Does the card issuer report regularly to the three credit bureaus?
The main reason for having an unsecured credit card is to start you down the road to building a good credit history. Some small issuers do not report regularly to the credit bureaus, so check this point before deciding on a card. Be aware, however, the more frequent reporting is a double-edged sword—if you have a late payment or some other type of default one month, the credit bureaus will be alerted immediately. So be sure to exhibit financial restraint, stay current with your payments, and as much as possible, pay your balance in full each month. What is the APR? Many cards offer a favorable annual percentage rate, e.g. 9.9%, which is comparable to what you might be offered with a standard credit card. But be alert that that rate will increase dramatically if you default in any way on the card agreement. Even paying your account a couple of days late could cause the APR to increase to 25.99% or more. Study the fine print, so you know what the default rate is and what would trigger it
