Although it doesn't happen often, you can be turned down for a secured credit card due to poor credit or any serious negative situations (such as a bankruptcy, foreclosure, or history of late payments). If this does happen, you can ask the credit card issuer why you were denied. In the case it was due to a credit-based issue, you can obtain a free copy of your credit report and dispute any inaccurate information. you can pursue other methods (like a credit builder loan or credit repair) to improve your credit score.