Unsecured credit cards are the most common type of credit cards. They are not secured by collateral. That means that unlike secured loans, such as mortgages or auto loans, unsecured credit cards are not directly connected to property that a lender can seize of the cardholder fails to pay. Issuers of unsecured cards must make use of other means — such as the courts or garnishment — to collect unpaid debts. Customers qualify for unsecured cards based on their credit history, their financial strength and their earnings potential.