banks - it's credit card companies.
Your parents were basing their opinions on mostly incorrect information that was decades old. Do your own research. Check out federal laws and look at CC agreements.

Critical thinking moment: Does it make sense to you that nearly all Americans would have CCs if we could be held financially liable for fraudulent charges?
 
I see commericals all the time about the companies that help get people that are victims of identity theft. Having a CC makes one more of a target.
Like so many of these TV commercials....these ID theft commercials are 99% baloney....they only help you for a "fee".

If you get a Discover Card, and monitor your usage/account, the odds of ever having a problem are very slim. If you should ever see a bogus charge, they have a 24/7 800 number that can quickly delete the transaction.

In today's world, Not having a credit card puts you at a substantial disadvantage.
 
Convincing arguments to get a credit card have been made by all in this thread. I commend your efforts, and you can keep at it until the cows come home, but it won't make a difference. The bottom line is that Debs isn't going to get one until she gets backed into a corner and she has absolutely no other choice. You've done your best to assure her that it's safe, but she's still not convinced and there's nothing anyone can say that will convince her otherwise, although you've made a valiant effort.

Debs, the day is coming when you won't be able to impose on others for a ride. You think it's frustrating now. What will you do then?

You know, I wish you well. Good luck. :)

Bella ✌️
 
When I did my aunt's estate about 10 years ago, I discovered she was over $40K in debt because of a credit card which was more than her estate was worth. What a mess trying to straighten that out. I had to have the estate attorney negotiate a settlement with her debtors for a fraction of what she owed.
 


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