Your credit record contains a history of your credit activities. It shows your accounts with their balances, you payment record, and if any actions were taken for unpaid bills. Public record information such as bankruptcies or unpaid property taxes may also be included.

Typically a creditor will use a formula to come up with a rating or score for your credit. The formula will weigh the factors in your credit report that the creditor feels are most important. If your score falls in the acceptable range, you should get credit. But if not, there's little chance.

In recent years, some credit card issuers have lowered their level for what is acceptable credit. But acceptance comes with a price. You'll probably be charged an annual fee, a monthly maintenance fee and an application fee. And on top of these fees, you'll usually have a higher than average interest rate. If you're willing to pay the fees, credit unions typically offer the most lenient credit qualifications and reasonable fees.

One thing to consider when you're looking for bad credit unsecured credit cards, is the difference between a credit card and a charge card. A purchase made with a credit card is essentially a loan with an indefinite due date. As long as you continue to make a partial payment, the loan is extended. But a purchase made with a charge card is due with your next statement. Unlike a credit card you can't carry an unpaid balance.

The distinction between credit cards and charge cards is important because, it can be easier to get charge cards than credit cards. They both let you buy things before you have the money to pay for them, but charge cards just require you to pay off the debt earlier. The easiest charge cards to get are for local merchants and make an excellent substitute for bad credit unsecured credit cards.

If your credit is such that you can't get a local charge card, then you could consider the use of a debit card. It can be used just like a credit card for renting cars, staying at hotels, or making purchases online. Since money is directly deducted from your checking account there's no credit involved, and so bad credit isn't a factor.(For more about debit cards and secured credit cards see Credit Cards with Bad Credit.)