My experiance in Canada with credit reporst is that 7 year old information dosent automatically drop out of the credit report. He can try to get a secured credit card. The credit card will be secured by cash colladeral. The lender may still not be convinced to give him a credit card as his debts servicing ratio may be too high because of all the money he owes. But a secured credit card is your best bet.

Obvious question: Why does someone with 20K of debt WANT a credit card? To get in MORE debt?

I’ve never understood why people who are in the most debt are most concerned with their ability to borrow more money.

Negatives fall off the credit report 7 years and 180 days from the default date.

The closed Macy’s account may be just that and there’s nothing owed. The back child support is probably in the public records section and will be on there more like 10 years.

The only thing he can do is pay off the bills, including that child support. Then he can try to get a credit card and build a credit history.