2. Should I also apply to Providian in addition to/in lieu of the ACE offer? 3. If I accept both, will they at all hinder my chances at getting higher credit lines later, or have any negative aspect on my credit rating? Shop around.  The $29 processing fee is a rip-off.  The $59 annual fee is high.  Did you try to get a credit card through your present bank?

: Kind of late now but that's why you should never go through CCCS. : CCCS are really bill collectors and are looked at in the industry as : such. *  People that go through CCCS and pay everything back find that : they cannot get any credit at all afterwords.  The final slap in the : face is the CCCS episode stays on your credit files for seven years : after you finish paying! Yes, read http://www.creditinfocenter.com/CCCS/cccs.html for more info. CCCS is almost as bad for your credit as a bankruptcy.  The consumer counseling part is very misleading, because although these people claim to be non-profit they are actually financed by the banks who only care about getting their money back from you. : Cash is king.  To hell with credit. For some, not all.  When used properly, credit can be better than cash.

snip    I have only qualified for a $300 Capital One card.  That isn't enough credit to be able to rent a car when I go on a trip     snips Until you get reestablished, the car rental problem be solved by taking along sufficient traveler's checks. Joan

Kind of late now but that's why you should never go through CCCS. CCCS are really bill collectors and are looked at in the industry as such.  People that go through CCCS and pay everything back find that they cannot get any credit at all afterwords.  The final slap in the face is the CCCS episode stays on your credit files for seven years after you finish paying! My fiance paid off $7000 with CCCS, and six months after she finished CCCS she got a $5000 credit card (income: $16,000/year).  My credit must be a lot worse, I paid off $20,000 two years ago and I now have a Capital One Visa ($300 limit, $59 yearly fee).  My income is $90,000/year at a steady job.  CCCS wasn't poison for her, why me? When I ran up big bills I was young and stupid.  I've now had a DEBIT card (looks like Mastercard) for three years and have kept a minimum of $2000 in the bank to support it.  Recently I bought a $2000 computer with it, and I'm getting ready to spend $4,000 on a honeymoon.  Neither will show up on my credit report, because I will use a debit card. I doubt my bank (Chase Manhattan) offers a secured credit car, there isn't one on their web page of different kinds of cards they offer. Can you recommend a secured card vendor? I have recently learned that I can fill out a credit application with Hertz which will allow me to use my debit card to rent cars.  This won't help me build credit, but I will at least be able to drive on my honeymoon. What sort of 'alternate' arrangement would help me buy an apartment? (I live in Manhattan

Until you get reestablished, the car rental problem be solved by taking along sufficient traveler's checks. Which rental agencies will let you pay with traveler's checks instead of requiring a credit card? And since rental agencies generally put a hold on your card for a few thousand dollars if you decline their insurance, wouldn't that mean you'd have to bring a few thousand dollars in traveler's checks?

: My fiance paid off $7000 with CCCS, and six months after she finished : CCCS she got a $5000 credit card (income: $16,000/year).  My credit : must be a lot worse, I paid off $20,000 two years ago and I now have : a Capital One Visa ($300 limit, $59 yearly fee).  My income is : $90,000/year at a steady job.  CCCS wasn't poison for her, why me? Take a look at your credit reports.  My guess is, the creditors didn't report her as late/discharged but did report your negative info.  Try disputing your dings and see if they fall off.  A lot of banks have merged or changed hands in the past few years, and chances are they won't be able to verify the negative stuff and it'll just drop off your report. : What sort of 'alternate' arrangement would help me buy an apartment? (I : live in Manhattan