Last updated on August 26th, 2021
The Merit Platinum Card and the Group One Platinum Card are two of the most popular unsecured credit cards for bad credit. These cards are known as “catalog cards,” designed for use with online catalog outlets. Another popular option is the Fingerhut Card, which offers similar benefits for building credit. But which card is right for you? Fingerhut Card vs. Merit Platinum and Group One Platinum: Which should you apply for to build your credit?
What is the Group One Platinum Card?
The Group One Platinum is an unsecured retail card from the same issuer as the Horizon Gold, Horizon Card Services. The card offers the same benefits of the Horizon Gold but with a sleek, black design.
Like the Horizon Card, the Group One Card offers a $750 credit limit with instant access upon approval. It also requires no credit check and no employment check to apply. What’s more, the card works for purchases at the Horizon Outlet.
Group One Platinum Card Features:
- No credit check needed
- No employment check required
- Quick approval
- Instant $750 credit limit
- Regular reporting to the major credit bureaus
- 0% APR on purchases
What Is the Merit Platinum Card?
The Merit Platinum Card is one of the easiest credit cards to get for those with bad credit scores. Like other catalog cards, the Merit Platinum offers an unsecured line of credit for use at its online store, the Horizon Outlet.
Successful applicants receive a $750 line of credit for the store, which offers an impressive selection of goods, including clothing, toys, and home items.
Horizon Card Services, the card’s issuer, reports to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) regularly, which can help users raise their credit score. And, since catalog cards are similar to charge cards, they don’t impact a user’s credit utilization rate. These two factors make catalog cards, like the Horizon Gold, excellent for establishing a good credit history and boosting your credit score.
Horizon Gold Card Features:
- No credit check needed
- No employment check required
- Quick approval
- Instant $750 credit limit
- Regular reporting to the major credit bureaus
- 0% APR on purchases
What Is the Fingerhut Card?
The first introduction many people have with the Fingerhut Credit Card is through a pre-approved offer. Approximately 90% of Fingerhut pre-approval applicants end up receiving the card. This makes the Fingerhut an excellent fresh start card. But how does the Fingerhut card account compare to the Merit Platinum Card or the Group One Platinum?
The Fingerhut Card – issued by WebBank – offers a credit line towards online purchases. The Fingerhut online shopping store offers products from hundreds of leading brands. Examples of Fingerhut brands include Teleflora, Panasonic, and more. Unlike both Merit and Group One, however, the initial credit limit with the Fingerhut card is just $250. Both Horizon Outlet credit cards grant double that initial limit. Still, a Fingerhut credit account
The Fingerhut Credit Card also differs from the Merit Platinum and Group One Platinum in that it sometimes provides credit limit increases. While this might seem like a plus, the first few credit increases will only reach the same limit Horizon gives you right off the bat.
Fingerhut Card Features:
- Bad credit welcome
- Quick approval
- Regular reporting to the major credit bureaus
- 29.99% fixed APR on purchases
- No annual fee
Fingerhut or Merit Platinum: Which Merchandise Card Is Right for You?
Wondering if the Fingerhut Card is right for you? Or perhaps you like what you hear from the Merit Platinum or Group One Platinum Cards? Which should you choose?
The perfect unsecured credit card for bad credit depends on your credit repair goals. Do you want a card that will help you boost your credit score quickly? The Merit Platinum could work for you. The card is also superior if you struggle to get credit and want a versatile card that can help you buy the goods you want without any interest payments.
For those who want to take the longer route to credit repair, the Fingerhut may be the better option. Access to credit limit increases means the card offers long-term value – but less value than the Merit Platinum or Group One at the start.
Ultimately, all catalog cards are credit-building tools that can raise your credit score with on-time payments and financial responsibility. The fact that they are some of the most accessible cards makes them an excellent choice for those who struggle to find credit card options – but who also want to improve their credit score.
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