credit cards

Guaranteed, Easy to Get Credit Cards with Instant Approval in Canada

There are finance companies and establishments that feature easy to get cards with no credit checks and instant approval. They are ideal for Canadians with a history of late and missed payments, excessive borrowing, and delinquencies. Such customers are considered high risk by traditional providers.

Credit Cards Canada Instant Approval

Some companies and financial institutions feature products with instant approval, including Canadian Tire and Home Trust.

Home Trust features a Secured Visa card that allows customers to book a vacation and make in-store and online purchases. The best part is that anyone gets approved. The limit is equal to the deposit made, which can be as high as $10,000 and as low as just $500.

Interest rate: 14.99 percent
Annual fee: $59

Canadian Tire also advertises instant decision for customers who fill in the application for approval. The Triangle MasterCard^® allows customers to earn rewards that can be redeemed at Atmosphere, Mark’s/L’Équipeur, Sport Chek, and Canadian Tire. There is a host of benefits for holders, including access to exclusive events and offers, no-receipt returns, and 5 – 7 ¢ per litre in cash back in CT Money when making debit or cash purchases. Weekly flyer bonuses are also available. Like other instant approval credit cards, customers who are retired or employed, are of legal age, and are Canadian citizens are eligible to apply. Applicants are asked to provide details such as address and name of current employer, annual income, and previous address. (*Note that customers have reported that approval process may take 2 weeks.)

Interest rate on cash transactions: 22.99 percent
Purchase interest rate: 19.99 percent
Annual fee: none
Grace period: 21 days or longer
Grace period for residents of Quebec: 26 days or longer

Cards with No Credit Checks

The Bank of Nova Scotia and Refresh Financial feature products that target customers with bad or no credit.

Scotiabank offers the Scotia Momentum^® No-Fee VISA which is a great option for newcomers to Canada – no credit history is needed for newcomers to Canada. This card goes with perks such as discounts on car rentals, optional protection, and the option to add a family member or а friend as a supplementary holder. Customers earn 1 percent cash back on recurring bill payments, drug store and grocery store purchases, and at gas stations. All other purchases earn 0.5 percent money back. As an added benefit, the bank offers a low promotional rate of just 7.99 percent during the first 6 months. (*Note that customers have reported credit checks being done.)

Minimum credit limit: $500
Cash advance rate: 22.99 percent
Standard rate: 19.99 percent
Annual fee: none
Grace period: 21 days or longer

If looking for no credit checks credit cards, the Refresh Secured Visa is a great option for borrowers with blemished scores because no credit check is required. Applicants are asked to make a security deposit but there are benefits such as free financial education, easy approval, and the opportunity to rebuild credit. The Financial Intelligence Training program by Refresh Financial offers customers the chance to learn how to create a personal brand, set financial goals, build personal wealth, save money, and more. Customers are offered free short videos on a wealth of different topics. Refresh Financial also features useful guides and tools such as advice on building credit after bankruptcy or consumer proposal , ways to improve one’s financial literacy.

Interest rate: 17.99 percent
Annual fee: $48.95

Guaranteed Credit Card Canada

Some issuers advertise guaranteed credit card approval , among which Capital One and Home Trust. Capital One features three such products – Low Rate Guaranteed, Guaranteed Secured, and Guaranteed MasterCard.

Low Rate Guaranteed MasterCard^® requires a security deposit and goes with added incentives such as travel assistance, baggage delay insurance, and common carrier travel accident insurance. Other perks include emergency cash advances and card replacement and extended warranty. All applicants qualify provided that they do not have an account at the bank which was not in good standing and are of legal age.

Cash advance interest rate: 19.8 percent
Balance transfer and purchase rate: 14.9 percent
Annual fee: $79
Credit limit: $300 to $7,000

The Guaranteed MasterCard^® is another option for customers who are looking for a guaranteed credit card. This product comes with travel and everyday benefits such as car rental collision waiver, extended warranty, and others. Customers benefit from legal referrals, lost luggage assistance, lost ticket and documents replacements, medical referrals, and others.

Interest rate: 19.8 percent
Annual fee: $59

In general to get approved for a guaranteed credit card Canada based customers must make a security deposit which serves as a guarantee of repayment.

Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit Canada

Getting an unsecured card is a great idea provided that security deposit is not required. Scotiabank and Capital One offer products that are designed for customers with tarnished scores.

The Scotiabank Value^® Visa is one product to look into, which also targets newcomers to Canada. There is an option to transfer and consolidate high-interest balances to make payments more affordable. Additional perks include optional protection, discounts on car rentals at Budget and Avis locations in the USA and Canada, Visa payWave.

Interest rate: 11.99 percent
Annual fee: $29
Credit limit: $500 or higher

Capital One also offers an unsecured bad credit card that is ideal for customers who are considered high risk. The Secured MasterCard^® is easy to get and features benefits such as price protection, 24/7 roadside assistance, travel assistance, travel accident and auto rental insurance, and more. Identity theft resolution services are also available. Customers are free to choose a preferred payment method and monthly due date and are offered three security deposit options ($200, $99, and $49).

Interest rate: 24.99 percent
Cash advance rate: 24.99 percent
Annual fee: none

Easy to Get Credit Cards

Different financial institutions feature cards that target borrowers with fair and average scores, including BMO, Home Trust and Scotiabank.

The Preferred Rate MasterCard^® by BMO^® is one option to look into, which comes with a low intro rate of 3.99 percent. This rate applies to balance transfers during a 9-month promotional period. There are add-ons such as balance protection and roadside assistance. BMO also advertises security features such as MasterCard SecureCode, zero liability, and chip technology. Customers are eligible to apply provided that they did not file for bankruptcy during the past seven years and are of the age of majority in their territory or province of residence. They are asked to bring photo identification such as their territorial or provincial health insurance card, certificate of Canadian citizenship, Permanent Resident Card, driver’s license, Immigration Canada Documents, etc. When applying for a card, customers are asked about their housing status, address, monthly payment, years of employment and employment information, income details, and more.

Cash advance rate: 11.9 percent
Interest rate: 11.9 percent
Annual fee: $20
Grace period: 21 days or longer

The Vancity enviro Secured Visa is also a good choice for customers with fair and tarnished scores, those with past financial problems, and recent immigrants. Those who deposit $500 or more in their TFSA, Jumpstart High Interest Savings Account or Vancity Term Deposit are offered an enviro Visa. The amount deposited determines the limit. The card goes with multiple benefits such as Visa payWave and Checkout, stolen and lost card protection, recurring payments, lost and delayed baggage insurance, travel accident insurance, and more. Optional coverage includes trip interruption, trip cancellation, and travel medical insurance as well as critical illness, life, and accidental dismemberment insurance. An added benefit is the option to set up automatic payments to avoid late and missed payments. Customers also have access to their online account information, including statement data, transactions, and current balance. Customers can apply by visiting a local branch.

Low interest rate: 11.25 percent
Regular interest rate: 19.5 percent
Annual fee: none

Toronto Dominion features the TD Cash Secured Credit Card which requires a deposit made into a TD Simple Savings Account. The deposit serves as collateral and can be as low as $500. On the good side, this card allows holders to earn money back on regular purchases, purchases at grocery stores, and dining. Holders earn 1 percent back on regular purchases, 2 percent on groceries, and 3 percent on fine and casual dining. Additional benefits include instant card replacement, chip technology protection, and digital wallet that allows customers to add their card to their phone. *Please note that this card is no longer available.

Balance transfer APR: 24.74 percent
Variable purchase APR: 24.74 percent
Cash advance APR: 26.99 percent
Foreign transaction fee: $0
Annual fee: $29
Credit limit: $500 – $5,000

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce also offers secured cards to newcomers, Canadians trying to rebuild or build credit, and international students. Applicants are asked to make a security deposit which is held in an interest-bearing investment instrument. Newcomers to Canada can choose a card that is tailored to their requirements provided that they have another borrowing or banking product in good standing, including a mortgage, line of credit, loan, or savings or chequing account. A security deposit is not required, and customers with no credit history qualify provided that they meet the criteria.

There are plenty of options for customers who are looking for guaranteed and secured credit cards but in most cases, finance companies and banks require that borrowers provide proof of employment and income and make a security deposit. The reason is that customers with tarnished scores may have poor credit and money management skills, which often results in having delinquent accounts. The good news is that by making regular and timely payments on secured cards, customers manage to rebuild credit over time and are offered a wealth of borrowing options.

Top Canadian Travel Credit Cards

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Canadian banks, unions, and other providers offer specialty credit cards with travel rewards such as airmiles or rewards points, no foreign transaction fees, exclusive access to events, concierge service, car rental insurance, and other add-ons.

MBNA Rewards World Elite

MBNA offers a travel credit card with a welcome bonus of 10,000 points after the first purchase or transaction. Customers earn 2 points per each $1 they spend for an annual fee of $89. The points you accumulate have no expiration date, and there is no limit on the points you can earn. You can redeem them in different ways, including electronics and featured items and merchandise such as sunglasses, necklaces, pizza sets, flatware, electric shavers, microwaves, cordless gas trimmers, and a lot more. There are added incentives such as travel coverage, including legal and lost luggage assistance and lost ticket and document replacement. Customers with a combined household income of $150,000 qualify (or personal income of $80,000).

Cash advance rate: 24.99 percent
Access check and balance transfer rate: 21.99 percent
Purchase rate: 19.99 percent

RBC Visa Infinite Avion

This Visa card by RBC also offers great travel benefits such as comprehensive insurance coverage, including rental car insurance, hotel, trip, and emergency medical coverage, and trip cancellation. In addition to extensive coverage, customers also benefit from the fact that there are no seat restrictions, whether traveling during low season or peak season. RBC also guarantees that there are no blackouts and features a generous rewards program whereby $1 spent on the card equals 1 bonus point. Travel purchases bring an extra 25 percent. A generous welcome bonus of 15,000 points is an added incentive to start collecting points.

Cash advances: 21.99 percent
Purchases: 19.99 percent
Annual fee: $120
Annual fee on supplementary cards: $50

This card also has an income requirement of $100,000 (for households) and $60,000 (for your annual personal income). Customers who meet the income requirement can take advantage of add-ons such as dining and hotel benefits, access to exclusive events, and optional coverage. Optional insurance includes identity theft protection, RBC Road Assist, and travel insurance.

Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard

Offered by Capital One, this rewards card also tops the list of travel products with extensive insurance coverage, including trip cancellation, flight delay, and emergency medical coverage. In addition to travel assistance, cardholders are also offered car rental collision and baggage delay insurance. The card also goes with baggage loss and flight delay insurance as well as trip interruption coverage. There are added benefits such as the option to add an authorized user free of charge. Each dollar in purchases earns 2 bonus points. The welcome bonus of 400,000 is offered to customers who charge $1,000 on the card during the first three months. This equals $400 that can go toward travel or other purchases. There are no restrictions or limits on the points you can accumulate. Customers with spotless credit qualify provided that they can show proof of household income of at least $150,000 or personal income of at least $80,000. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you also enjoy concierge services such as tickets for exclusive events, special privileges, dining reservations, and plenty more.

Annual fee: $150
Cash advance and balance transfer rate: 19.8 percent
Purchase rate: 19.8 percent

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

Offered by Toronto-Dominion, the Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is a specialty product with travel rewards and complementary benefits. These include access to the Maple Leaf Lounge (Air Canada), priority check-in, first checked bag, and priority boarding. Complementary travel benefits are offered to customers flying onboard under the Air Canada Express as well as flights by Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada. Cardholders are also offered comprehensive travel insurance, including emergency medical travel, auto rental collision, travel medical, and trip delay insurance. The coverage also includes flight delay, lost baggage, and delayed baggage insurance. Emergency travel assistance is offered as well. Customers also benefit from car rental discounts at Budget and Avis Rent-A-Car. When it comes to travel rewards, Toronto-Dominion offers 1 point per $1 on everyday purchases and 1.5 points per $1 on travel purchases at aircanada.com, grocery purchases, as well as drugstore and gas purchases. You earn at a double rate with your Aeroplan Membership Card on purchases at participating retailers. The miles or bonus points you earn can be redeemed in different ways, including travel fees and taxes. You can use them to cover surcharges as well.

The list of exclusive benefits includes hotel privileges, food and wine experiences offered by Visa Infinite, and concierge service that covers restaurant recommendations, travel assistance and recommendations, etc. To benefit from all this, you must have an annual household or personal income of at least $100,000 or $60,000 respectively. Only applicants who are Canadian residents and are of legal age meet the eligibility criteria.

Credit limit: $5,000 or higher
Cash advance rate: 22.99 percent
Purchase rate: 19.99 percent
Annual fee for authorized users: $50
Annual fee: $120

American Express Gold Rewards Card

This rewards card offered by American Express is also worth a quick look when it comes to travel benefits. Amex offers a welcome bonus of 25,000 travel points on the first $1,500 charged during a 3-month period. While it is a charge card, you collect 2 rewards points per each dollar spent on purchases, including travel expenses such as cruise and flight travel, grocery and gas, etc. The annual fee for primary cardholders is $150. Extensive insurance is offered, including lost baggage and trip interruption coverage.

Aerogold Visa Infinite Privilege Card by CIBC

CIBC also has a great specialty card on offer, available to customers with a household income of at least $200,000. The Aerogold Visa Infinite Privilege Card features comprehensive insurance benefits such as trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage for out-of-province travel. Air Canada benefits are also offered, including first checked bag, priority boarding, etc. Each dollar you spend earns a total of 1.25 rewards points on regular purchases and 1.5 points on purchases at aircanada.com as well as drugstore and grocery store purchases and gas. Customers are offered bonus rewards points at select online and other retailers. Cardholders with a diamond, black, and silver status benefit from additional privileges and need fewer points for flight bookings. When you book an Air Canada-operated flight, you are entitled to a discount companion Business Class ticket (50 percent off). What is more, you are free to cancel and book flights at any time and up to 120 minutes before departure. Additional benefits for cardholders include luxury hotel benefits, access to live music events, attractive ski offers, and plenty more. The list of added incentives includes priority access to fast lanes, discounts on valet services and parking, as well as limo and taxi services. Priority Pass allows cardholders to take advantage of lounge visits up to 6 times a year at more than 850 airport lounges around the world.

The Aerogold Visa Infinite Privilege Card also goes with a comprehensive package of insurance benefits such as hotel and motel burglary, common carrier accident, and auto rental collision coverage. Holders are also offered baggage delay coverage, trip interruption insurance, flight delay, trip cancellation, and emergency travel medical coverage.

Cash rate: 22.99 percent
Purchase rate: 19.99 percent
Annual fee on supplementary cards: $99
Annual fee: $399

RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege

A yet another card by the Royal Bank of Canada, Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is a great choice for frequent travelers and comes with a comprehensive insurance package. The coverage includes trip interruption insurance, purchase protection, and trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage. The concierge service is an added benefit to take advantage of travel assistance, restaurant and ticket bookings, and more. In addition to a welcome bonus of 25,000 points, customers earn points at a generous rate of 1.25 bonus points per $1 spent on everyday and regular purchases. The best part is that you can redeem your points in different ways, including tours and travel packages, hotel stays, vacations, etc.

Again, there is an income requirement to meet – at least $200,000 for both households and individual customers. If you qualify, you are offered access to exclusive privileges such as automatic hotel room upgrades, late check-out, and more. There are optional extras to look into, for example, travel insurance, travel assist, and identity theft protection. The Balance Protector package also covers loss of self-employment income, involuntary unemployment, total disability, accidental dismemberment, critical illness, and loss of life.

Cash advance rate: 21.99 percent
Purchase rate: 19.99 percent
Annual fee for additional cards: $99
Primary holder annual fee: $399

Only customers with no recent bankruptcy records qualify. This card is available to Canadian residents and citizens only.

Canada’s Top Ten Secured Credit Cards

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When it comes to considering secured credit cards in Canada, you have quite an array of options to choose from. They come with different interest rates, annual fees, rewards, benefits, and minimum deposits. Here are some factors to consider regarding guaranteed credit cards, and a side-by-side comparison of Canada’s top ten!

What is a Secured Credit Card?

A secured, or guaranteed, credit card works on the same principle as a secured loan. With a secured loan, the lender has some tangible guarantee (like a home or car) that can be taken as collateral if the borrower should default on the loan. That’s why mortgage companies and lenders are willing to loan out large sums of money to people—because they know they’ll get either the money (and interest) in payment, or else they’ll get the property that was put up to secure the loan.

In the case of a secured credit card, the collateral is a sum of money you deposit when you are issued the card. The lender can be confident that you’re not a risk, because they already have your money in hand.

What Are Secured Credit Cards Good For?

So why even get a secured card? If you have the cash-in-hand sufficient for a deposit, you could just use your cash, right? Well, maybe not. You can’t use cash to purchase merchandise online, to make reservations, or even to pay some bills. Where a check or credit card is required, you’ll be out of luck if you don’t have a bank account or a card.

If your poor credit prevents you from qualifying for a regular credit card, or if you don’t yet have a credit history in Canada, you can still enjoy the convenience of paying for goods and services that require credit cards. You can also use that card to build (or rebuild) that credit score so you qualify for bigger things in the future.

Rebuilding Your Credit with a Secured Credit Card

If you’re looking to repair your credit rating, a secured credit card is one of the best tools at your disposal. You might think it’s wiser to “play it safe” and use cash, but that actually hurts your credit score. You actually need credit transactions in order to build up your score, so it’s important to use your secured card with intentional care.

Make sure that you make all your payments on time. That’s the number one thing you can do to repair your credit. A late payment of even a few days will undo a lot of your work toward credit repair. After a period of time making punctual payments, however, you will see your credit score improving visibly.

Top Canadian secured credit cards

Peoples’ Trust Secured Credit Card

* Annual fee: $70
* Interest: 12.99% on purchases, 24.5% on cash advances
* Minimum required deposit: $500
The relatively low interest rate on this card makes it attractive to people who might be carrying a balance on the card. Applicants need to have a bank account and a verified income in order to apply for this card. This card charges a fee of $5 for cash advances, and a $5 fee if you overreach your credit limit. *Please note that this card is no longer available.

Home Trust Secured No Annual Fee Visa

* No annual fee
* Interest: 19.99%
* Minimum required deposit: $500
This card is ideal for people who expect to pay their balance in full every month. The interest rate is higher, compensating for the lack of annual fee, but this won’t affect you if you’re going to be paying your balance in full every month. The Home Trust card enables you to add another authorized user, and its credit limit may be as much as $10,000.

Home Trust Secured Low Interest Visa

* Annual fee $59
* Interest: 14.9%
* Minimum required deposit: $500

Of the two Home Trust cards, this version is preferable for people who might be carrying a balance from month to month, because the interest applied to that balance will be lower with this card. Applicants need to have a bank account in order to apply for this card.

Capital One Guaranteed Secured MasterCard

* Annual fee: $59
* Interest: 19.8%
* Minimum required deposit: $75

This easy to get credit card has one of the lowest minimum deposits, so it’s a good choice if you don’t have the $500 required by many of the other card companies. Its uses are less advantageous, since it has both an annual fee and a high interest rate, but it’s an option that’s open to you if you can’t afford the bigger deposit to get started.

Vancity Enviro Secured Visa

* No annual fee
* Interest: 19.5%
* Minimum required deposit: $500

Vancity offers a variety of extra perks, including insurance for travel accidents, price protection, and insurance for lost baggage. The card also has a system of reward-points for spending, called My Visa Reward Plus. The rewards include options like travel, redeeming for purchases, and charity donations.

The Vancity line of Classic credit cards includes several combinations of annual fee and interest rates, allowing you to choose the best solution for your situation. The options range from no annual fee and higher interest of 19.5% (for people who don’t plan to carry a balance) to a card with a $50 annual fee with lower interest of 11.25%.

Secured Credit Cards Offered by the Big 5 Canadian Banks

Secured cards are offered by all of the “Big Five” Canadian banks, and with relatively similar features. You will find that it’s difficult to uncover information on these cards online, and almost all of them require you to apply in person at the branch office.

You can inquire about details at the branch nearest you—and that’s not a bad thing. Although we’re accustomed these days to be able to do almost anything online, there’s something to be said for a face-to-face conversation with an expert who can talk to you about the pros and cons and details of the card for which you’re applying. So take the information below if it helps you to decide on which bank you’d like to visit, but know that any of these five banks will likely require you to apply in person.

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Secured Credit Card

* Annual fee $20
* Interest 11.99 on purchases & cash advances
* Minimum required deposit: $500

This low interest card with its modest annual fee is well suited for people who expect to be carrying a balance from month to month. Its optional extra features include travel insurance, roadside assistance, credit monitoring, and automatic payment options.

The RBC secured credit card charges fees of $3.50 for a cash advance ($5 if you’re out of the country) and an overlimit fee of $29 per statement period if your balance goes above your credit limit.

Bank of Montreal (BMO) Prepaid Credit Card

* Annual fee: $6.95
* No interest

The Bank of Montreal uses a prepaid model as its secured card option, meaning you can choose what amount you’d like to load to the card. It gives you more flexibility upfront (you don’t have the $500 minimum many other cards require) but doesn’t allow you to spend more money than you have on the card, or to take cash advances. The card itself operates much like a debit card, but without the associated checking account.

Toronto-Dominion (TD) Secured Credit Card

* Annual fee: $29
* Interest: 19.9%
* Minimum required deposit: $500

To apply for a Toronto-Dominion card, stop in at a TD branch office for an application. Your credit limit will be equal to whatever amount you are approved for, and deposit up front. If you maintain your TD secured credit card successfully for seven consecutive months, you can be eligible for an unsecured card as the next step toward repairing your credit.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) Secured Credit Card

* Annual fee: $29
* Interest: 19.9%
* Minimum required deposit: $500

Like the TD card, you will need to apply in person for a CIBC secured credit card, by stopping in at a TD branch office for an application. Your credit limit will be equal to whatever amount you are approved for, and you make the deposit up front.

CIBC will give you a card for a specific term, usually two years. At the end of the two years they’ll refund your deposit—and by that time you will probably qualify for an unsecured card if you’ve used your secured card wisely.

Scotiabank Secured Credit Card

* No annual fee, no balance transfer fee
* Interest: 16.99%
* Minimum required deposit: $500

The no-fee Value Visa card is a great option if you’re looking to transfer balances from other credit cards. There’s no fee for balance transfer, and the introductory APR is a low 3.99 percent for the first six months. (That rate goes up to 16.99 percent after the introductory period, so try to pay off your balance before you hit the six-month mark.)

In Conclusion

Secured credit cards are the best way to improve your credit score, or to establish one if you are new to Canada and don’t have a financial history in this country. With your secured credit card you will enjoy all the benefits of credit card membership, like making purchases online and over the phone, or accessing cash from ATMs.

Your life will feel easier and your daily transactions will be smoother once you have a secured credit card at your disposal. Enjoy all the advantages of having a card, like being able to make reservations or purchase items online. And build your credit score as you go, by making sure to handle your card finances wisely.

Your secured credit card can serve as a stepping-stone to bigger things, like unsecured cards, car loans, or even a mortgage. Used wisely, the secured credit card is a gateway to your future. Let your credit score soar!

Canadian Guide to Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Sam 2 Comments

Some people will tell you (mistakenly) that the best way to fix your poor credit is to cut up every card you’ve ever owned, and to avoid them like the plague thereafter. Folks who offer this advice mean well, but they’re dead wrong. The best way to beat your bad credit is actually the intentional use of a “bad credit” credit card.

Even if it was card usage that got your score into trouble, a credit card for bad credit can be your redeemer. And even if this approach seems counter-intuitive, the best way to repair your credit is still to get a credit card.

You need the right kind of credit cards for bad credit, and you need to use them the right way—so keep reading to find out how!

Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Let’s face it: life without a credit card is nearly impossible these days. There are plenty of places that won’t even take cash, and a lot more places that won’t touch a check. If you’re without a card, what are you supposed to do?

Cards are required for online shopping, making reservations, paying some bills, and sometimes even collecting a paycheck. If you’ve been told to get rid of all your cards, you’re probably in a state of near panic at the prospect!

But here’s the thing. Your credit score is determined by your ongoing activity in the financial world, and inactivity can be just as detrimental as “negative” activity! Did you know that?

You may have figured you’d just hunker down, pay cash for everything, and “wait out” the negative hits to your credit score. However, if you are not actively engaging in positive, credit-building financial activities, your score will just keep sinking.

What you need, then, is a way to reverse the unhealthy momentum of your sinking score. You need credit card transactions that are foolproof. (No, you’re not being called a fool. But you need assurance that neither mistakes nor circumstances will unintentionally dent your credit any further. And that’s where the “bad credit” credit cards come in.)

You may imagine that it’s going to be difficult to qualify for a card, since applications are often denied in cases of poor credit history. That’s why some of the bad credit cards are so well suited to your situation; they are secured in various ways to make them easy to get, regardless of your credit score.

Types of Credit Cards for People with Bad Credit

Credit cards for bad credit in Canada come in several different types, with varying benefits and usage possibilities. Here’s a breakdown of the possibilities so you can see what best suits your situation.

Secured credit cards.

If you’re familiar with secured loans, you know that they backed by collateral—something of value that the lender can repossess if you don’t make your payments. That’s how a home mortgage works, for example, with the house being the collateral that secures the loan.

A secured credit card (sometimes also called a guaranteed credit card) operates on the same principle. When you open the account, you make a deposit up front that acts as collateral on your line of credit. If you deposit five hundred dollars, you have a limit of $500. The card company doesn’t take a risk in letting you use their card (up to that limit), so they don’t mind issuing you a card.

You might wonder why this is beneficial, since it’s really your own money you’re borrowing against when you use this card. Well, the benefit comes in the transactions you make, which show up as “credit card use” on your report. Suppose you pay your power bill and buy gas with your card; your credit history now incorporates those transactions, and your payment on the credit card bill. If you had kept that $500 and paid for power and gas with cash, those payments would have not helped your score at all.

Low interest credit cards.

It may be more difficult to get a low interest card, but if you do qualify, it’s a good one to have. If you find yourself carrying a balance on your card, you want to be paying as little interest as possible on that balance while you work on improving your credit score.

It should be noted here that carrying a balance on your card does not negatively impact your credit score. So long as you pay the minimum (and pay on time!) carrying a balance can actually boost your score. (That’s not too mysterious when you think that your credit score is essentially a measurement of your desirability as a money-borrower; a person who pays interest is a desirable borrower from their perspective.)

If you can qualify for a low interest credit card, look for cards with introductory offers. Some cards will not charge any interest for the first few months, or even a year, after you open the account. (After that point they’ll charge interest on the entire remaining balance, so you should be careful and keep the “deadline” in mind. But that grace period can actually enable you to use the time to pay off your debt.)

Some of these cards will also allow you to transfer your balance from other cards with higher interest, consolidating your debts under the lower interest rate.

Prepaid credit cards.

A prepaid card operates very much like a debit card for a checking account, but without the actual bank account. You purchase the card and “load” it with whatever amount of money you choose, and then you can use the card exactly like a debit card, drawing on the funds you have already loaded.

This approach has all the benefits of a secured card, but with more flexibility. You can determine how much you want to load, usually without required minimums or maximums. You can reload any time you have money, rather than being held to the monthly credit-limit amount of a secured card (like the $500 example used above). You can even have an employer make direct deposits of your paycheck onto the card, just as if it were a checking account.

Store credit cards.

Sometimes a large retail store will approve card applications from folks with less-than-stellar credit, because they want to tempt you into their store with the rewards associated with the card. Once you have been approved, that card can be used in any venue, not just the issuing store. And because they’re less picky than stand-alone card companies, you have a better shot at getting one. It may have a low credit limit, but it gives you a tool for rebuilding your credit score.

Rebuilding Your Credit with a “Bad Credit” Credit Card

Now you’ve seen the different types of cards and their different options. The other important piece of the plan is how to use a “bad credit” credit card in Canada in order to improve your credit score.

The critical component of card use is understanding what types of transactions boost your score (and doing those things!) as well as what types of transactions will hurt your credit score (and avoiding those!).

On-Time Payment (Preferably in Full)

This is the number-one way to boost your credit rating! And it’s a very black-and-white issue; even if your payment is one day late, it goes down as a late payment. A payment that’s three days late will look just as bad as a payment that’s three weeks late (though admittedly, not as bad as one that’s three months late).

The way your credit gets measured, payments are broken down into categories. The “good” category is payments that are made on time or ahead of time. The “bad” categories break down your late payments by how many months they’re late—for example, if a late payment is more than 30 or 60 days past due when it gets paid.

Keep in mind, too, that these payment timelines get more or less etched in stone on your credit report. If you were five days late on your card payment when you paid it, it will go down as a late payment. So make it a habit to pay your monthly bill a little ahead of time every month.

Pretend it’s a Debit Card

This will be easy to do if you have a prepaid card, because those work exactly like debit cards. The idea here is that you only spend money you actually have, rather than assuming you’ll be able to pay the bill when it comes due, or (worse) using your credit without planning to pay the full balance.

Carrying a balance on your card (if you have a card that allows you to do so) will not, in and of itself, lower your credit score. The reason you want to avoid it, though, is that it’s a sign you don’t have a handle on your spending. First you’ll be carrying a balance, next thing you’ll be missing a payment. It’s just a step in the wrong direction now that you’re trying to manage your money better and raise your credit score.

Don’t Carry Too Many Credit Cards

Don’t go overboard and load up on too many cards. Even if you’ve found another easy-to-get credit card, you don’t want to have too much credit, because that can actually count against your score. Credit companies look at how many different “obligations” you have (in terms of loans and lines of credit) and weigh that when they consider whether you’re a good risk. If they think you’re already overextended, they’ll decide they have a lower chance of getting paid if you were to default or get behind on your payments.

Top Picks: Canadian Credit Cards for Bad Credit

When you’re shopping around for a “bad credit” card in Canada, the following four are the top picks for rebuilding your credit score:

Affirm Financial MasterCard: An unsecured credit card specifically designed for people with poor credit. Affirm updates your information at credit bureaus with every payment, so you can see your score improve more quickly than with other cards.
Peoples Trust Secured credit card: A secured card that allows a credit line equal to the entire collateral deposit you make (a minimum of $500 to start).
Home Trust Secured Visa: A secured credit card (minimum deposit of $500) with no annual fee.
No-Fee Scotiabank Value Visa Card: An unsecured credit card, relatively easy to get and no deposit needed.

In Conclusion… Bad Credit? Great Plan!

Hands down, the most solid game plan to rebuild your credit is the intentional, careful use of “bad credit” credit cards in Canada. Take your pick of the easy to get cards, and stick to your guns to use them in a way that will benefit your credit score.

If you track your spending so it doesn’t outstrip your income, use your cards as often as possible, and pay your bills on time (and preferably in full), your credit rating will climb in no time!