26:["$","$L27",null,{"category":"$28","relatedArticles":[{"id":"cG9zdDo2MjI2Mw==","databaseId":62263,"postId":62263,"author":{"node":{"id":"dXNlcjo1Mw==","databaseId":53,"userId":53,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e108c21a7f5933aad20a2fed390a87d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Amanda Dixon is a personal finance writer and editor with an expertise in taxes and banking. She studied journalism and sociology at the University of Georgia. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, AOL, Bankrate, The Huffington Post, Fox Business News, Mashable and CBS News. Born and raised in metro Atlanta, Amanda currently lives in Brooklyn.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":null,"__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Amanda","fullName":"Amanda Dixon","lastName":"Dixon","name":"Amanda Dixon","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":184,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"adixon","__typename":"User"},"__typename":"NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge"},"categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"CategoryToCategoryConnection"},"databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":89,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"CategoryToPostConnection"},"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"}],"__typename":"PostToCategoryConnection"},"content":"$29","date":"2017-02-28T07:00:41","excerpt":"

Is a wine-soaked vacation on your bucket list? Ours too. If you’re on a budget or short on vacation days, the good news is you don’t have to head all the way to France or Italy to visit wine country. There are premier wine destinations right here in America. For the wine lovers who want […]

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","

This is the second annual study of America’s best wine destinations. Read the 2016 study here.

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Study Specifics

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SmartAsset found the best wine destinations in America by ranking 103 counties with at least five wineries. We looked at the same five factors that we included in the 2016 edition of our study, such as the total number of wineries in each county and the concentration of local wineries.

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Two of our factors come from the list of the 101 best American wineries in 2016 created by The Daily Meal. Specifically, we used their results to find the total number of top-ranking wineries in each county and the highest-ranking winery in each county. We also checked the average price of an Airbnb rental in each wine county. For more information on how we conducted our analysis, read the methodology and data section below.

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Key Findings

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Check out California. Most of the counties that rank in the top 10 are located in the Golden State. But since California is home to famous wineries in places like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, that probably comes as no surprise.
See what the Northeast has to offer. Much like we found in the 2016 edition of our analysis, a handful of New York counties ranked in the top 25. This time, Fairfield, a county in Connecticut, also made the list.

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1. Yamhill County, Oregon

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For the second consecutive year, Yamhill County ranks as the best wine destination in America. There are more than 80 local wineries in Yamhill County, or one for every 8.4 square miles. Seven of them rank as some of the best wineries in the country, according to The Daily Meal. Domaine Drouhin Oregon – which took the ninth spot on their list – ranks as the top destination in Yamhill County for wine lovers.

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2. King County, Washington

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King County ranks as the second-best wine county in the nation, up from fifth place in last year’s study. It has more than 60 wineries (or about one winery every 32 square miles) and over a dozen of them have opened in recent years.

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If you’ve never ventured out to King County, you may want to plan a trip to the Andrew Will Winery on Vashon Island. It produces roughly 4,500 cases of wine each year and is known for making red wines like sangiovese. Best of all, if you and your friends need to spend the night, you won’t need to shell out a ton of money. The average nightly rate for a full apartment in King County, Washington is around $146 on Airbnb. Want to spend smartly on your trip? Check out the best rewards credit cards (but remember to always use plastic responsibly).

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3. Napa County, California

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Napa Valley is one of the most popular destinations in the world for wine enthusiasts. The region has the highest concentration of wineries in our analysis, with more than 300 different wineries and one every 2.2 square miles. Chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon are the most widely grown grape varieties in the area.

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4. San Luis Obispo County, California

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San Luis Obispo County has more than 100 wineries. That means it has the third-highest number of wineries in our study. One place that every traveler might want to visit is the Tablas Creek Vineyard, which The Daily Meal ranked as the second-best winery in 2016 and the best American winery in 2015.

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Many of the wineries in SLO County are only 15 to 20 minutes away from each other, by car. Even if you only have a couple of days carved out for wine tours, you can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. An overnight stay in an Airbnb apartment may cost around $246, so you’ll need to make room for that expense in your vacation budget.

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5. Sonoma County, California

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Sonoma Valley is located just north of San Francisco. It has one of the highest concentrations of wineries in our study, with one every 6 square miles. Some of the most popular places to visit include Littorai Wines and Banshee, a tasting room that has only been around since 2009.

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6. Alameda County, California

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Visiting wineries in Napa and Sonoma Counties can be expensive. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative, you may want to check out Alameda County. Renting out a full apartment on Airbnb would only cost about $181 per night, on average.

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There are at least 40 wineries in Alameda County. If you’re not sure where to start, Broc Cellars could be a good place to check out. The urban winery only uses grapes that are grown in an organic or eco-friendly manner.

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7. Santa Barbara County, California

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Santa Barbara County is home to the Au Bon Climat Winery, which ranks third in The Daily Meal’s list of the best wineries in 2016. Ten other local wineries were recognized as great places to visit, including Sandhi Wines and Jaffurs Wine Cellars, which specializes in wines such as syrah, viognier and grenache blanc.

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In total, Santa Barbara County has more than 70 wineries. Various microclimates – among other factors – allow wine grape growers to produce dozens of varieties. If you can save enough to retire there, the area could be a great place to settle down long term.

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8. Walla Walla County, Washington

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Since its formation in 1854, Walla Walla County has had an economy centered around agriculture. Some of its farms have received recognition on a global scale, including the Snake River Vineyard, the world’s biggest Concord grape vineyard. Walla Walla County has more than 50 wineries, with one every 21.5 square miles.

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9. San Joaquin County, California

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Its long summer days make the San Joaquin Valley the perfect place to grow all sorts of crops, including wine grapes. In fact, it was once referred to as the “food basket of the world.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are at least 35 wineries in the area. The Bokisch Vineyards in Lodi, California is one of the top 100 wineries in the nation.

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10. Amador County, California

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In 2016, Amador County took the No. 31 spot on our list. This year, it managed to rank in the top 10. Census Bureau data reveals that at least a couple of wineries have opened in recent years. Now there is one winery every 33 square miles. Moreover, two of the county’s wineries have been identified as some of the best producers of wine in America. One is the Vino Noceto Winery, which is known for its sangiovese.

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$\"America’s$

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Data & Methodology

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To find the best wine destinations in America, SmartAsset considered any U.S. county with at least five wineries. Ultimately, we ranked 103 counties across the following five metrics:

","$31","

After ranking each county according to each of our factors, we averaged our rankings, giving half-weight to the Airbnb nightly rate and full weight to the other four metrics. Then we gave each county a raw score between 0 and 100. The highest-ranking wine destination scored a 100.

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Update: Worried about budgeting for more than just a vacation to a winery? SmartAsset has you covered. So many people reached out to us looking for long-term financial planning help, we started our own matching service to help you find a financial advisor. The SmartAdvisor matching tool can help you find a person to work with to meet your needs. First you’ll answer a series of questions about your situation and your goals. Then the program will narrow down your options to three fiduciaries who suit your needs. You can then read their profiles to learn more about them, interview them on the phone or in person and choose who to work with in the future. This allows you to find a good fit while the program does much of the hard work for you.

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Nick Wallace completed the data analysis for this study.

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Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com

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Photo credit: ©iStock.com/RapidEye

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\n","featuredImage":{"id":"cG9zdDoxNzA2MzQ=","databaseId":170634,"altText":"Contact a Credit Bureau","date":"2022-11-08T14:29:32","fileSize":32382,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","modified":"2022-11-08T14:29:32","sourceUrl":"https://smartasset.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/01/rsz_istock-866058264.jpg","__typename":"MediaItem"},"modified":{"datetime":"2024-7-24","readable":"July 24, 2024"},"multipleBylinesByRole":{"editedBy":{"id":"dXNlcjoxMzY=","databaseId":136,"userId":136,"avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1d295f71ad5f26fc505155b8d7e5e2a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","size":96,"__typename":"Avatar"},"description":"Jeff is a Writer/Editor for SmartAsset. He's an expert in a variety of personal finance topics, such as investing, banking and retirement. Jeff has received his JD and MBA and has been featured in a number of publications, such as Investopedia, The Street, Forbes, Yahoo! Finance and more. He currently resides in Utah with his wife and five children, where they cheer for the Denver Broncos and make it to the water to sail whenever given the chance. Jeff currently holds the Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®) designation.","additionalMeta":{"expertise":"Financial Planning, Small Business, Retirement, Banking","__typename":"User_Additionalmeta"},"email":null,"firstName":"Jeff","fullName":"Jeff White, CEPF®","lastName":"White, CEPF®","name":"Jeff White, CEPF®","postCount":{"pageInfo":{"offsetPagination":{"total":16,"__typename":"OffsetPaginationPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnectionPageInfo"},"__typename":"UserToPostConnection"},"slug":"jwhite","__typename":"User"},"reviewedBy":null,"writtenBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null,"hideAuthor":null,"__typename":"Post_Multiplebylinesbyrole"},"adTargetingOverrides":{"fieldGroupName":"adTargetingOverrides","pageGroupNewKey":null,"__typename":"Post_Adtargetingoverrides"},"seo":{"canonical":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/how-to-talk-to-a-credit-bureau","metaDesc":"Equifax, Experian and TransUnion all use automated phone lines or online support. We provide the phone numbers and times to call to reach a live person.","metaKeywords":"","metaRobotsNofollow":"follow","metaRobotsNoindex":"index","readingTime":6,"title":"How to Contact a Credit Bureau and Talk to a Real Person","__typename":"PostTypeSEO"},"slug":"how-to-talk-to-a-credit-bureau","status":"publish","title":"How to Contact a Credit Bureau and Talk to a Real Person","uri":"/credit-cards/how-to-talk-to-a-credit-bureau","tags":{"nodes":[],"__typename":"PostToTagConnection"},"__typename":"Post","adPageGroupOverride":null,"bylines":{"writtenBy":{"id":"dXNlcjo3NQ==","databaseId":75,"userId":75,"avatar":"$33","description":"Lucy Lazarony has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade. Lucy's a credit card expert. She is a freelance writer and award-winning journalist living in South Florida. Lucy earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida. Her work is featured on Credit.com, CardRatings.com, MoneyRates.com and Art Hive Magazine.","additionalMeta":"$34","email":null,"firstName":"Lucy","fullName":"Lucy Lazarony","lastName":"Lazarony","name":"Lucy Lazarony","postCount":"$35","slug":"lucy-lazarony","__typename":"User"},"editedBy":{"id":"dXNlcjoxMzY=","databaseId":136,"userId":136,"avatar":"$38","description":"Jeff is a Writer/Editor for SmartAsset. He's an expert in a variety of personal finance topics, such as investing, banking and retirement. Jeff has received his JD and MBA and has been featured in a number of publications, such as Investopedia, The Street, Forbes, Yahoo! Finance and more. He currently resides in Utah with his wife and five children, where they cheer for the Denver Broncos and make it to the water to sail whenever given the chance. Jeff currently holds the Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®) designation.","additionalMeta":"$39","email":null,"firstName":"Jeff","fullName":"Jeff White, CEPF®","lastName":"White, CEPF®","name":"Jeff White, CEPF®","postCount":"$3a","slug":"jeff-white-cepf","__typename":"User"},"reviewedBy":null,"factCheckedBy":null,"secondEditor":null},"category":{"id":"dGVybTo0NzIw","children":"$3d","databaseId":4720,"categoryId":4720,"link":"https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/articles","name":"Credit Cards","postCount":89,"slug":"credit-cards","ancestors":null,"parent":null,"__typename":"Category"},"isModifiedBeforePublished":false,"contentBlocks":["

The information that credit bureaus collect affects just about every aspect of your life. Whether you’re approved for a credit card, get a good mortgage rate, can rent an apartment or even get a job – they all can hinge to varying degrees on your credit score. So when a credit bureau has something wrong, it’s imperative that you tell them. The three major bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – offer online services and prefer that you use their online forms instead of calling. But sometimes you need to talk to a live person.

","

If you want to build a long-term financial plan while you get your credit in order, consider speaking with a financial advisor.

","

Why Would I Need to Contact a Credit Bureau?

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The three big credit bureaus or credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – create credit reports that reflect consumers’ creditworthiness. The reporting agencies are for-profit businesses and sell their reports to other businesses, such as insurers, credit card companies, banks and employers.

","

These businesses in turn factor in these credit reports when making decisions such as whether to offer you a credit card and at what interest rate. So it’s important to monitor your credit reports and make sure the information on them is correct. If you ever find a mistake, you should contact the credit bureau to correct the information.

","

You may also need to contact a credit bureau if you think that you’re a victim of credit fraud. That could mean placing a fraud alert on your account or freezing your credit so that no one can open a new line of credit in your name. Don’t forget that you can get a free copy of your credit report three times per year.

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How to Talk to a Real Person at Equifax

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Equifax has multiple phone numbers that you can use to speak with a real person. The number that you use will depend on what you need help with. We recommend trying to contact the correct number. If you call the wrong number, they will simply say they cannot help you and then direct you to call another number. You can find all of Equifax’s contact information on its website, Equifax.com.

","

If you want to contact Equifax with a general inquiry, you can reach the company’s customer service via phone at the number (888) 378-4329. Just make sure to call between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

","

In September 2017, Equifax announced that 147 million people had personal information exposed in a data breach. The company agreed to a global settlement up to $425 million to help those affected by the breach. The time to file a claim has expired. For more information, you can call (833) 759-2982 or you can visit www.EquifaxBreachSettlement.com.

","

How to Talk to a Real Person at Experian

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Experian makes it relatively hard to talk to a real person on the phone. The company encourages people to use its website for most things. However, there are three main phone numbers that you should know if you want to talk to someone at Experian.

","

Call (888) 397-3742 (1-888-EXPERIAN) if you want to order a credit report or if you have any questions related to fraud and identity theft. You can place an immediate fraud/security alert on your credit with this number.

","

If you have a question about something on a recent credit report (such as incorrect information), you will need to have a copy of the credit report. On the report, you will find a 10-digit number. This number is different for each credit report and you will need it for the representative to help with any issues related to your specific report.

","

If you need help with anything related to your membership account, you should call Experian’s customer service at (866) 617-1894. You will need to call while the Experian office is open in order to speak with someone. The hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, on the weekends.

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How to Speak With a Real Person at Experian

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Reason for Calling	Phone Number
Buying a credit report or placing a fraud alert on your credit file	(888) 397-3742
Question about a recent credit report	Call the number on your document from Experian
Question about your Experian membership account	(866) 617-1894

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How to Talk to a Real Person at TransUnion

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TransUnion has one general support number that you can use to talk to a human. This includes help with your credit report (such as dispute information, freeze your account or report fraud), your credit score or any general questions. That customer support number is (800) 916-8800.

","

You will hear an automated service when you first call this number. Press 4 in order to speak with a representative. Then you’ll need to press 1 if you have a TransUnion File Number or 2 if you don’t have one.

","

A TransUnion File Number is a unique identification number that you can find in the top right of your TransUnion credit report. You do not need a number to speak with a representative. However, you will need it to do anything related specifically to your credit report. For example, the file number is necessary for disputing incorrect information.

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Bottom Line

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If you need a credit report or have an issue with your report, you’ll need to contact a credit bureau. Each of the three national credit bureaus has a website where you can do most things. They prefer that you use online forms instead of calling. But sometimes it’s comforting to speak with a real person who can answer your specific questions. You may have to wait quite a bit of time, but it’s important to have patience if you must talk to a live person.

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Tips for Using a Credit Card Responsibly

","$3f","

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Milkos, ©iStock.com/sturti, ©iStock.com/fstop123

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Credit cards are a powerful personal finance tool. Used correctly they can unlock tremendous rewards, worth thousands of dollars. Used incorrectly and they can lead to spiraling debt and thousands of dollars lost in high interest payments. With this in mind SmartAsset looked at which places of the U.S. are the most reliant on their credit […]

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Check out the best balance transfer credit cards.

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In order to find the places where residents are most reliant on their credit cards, SmartAsset analyzed data on credit card debt, median individual income, credit utilization rate, late payment rate, average number of open credit cards and credit card debt as a percent of overall debt. To see where we got our data and how we put it together, check out our data and methodology section below.

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Key Findings

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1. San Antonio, Texas

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It’s always best to pay your credit card bills on time. If you don’t, you run the risk of paying a ton in extra interest payments or in late fees and penalties. Residents of San Antonio have struggled with paying their credit card bills on time, according to our data. San Antonio residents make an average of 0.54 late payments per billing cycle. That’s a top 20 rate in this study.

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When San Antonio residents do go into debt, they also tend to lean on their credit cards. Just over 15% of San Antonio residents’ non-mortgage debt is tied up in their credit cards, on average, the seventh-highest percent in our study.

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2. Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Virginia

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Some folks in the Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News metro area are pushing their credit boundaries. The average credit utilization rate in the area is 36%, the third-highest in our study. Keep in mind that a high utilization rate (above 30%) can hurt your credit score. Our data also shows that on average over 16% of Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News residents’ non-mortgage debt is held in credit cards. That’s the fourth-highest rate in the study.

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The good news is that despite leaning heavily on their credit cards, Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News residents seem to be doing an OK job making payments. This area has an average late payment rate of 44%, that’s the third-lowest in the top 10.

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3. Jacksonville, Florida

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Scoring only one point less on our overall index than Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, is Jacksonville, Florida. Jacksonville scores in the top 20 in two metrics: utilization rate and credit card debt as a percentage of non-mortgage debt.

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But Jacksonville residents are also reliant on their credit cards in other ways. For example, if the average Jacksonville resident wanted to pay off his credit card debt in its entirety, he would need to fork over 22% of his annual income. That is the 34th-highest rate in our study.

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4. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

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Relying too much on credit card debt can have adverse long-term affects. Some data coming out of Dallas-Fort Worth, suggests that residents there may be relying on their credit cards too much. This city ranked fourth for credit card debt as a percentage of overall debt. Dallas-Fort Worth residents also ranked in the top 20 for average number of open credit cards. The average resident has 2.46 credit cards.

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5. Atlanta, Georgia

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Atlanta residents had above average scores in every metric. In particular, residents tend use up large chunks of their credit limit: the average utilization rate is just under 34%. Many experts suggest keeping your credit utilization rate below 30%. Any higher and it can negatively impact your credit score. For Atlanta residents looking to lower their utilization rates, this can be achieved by paying off existing credit card or raising your credit limit. If you’re thinking about increasing your credit line, you may want to proceed with caution. You wouldn’t want to spend too much money and not be able to pay your bills.

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6. (tie) Anchorage, Alaska

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Alaska has a relatively high cost of living so it may not be a surprise to learn that residents of the state’s largest metro area are racking up credit card debt. The average Anchorage resident has about $7,520 in credit card debt. Residents earning Anchorage’s median income would need to spend just under 23% of their income to eliminate all of that credit card debt. For that metric, Anchorage ranks 27th in the study and third in the top 10.

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All that credit card debt is not doing good things for Anchorage residents’ utilization rate either. On average, Anchorage residents have the 11th-highest utilization rate in the country.

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6. (tie) Houston, Texas

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Tied with Anchorage at sixth is Houston. Houston residents earn just under $30,000 annually, on average. This helps keep their rate of debt as a percent of income relatively low. But in terms of other credit card reliant metrics they score high.

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For example, Houston residents have the 11th-highest rate of credit card debt as a percent of non-mortgage debt, on average. The bad news for Houston residents is that they don’t tend to pay their credit card bills on time. Only 45% of payments are made on time in Houston, according to our data.

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8. El Paso, Texas

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One of the most important things to consider when using your credit card is can you afford what you’re purchasing? El Paso residents seem to be pushing the limit of what they can afford with their credit card debt. On average, El Paso residents have so much credit card debt that it would take 25% of their annual income to pay it off.

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Another problem with racking up credit card debt is that you run the risk of not being able to pay your bill when it arrives. El Paso residents, on average, have around 0.56 late payments per billing cycle.

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9. Las Vegas, Nevada

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Sin City ranks ninth on our list of places most reliant on their credit cards. Las Vegas residents have high utilization rates – above 34%, on average. They also have an average late payment rate of around 50%.

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On other metrics, however, Las Vegas scores better than many other cities. For example, average credit card debt is equal to about 20% of the average resident’s annual income, the 89th-highest rate in our study.

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10. New Orleans, Louisiana

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Credit card debt in New Orleans is pretty high. Our data shows that average resident in New Orleans has credit card debt just under $5,800. However New Orleans residents are only bringing home $26,000 per year, on average. Overall credit card debt represents 22.3% of the average New Orleans resident’s income. That’s the 30th-highest rate in the study.

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Other indicators also suggest New Orleans residents are reliant on their credit cards. For example, they have an average utilization rate just under 34% and make 0.52 late payments per billing cycle.

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Data and Methodology

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In order to find the places most reliant on their credit cards we looked at data on 202 different U.S. metro areas. Specifically we looked at data on the following five factors:

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Credit card debt as a percent of income. Data on average credit card debt comes from Experian’s 2016 state of credit report. Data on median individual incomes comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 1-Year American Community Survey.
Average utilization rate. Data comes from Experian’s 2016 state of credit report.
Average late payment rate. This is the average number of late payments per billing cycle. Data comes from Experian’s 2016 state of credit report.
Average number of open credit cards. Data comes from Experian’s 2016 state of credit report.
Credit card debt as a percent of non-mortgage debt. Data on both average credit card debt and average non-mortgage debt comes from Experian’s 2016 state of credit report.

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We then ranked each metro area in each of the five metrics. Then we found each city’s average ranking giving equal weight to every metric. We used this average ranking to create our final score. The metro area with the best average ranking received a 100 while the city with the lowest average ranking received a 0.

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Tips on Using Credit Cards Responsibly

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Credit cards work like short-term loans with extremely high interest rates. So in order to make sure you avoid costly interest payments you should be sure to use your credit cards responsibly. In part, that means only buying things you can afford to pay in full and on time.

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If you cannot make the full payment each month, paying as much as you can or at the very least the minimum payment, on time is the next best strategy. By not paying it in full you are racking up interest payments, and by the time you do finally pay it off you may end up paying for items many times over.

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People with a lot of debt spread out over several credit cards may want to consider a balance transfer credit card. Balance transfer credit cards allow you to transfer debt from one credit card account to another. So it’s a way to consolidate debt to one account, ideally with a lower interest rate, and work on paying off that debt. With many of the best balance transfer credit cards, consumers pay 0% interest for a limited time period.

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If you are already doing all of those things and if you don’t have debt to pay off, credit cards can be a good way to build credit history and raise your credit score. Remember a high credit score allows you access to benefits like the best mortgage rates and rewards credit cards.

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Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com.

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Some of us have too many credit cards. Depending on your lifestyle, it might make sense to have three or four cards in your wallet. And as long as you’re keeping up with your monthly bills, there’s nothing wrong with having multiple credit cards. But what if you don’t think you have enough cards? What if you want to apply for a new one? Let’s dive into the credit card application process and look at when it does (and doesn’t) make sense to apply for a credit card. A financial advisor can help you pick an appropriate credit card.

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How to Apply for a Credit Card

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If it’s been awhile since you applied for a credit card, here’s a refresher on how the process works. You can apply for a credit card by mailing in a paper application, speaking to a representative over the phone or completing an online application. Be prepared to provide various details about yourself and your financial background, such as your annual household income and the amount of money in your bank and investment accounts.

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How long it takes to get a credit card depends on your application method and the type of credit card you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a credit card online, for example, you may be instantly approved. But if you’re applying for a credit card through the mail, the approval process could take weeks.

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Before you apply for a credit card, it’s always a good idea to do some research. That way, you can find the most appropriate card for your financial situation. As you’re shopping around for cards, don’t forget to compare perks, fees, interest rates and general terms and conditions. Reading online reviews could also be worthwhile if you want to know what others think about a particular card.

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When Applying for a Credit Card Makes Sense

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Applying for a second (or fourth) credit card may be worth considering if you want to raise your credit score. After all, opening another credit card account will automatically lower your credit utilization ratio. That factor (along with the total amount of debt you owe) accounts for 30% of your FICO® score. And as long as you make on-time payments across all of your accounts, getting another credit card could improve your credit.

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Find the credit card that’s right for you.

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Filling out another credit card application could also make sense if you have a high credit score and a good track record with your current card issuers. An additional credit card could give you access to benefits, including better rewards, lower interest rates and a higher credit limit. And if you know you can handle having another credit card, you might as well go for it.

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Opening another account could improve your credit mix, too. Only 10% of your FICO® score depends on the types of credit accounts you have. But if you’re determined to raise your credit score as much as possible, it doesn’t hurt to have a variety of accounts.

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When Applying for a Credit Card Is a Bad Idea

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With each hard inquiry, your credit score will take a bit of a hit. So if you have bad credit, applying for another credit card may only make matters worse. Plus, your chances of getting approved for another card will be low if your credit’s in rough shape.

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Getting a new credit card could also be a bad idea if you have poor financial habits. If you always max out your cards or you regularly make late payments, you’re not a good candidate for another card. The same goes for anyone who can’t afford to cover the cost of extra interest and credit card fees.

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You’ll need to think about how often you would use a new credit card as well. Your credit card issuer may eventually close your account if you stop using your card. That will cause your credit score to drop.

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How Long You Should Wait Before Applying Again

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Applying for multiple credit cards in a short time span can ding your credit score. It can also raise a red flag if it seems like you’re desperate for access to additional credit. Having too many credit inquiries on your credit report (i.e. six or more inquiries) also suggests that you’re a risky borrower who’s more likely to default.

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If you’ve recently applied for a credit card, it may be a good idea to wait six months before trying to open another account. But how long you should wait to apply depends on your credit score. If you have good credit, you can probably get away with submitting another credit card application within three months or less. If you have bad credit, however, your best bet is to focus on building credit. Raising your credit score enough to qualify for the card you want could take as many as 12 months.

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Tips on Borrowing

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