How to use a no-credit loan to build your credit

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Getting good credit may seem like climbing a mountain at first, especially if you are starting out with no credit. Using no-credit loans can help build good credit history, but many people are afraid of what taking on these loans may mean. However, it is not nearly as scary as it seems.
Starting with no credit history gives you the chance to start with a clean slate, rather than looking to repair damaged credit. Using no-credit loans and other offers can be a great step to good credit history.
Benefits of having no credit history
As odd as it may seem, having no credit history may actually be very helpful in some cases. This is especially true when compared to to others who have poor credit.
For instance, a lender may see a completely fresh account as less of a risk than a person who has a history of poor credit practices.
With that said, it is important that you start off on the right foot, and take responsibility for your credit immediately to keep your credit score high and prevent you from worrying about credit.
Why is credit history important?
Your personal credit history is a list of information about how you handle credit, as reported to the three main credit-reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, andTransUnion. Information such as payments, late payments, and credit usage from lenders and creditors you work with who report their information to these bureaus will start to build your credit history.
Lenders and financial institutions use a person’s credit history as a way to judge their habits with credit and loans. As such, it helps tell them how trustworthy a person will be with credit.
To put it very simply, a person with a high credit score and good credit history is very likely to pay back their loan on time. A person with a low credit score and bad credit history is less likely to pay back their loan on time.
This system helps lenders weigh the risk of giving a person a loan or line of credit.
So without a credit history, it can be hard for lenders to determine if a person is trustworthy with their finances. Many lenders will deny the application outright, but many others will not.
Getting a no-credit loan
When you are looking to get a no-credit loan, it may seem like your options are limited. And truth be told, they are. Many lenders require proof of your creditworthiness in the form of credit history. This is the downside of having no credit history.
However, that does not mean there are no options. In fact, there are a few simple ways to help you build a good credit history.
Apply for a loan with a cosigner
A cosigner is someone with good credit who agrees to take on a loan alongside you. If you were unable to pay your loan, the cosigner would then be responsible to pay it back. Loans with cosigners are much less risky for lenders
However, you should also be certain you have the means to pay the loan back. Defaulting on a loan with a cosigner can significantly damage their credit, and may damage your relationship as well.
Apply for a no-credit loan with a specialist
There are also specialists who deal with no-credit loans. These are for people with little credit history or a poor credit history.
While these options may be more available to you, also keep in mind that they can be risky. Make sure to only get a no-credit loan from a reputable lender, and shop around to find the best terms. Interest rates, fees, and other terms can be harsh for people with little or no credit, and some lenders may exploit this for their own gain.
In any case, a loan should help you build your credit while also being easily affordable. You should not be struggling to pay your loans. If it looks like you will be struggling to pay off your loan with the given terms, consider other options instead. Taking on a loan you cant afford in the long term can do more damage than good.
Save money
While this tip will not help you build your credit score, in many cases it may simply be smarter to save up the money, rather than pay high fees and interest rates many loans will offer you. This also gives you more time to explore other options and build your credit, making loans with better terms more accessible.
Other ways to build credit with no credit
Building credit without any credit history can be a pain in general. With that said, there are still other ways to go about starting up a credit history and building good credit.
Authorized credit use
Similar to a cosigner on a loan, a friend or family member who trusts you may put you as an authorized user on their credit card. In these cases, the positive history they accrue will also be added to your credit history.
However, keep in mind that not all credit companies report to the credit bureaus for all authorized users. If you are going to go this route, contact the card issuer and be sure they do report that information so it can help you build credit.
Make sure it is a person you know and trust however, and one who is responsible with their credit. Because while helpful credit history will go on your report- so will negative remarks if the person makes late payments or builds up debt.
Secured credit cards
A secured credit card may be the simplest way to access a credit line and start building credit. In these cases, the person puts money down as collateral for their credit line.
Most credit lines will start out at 200 or 300 dollars. So the person puts down 200 dollars, and then the creditor gives them a 200 dollar line of credit. After showing that the person is responsible with this form of credit for a while, the creditor will likely bump the limit up.
Secured credit cards are a great way to build your credit score up while saving money. This can help open up better loan terms and other options in the future.
Credit-builder loans
Similar to secured credit cards, credit-builder loans use your own money as collateral towards your loan, while helping you build credit.
With a credit-builder loan, a person makes monthly payments as they would a regular loan. However, the payments go into a locked savings account and the payment info gets reported to the credit bureaus. At the end of the term when the loan is payed in full, the person gets the money they have payed back. They now have a nice chunk of money and some helpful credit history.
Avoid certain types of credit
As a person with no credit history, how you start out is going to be important. A general rule of thumb with credit is that it should both help you build credit, and be easy to pay back. As such, there are a couple types of credit to avoid, including:
Payday loans – Short term loans that essentially let you borrow money until your next “payday”. Payday loans have steep fees and incredibly high interest rates.
Car title loans – Similar short term loans, car title loans use your car as collateral for a loan. The terms tend to be higher risk, and the interest rates are extremely high. As an added risk, if you fail to pay back the loan, you may lose your car.
Avoid these loans however possible. Not only are they difficult and have many unfriendly terms, many of these loans do not report any information to the credit bureaus.
Bottom line
Using a no-credit loan to build your credit is possible, and in many cases can help you build a good credit score. With that said, it is not the only way to build credit,. No matter which route you choose, it is important to start on the right foot by making healthy credit practices a habit early on.
Written by Lee Schmidt · Updated November 9, 2019 · Published November 9, 2019



