i got a BOA visa card with a $700 limit in october of 2007 and quickly maxxed it out (i was 18 and an idiot). i spent the next year and a half making whatever i could afford in payments, making a few late ones when i was unemployed for a couple of months, then found a new, relatively steady part-time job and have not missed or been late on a  payment since. in fact, my minimum payments are $15 and i have managed several $50 payments recently.

finally, when i had it payed down to just below $200, i decided it was safe to use my card again. my hours at work had just been cut from 5 days a week...