If you have bad credit, it’s probably going to be difficult for you to get a new credit card. “Difficult” doesn’t mean it’s impossible though, and there’s a difference between imperfect credit and having a really bad credit history. If you’re in the former group, you have more options.

Here are a few things you can do to improve your chances of getting a new credit card even if your credit history isn’t perfect:

1. Get listed as an additional cardholder on another person’s account.

If you’re a student without a solid credit history yet, perhaps your parents will authorise you on their account. If you’re married, you might be able to get added to your partner’s credit card account. You’ll still have the responsibility of paying your bills, but this is like having someone else vouch for your creditworthiness. And if you default on the debt, you’ll damage their credit history too.

If you have bad credit, make sure your financial problems are in your past before you pursue this option. You’re putting someone else on the line if you really aren’t capable of controlling your credit card spending and paying off the balance regularly.

2. Apply for a credit card with low eligibility requirements.

Even if you have some past late payments on your credit file (which you’ve since paid off), if your income is high enough and you don’t have a mountain of current debt you might be able to get approved for a credit card with a lower credit limit.

These cards generally have much lower income requirements. Let’s say you earn $50,000 per year. Even if your credit history has enough blemishes that you won’t be approved for a platinum card with a $50,000 p.a. minimum income requirement (like the Citibank Clear Platinum Visa), you might get approved for a card with lower income requirements like the $15,000 p.a. requirement for the Aussie credit card. Why? Because you more than demonstrate that you earn enough to pay your bills. It’s still not guaranteed though.

3. Wait a while and work to improve your credit history.

Do you have paid off delinquencies in your credit file that will be removed soon? If so, it might be worth waiting it out. You’ll be a more attractive applicant when those old accounts and issues you’ve taken care of are removed.

If you still have unpaid delinquencies on your accounts, you shouldn’t be applying for new credit cards at all yet. Pay those bills off first. Show a new credit card company that you’re turning over a new leaf and getting your finances in order. Again, it doesn’t guarantee they’ll treat you more favourably, but it’s definitely better than applying for credit cards when your credit file shows you run up debt and ignore your responsibilities.

Credit card companies are in business — they don’t lend people like you money just to be nice. You have to show them that they can trust you to pay back their money. That doesn’t mean you can’t get approved if you have even a single issue in your credit history, but it does mean you need to show an overall trend of being responsible with your finances.