A local bank or department store may approve your credit application even if you do not meet the standards of large creditors. But do not apply for too many accounts at one time. Credit bureaus keep a record of each creditor who inquires about you. Some creditors may deny your application if they think you are trying to open too many accounts and may exceed your ability to pay them. If you have had credit before under a different name or in a different location, make sure your local credit bureau has complete and accurate information about you in a file under your current name.
Most cities have two or three bureaus.
Call each bureau to find out if they have a file on you. They may charge a small fee for checking your file. If you are married, know that you have the right to apply for a credit account in your own name based on your own financial qualifications. If you were married or divorced recently and changed your name, ask your creditors to change your name on your accounts. Once you verify that these accounts are in your new name, your complete credit history should be reported correctly to the credit bureau.