My credit score is currently zero ("too few satisfactory trades").

I would like to know if I can raise my credit score to non-zero using only a Sears credit card, or does Experian and Equifax not evaluate satisfactory trades with a Sears card for upward processing of score?

In other words, would I need something like a Visa credit card to get from zero to some positive score?

Answer:

You have to get your first credit from SOMEWHERE, and credit card companies are smart enough to know this. I don't know about the *score*, but getting and responsibly handling a Sears card will look better than not having any credit record if you apply for a Visa. And after a while, your Sears card may get you a pre-approved offer for a Discover card (mine did, but that was a long time ago). A Sears card will show up on a credit report.

On the other hand, late payments on just about anything is likely to count against you.

Verizon recently decided to give their customers a "free gift" by reporting their telephone bill payments. Some people like this (it gives them more credit history), but it is annoying two groups greatly (a) those with late payments, and (b) those with private telephone numbers, since Verizon is reporting the account number as the telephone number with only the last digit missing.

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