Surge Credit Card: Rewards, Fees, Pros and Cons, How to Apply

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The Surge Credit Card is a credit card designed for people with less-than-perfect credit. It offers an initial credit limit between $300-$1000 and reports monthly to all three major credit bureaus – TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. This can help you build or rebuild your credit score over time when payments are made on time and credit utilization is kept low.

Some key features of the Surge Credit Card include:

• Initial credit limit of $300 to $1000
• Credit limit increase potential – up to 2x your original limit after 6 on-time monthly payments
• No security deposit required
• Monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus
• Online account access and monthly credit score tracking
• Mastercard acceptance worldwide – can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted
• Fraud protection with Mastercard Zero Liability
• Managed by Continental Finance, an established company helping consumers build credit

The Surge Card does come with high interest rates and fees, so it’s important to pay your balance off in full each month if possible. But as a starter card for building credit, it can be an effective option.

How the Surge Credit Card Works

The Surge Credit Card is issued by Celtic Bank and managed by Continental Finance Company. Here’s an overview of how it works:

Applying for the Card

• You can apply online or by phone. A credit check will be performed to review your credit profile.
• If approved, you’ll receive a Surge Card with a starting credit limit between $300-$1000. No security deposit is required.

Using the Card

• As a Mastercard, the Surge Card can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted – millions of locations worldwide.
• Make purchases, book travel, pay bills – use it like any other credit card. Manage your account online or via mobile app.

Monthly Statements & Payments

• You’ll receive a monthly statement detailing your transactions, balance owed, minimum payment due, and payment due date.
• Make at least the minimum payment by the due date to avoid late fees. Pay on time and keep utilization low to build credit.

Credit Limit Increases

• After your first 6 on-time monthly payments, your credit limit can double up to a max of $2000. This credit line increase helps improve your utilization ratio.

Reporting to Credit Bureaus

• Each month, Continental Finance reports your payment history to TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.
• Good payment behavior will help build your credit score over time. Late payments can negatively impact your credit.

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Rewards, Cashbacks, and Sign-Up Bonus

The Surge Credit Card is a basic card focused on credit building. It does not offer any rewards programs, cashback or sign-up bonuses. The main benefit is the ability to establish or rebuild credit history.

While there are no ongoing rewards or earnings, some benefits include:

• Initial credit limit – $300 to $1000 given upon approval to use for purchases and payments reported to credit bureaus
  
• Credit limit increase – Get up to 2x your initial limit after 6 on-time monthly payments
  
• Free monthly credit score – Check your score each month when you enroll in paperless statements

For earning rewards and cashback, other credit cards geared towards average credit may be better options to consider. The Surge Card’s primary purpose is credit building and utilization monitoring.

Interest Rates & Fees of Surge Credit Card

The Surge Credit Card has high interest rates and fees, which is common for credit builder cards aimed at subprime borrowers. It’s important to understand these costs:

Interest Rates

• Purchase APR: 29.99% variable
• Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable

Fees

• Annual Fee: $75-125 first year, $99-125 afterwards
• Monthly Maintenance Fee: $0-10 per month after first year
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of each transaction in foreign currency
  Cash Advance Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the advance amount, whichever is greater
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $41 penalty
• Over-the-Credit Limit Fee: Up to $40

As you can see, the annual fee, monthly fee, interest rates and additional fees for late payments or cash advances can add up quickly. It’s crucial to pay your balance off on time and in full each month if possible.

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How to Apply for a Surge Credit Card

If you have bad credit or no credit and want to apply for the Surge Card, here are the steps:

1. Check your credit reports – Order free reports from Surgecardinfo.com to review your accounts, outstanding debts, and negative marks.
2. Consider your income – The Surge Card requires you to provide income information, as they want to see your debt-to-income ratio. Have pay stubs or tax returns ready.
3. Apply online or by phone – Complete the Surge Card application online or call their toll-free number 1-888-673-4755. Supply personal info and income documentation.
4. Accept your offer – If approved, read the cardholder agreement terms. Activate your card to start using when approved.
5. Make payments on time – Pay at least the minimum monthly payment by the due date to avoid fees and credit damage. Pay in full if possible.
6. Practice good credit habits – Keep utilization low and continue making on-time payments to build your credit over time.

Be sure to provide accurate information on the application and maintain smart credit habits going forward to leverage the card responsibly.

Managing Your Surge Credit Card

Here are some tips for effectively managing your Surge Card account:

• Activate promptly – Call the number on the sticker on your new card to activate it and create a PIN.
• Set up autopay – Log in online and enroll in autopay from your bank account to avoid missed payments.
• Pay on time – At the very minimum, pay the required Minimum Payment Due each month by the Payment Due Date.
• Pay in full – Ideally, try to pay your New Balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.
• Check statements – Review transactions and fees so you know exactly what you’re being charged for.
• Access online – Use the online account center to make payments, check balances, set alerts and monitor credit.
• Limit use – Try not to max out your credit limit. Experts recommend keeping use below 30%.
• Build credit – Using the card responsibly will help establish a positive payment history and build your credit score.
• Ask for increases – Request higher credit limits over time as your score improves to keep utilization low.

Properly managing your Surge Card account helps optimize it as an effective credit building tool. Monitor your credit through the free monthly credit scores provided.

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Where Surge Credit Card Can be Used?

The Surge Credit Card is a Mastercard credit card. This means it can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercard worldwide.

You can use your Surge Credit Card for purchases at:

• Millions of stores online and in-person
• Restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations
• Travel including flights, hotels, rental cars
• Paying bills like utilities, cell phone, insurance
• ATM cash advances (high fees result – avoid)
• Apps, subscriptions, memberships
• Doctor’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies
• Anywhere displaying the Mastercard logo

As a Mastercard, it also comes with benefits like:

• Zero fraud liability protection
• Emergency card replacement
• 24/7 global customer service

The Surge Card isn’t limited to just bad credit lenders. Any merchant accepting Mastercard debit or credit cards will accept your Surge Card. It’s a flexible, worldwide card you can use to make purchases while building your credit.

Pros and Cons of Surge Credit Card

The Surge Credit Card has some pros and cons to consider if you’re looking at applying for credit building:

Pros

• No security deposit required
• Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
• Can help build credit through on-time payments
• Part of an established company – Continental Finance
• 1% cash advance option at ATMs
• Zero fraud liability from Mastercard
• Can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted

Cons

• Very high APR at near 30% variable
• Annual fee and monthly maintenance fees
• No rewards program or cashback
• Low initial credit limit of $300-$1000
• Potential annual fee of $75-$125

The biggest pros are the ability to build credit without needing a deposit, plus not needing existing credit history or a high score to qualify. But it does come at the cost of high interest and card fees.

For some, the trade-off may be worth it to establish a credit history and score if used carefully. But it’s important to be aware of the high rates and fees you will incur if carrying a balance month-to-month.

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Surge Credit Card vs Other Credit Cards

How does the Surge Card compare to other credit card options for bad credit or new credit?

• Vs Secured Cards: The Surge Card doesn’t require a security deposit like many secured cards. This means no large deposit upfront. However, it has high fees while many secured cards have no annual fee. The deposit with secured cards is fully refundable.
• Vs Other Credit Builders: Other credit builders like the Reflex Card have lower rates and fees. But some require deposits or existing credit. Surge approves applicants with bad/no credit.
• Vs Prepaid Debit Cards: Prepaid cards aren’t credit and don’t report to bureaus. The Surge Card builds credit history. But prepaid cards offer more flexibility and lower fees.
• Vs Traditional Cards: Traditional cards have much lower APRs and greater rewards/perks. But you must have good/excellent credit to qualify. The Surge Card is accessible to those rebuilding credit.

The Surge Card fills a specific niche – starter credit card for those with challenged credit or no FICO scores. It provides access and the ability to build credit, with costs that while high, may work for some consumers.

Conclusion

The Surge Credit Card allows consumers with less-than-perfect credit to open a credit card account and begin building a positive credit history. It features a low initial limit from $300-$1000 and requires no security deposit. While fees and APRs are very high, timely monthly payments are reported to the major credit bureaus to help establish good credit.

If you have poor credit or no credit score, the Surge Card can help you access an unsecured card to start demonstrating responsible behavior and improving your credit profile. Just be very mindful of the card’s high costs and make payments on time. Use it as a stepping stone to build credit over time so you can eventually qualify for cards with better rates and rewards.

Frequently Asked Questions