Getting credit card offers in the mail is one thing. Actually filling out these forms and getting credit extended on your behalf is another. For those out there with excellent existing credit, equity, a steady work history, and a healthy bank balance, it’s easy. But what about the rest of us? For those who want a credit card and have bad credit, getting the first credit card can be as hard as squeezing blood out of a turnip. So where do you start?

The first step to getting real credit cards with bad credit is to put an end to the occurrences that are credit road blocks. Common credit card road blocks include bankruptcy, liens, and a flood of negative remarks on your credit report. Credit hungry individuals may very well be hurting themselves by taking out more credit if they are unable to pay existing bills on time. However, for millions of Americans, it’s during crunch time (ie: unexpected automobile and medical expenses) that a credit card could offer an escape from financially sinking into a sea of debt.

Contact existing creditors and billing agencies. Once you work out at least a temporary plan to address power bills, phone bills, rent and/or mortgage, car payments, and cell phone bills, you can begin the road to getting a credit card. Start small. The $20,000 no hassle low APR credit cards are generally not extended to people with poor credit. Sure, that’s what the junk mail you just got says you may be pre-qualified for, but earnestly, once the back of the offer is read, the credit card seeker might notice the words “pending credit evaluation” or “you may only qualify for a lower amount, possibly as low as a postage stamp.”

Some of the easiest places to get on the road to credit card recovery with bad credit are department stores, and mail/online outlets. Surely virtually anyone with bad credit from the 90s has heard of Fingerhut. Yes, that’s right! Fingerhut, the renowned extender of credit for those with bad credit where for 1000 payments of 3.94 you can buy a soft taco. They’ll even spot for free shipping and possibly even throw in a plastic stapler or roll of tape.

Another, and more modern, extender of credit to people with poor credit is Ashley’s Home Furnishing. They are able to extend credit to people with bad credit because of their leveraged buying power. The very fact they sell couches manufactured from plywood for $400 to $1000 allows them the power to write off debt easier than many other creditors.

Once you’ve established tier one credit, it’s time to move to tier two. Tier two credit cards are secured credit cards. By putting as little as $100 into a secured account, the issuing credit card agency will often extend “secured” credit cards to people with bad credit. Sometimes the amount seems somewhat low. In the case of some individuals with bad credit the creditors may extend an credit line as low as $20$. However, by using the card, keeping your balance below half the limit at all times, and making timely payments on the same day each month, you will begin to build a good remark for revolving credit on your credit bureau report.

A less known fact about credit building is that paying slightly above the minimum amount, on the same day adds extra value to credit building. Creditors often look at people with any credit, but especially bad credit, with a leery eye when the payment date is different each month. That is because, deep down, they ask themselves, “Does this person have to pawn his guitar this month to make his minimum payment?” A routine payment schedule avoids red flags with creditors.

Once your credit report builds a trend of increasingly positive remarks on it, you will find it easier to get tier three credit cards such as department store cards. In particular, the Sears card seems relatively easy to get. The important thing to realize is that each creditor assesses the risk of extending credit to bad credit individuals differently. Finally, after you reach this level, you should be getting a deluge of credit card offers, because finally, “YOUR CREDIT IS NOT BAD!” At this point you can fill out credit card solicitations and generally get accepted for any unsecured card pending your annual income on paper meets the number that’s on the back of the offer.