• NotAFuckingBot@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    I shat my credit into single digit range threeish decades ago (yeah, I’m a boomer puke). I couldn’t even get a bank account until about eight years ago. I finally was able to get an acct, got a secured card, and built my credit up to 729. ‘Upgraded’ my secured card to unsecured, but left the limit at $300 to keep me in check.

    Then I made the mistake for applying for a modest credit line with my bank. Not only did I get denied, but the hard credit hit put me under 700. Then my credit took another major hit because I used that card for more than 31% of its limit. Never once made a late payment, neither.

    As I hoped that a line of credit could afford me access to an oral surgeon (which I really need to even consider dentures, as I have mucho malo in my mouth), and as I have no interest in writing a grant to cover it, I’m fucked, as oral surgeons don’t seem to take Medicaid in my shit state.

    If I survive another yearish, Medicare might be helpful, but the problems in my pie-hole might not wait that long.

    I do not want a handout. I want the chance to pay it off and not leave it to Medicare…and not die of the infections spreading to either my brain (such as it is) or my heart.

    (Yaay, America!)

    • bier@feddit.nl
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      10 months ago

      Why do you use credit cards in the first place? As a non American I never really understood that. Why doesn’t America just have the “normal” (from my perspective) bank cards that just let you use money from your bank account. Why do you need to borrow and pay back? It seems like such a weird system, not just weird also dangerous, where you can end up in debt.

      • NotAFuckingBot@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Agreed. Weird system, and dangerous for many. That’s why I only allow myself a very limited card, which is what I used to build my shitty credit back up.

      • duffman@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        American here. We have normal cards, they are called debit cards and are what most people use. Generizing a lot here, but credit cards are for people who were never financially educated, desperate poor people, or people who only use them to get plane miles or cash back.

        It’s absurd to me to put myself in debt for all but the most desperate of cases.

        • bier@feddit.nl
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          10 months ago

          Thanks, I didn’t know that, you always hear about credit card (debt) but never about debit cards. Can you still use the for a good credit score?

          • duffman@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            I don’t think debit cards or their associated bank accounts affect your credit in any way since those transactions don’t go through any of the credit agencies.

            When I was just starting out in life, I had a credit card but only used it maybe once a year. Just with that I somehow had a credit score in the upper 700s.

      • el_abuelo@lemmy.ml
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        10 months ago

        Credit cards offer more fraud protection, at least where I live, while debit cards offer nothing much. I buy on credit and pay it off fully every month.

      • BaldManGoomba@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Most Americans can’t afford a $400 emergency and live pay check to paycheck. Car breaks down, emergency medical expenses, emergency house breaks down could all cost over $400. You need a Credit card for that back up that you could eventually pay back by probably sacrificing something else. Need a car need a credit score or you pay $3-10,000 more in interest same with buying a home. Want to rent need a credit check. Want to get a job at a bank, military contractor, some government positions, and other secure jobs. They want to make sure you don’t have bad credit or can’t be taken advantage of . Which no credit is often considered bad credit.

      • dyc3@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Most good credit cards have some form cash back, as in they give you a little bit of the credit card processing fee they place on merchants. Credit card benefits vary from card to card.

        We use credit cards so much because it builds our credit score, which makes it significantly easier to take out loans for large purchases (eg car, house, etc) or rent an apartment.

        We do have “normal” cards, they’re called debit cards. You are right that it’s weird and bizarre and dangerous. You shouldn’t be using credit cards if you’re living paycheck to paycheck imo.

        • bier@feddit.nl
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          10 months ago

          Does that mean that your credit score is determined by companies? Or is the credit score something the government calculates for people?

          I think in the Netherlands if you want to get a mortgage, the bank looks at your income, other loans you have, etc and they determine on rules the government set how much you ca borrow. There is a register for people that fail to pay bills, but it’s not something you get on easily, you really need to fail a lot.

    • Agent641@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Have you considered committing a crime and getting caught so that you can go to prison for a year or two and get free dental?

      • NotAFuckingBot@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        As much as I can see the appeal of gaming the system, I don’t look good in orange.

        Also, I have gigs to attend to (filthy bass player here), as well as taking care of my sweetheart, who has wicked mobility issues. I don’t think I can do that from a cell.

        I like the cut of your jib, tho’.

        • Agent641@lemmy.world
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          10 months ago

          Best of luck then, friend 🙏

          Even though we Australians get mostly free healthcare, teeth are still considered luxury bones that we have to pay for out of pocket too.

    • Morcyphr@lemmy.one
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      10 months ago

      It seems there are details missing from your story. I find some similarities to your story to my credit history and I’ve had drastically different results.

      Also, single digit credit scores aren’t a thing.

      What’s a “boomer puke”?

      • NotAFuckingBot@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Not really any significant details missing.

        The single digit score was what I was told by a friend in banking who looked it up for me, years ago, but I’m not arguing with you, as I didn’t see it with my own eyes. She could have been lying.

        Boomer = old person. Puke = asshole, fucker, or other insult.