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Surge® Platinum Mastercard®: Double Your Credit Limit in 6 Months

Cory Santos

| Last updated on February 12th, 2024

Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

Surge® Platinum Mastercard®
Fair-Poor
BestCards refers to a variation of FICO Score 9, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when deciding whether to approve you for a credit card. Please note that the range shown here is our own estimation and not a guarantee of credit needed to be approved for any given card. Recommended Credit: Fair / Poor
Mastercard Processing Network
See Terms* Annual Fee

Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

  • 29.99% (Variable) Regular Purchase APR
  • See Terms* Cash Advance APR

At a Glance

The Surge Mastercard® can be an ideal pre-qualification option if you need to repair or continue building your less-than-perfect credit score. Though it bears annual and maintenance fees, it does, however, provide attractive perks for qualified cardholders – including the potential for a double credit limit increase in as little as six months.

  • Best Benefits
  • Rates & Fees
  • Why Should You Apply?
  • Up to $1,000 credit limit doubles up to $2,000! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
  • All credit types welcome to apply!
  • Monthly Credit Score – Sign up for electronic statements, and get your Vantage 3.0 Score Credit Score From Experian
  • Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $1,000 (subject to available credit)
  • Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • See if you’re Pre-Qualified without impacting your credit score
  • Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
  • Online account access 24/7
  • Checking Account Required
  • Regular Purchase APR: 29.99% (Variable)
  • Cash Advance APR: See Terms*
  • Cash Advance Transaction Fee: See Terms*
  • Annual Fee: See Terms*
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: See Terms*
  • Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
  • Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $41
  • You have fair or poor credit and need to build or repair your credit ratings
  • You prefer a pre-qualification card that will immediately inform you whether you would be approved prior to applying
  • You want to double your credit line by up to $1,000 by making your first six monthly minimum payments on time
  • You don’t want a secured credit card or can’t afford a security deposit
  • You want a card that reports activity to the three major credit bureaus
  • You want the security of an optional credit protection program
Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

Terms & Conditions

In-Depth Review: Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

The Surge Platinum Mastercard offers a range of benefits that may make it a smart choice for individuals seeking credit growth. This card has something for everyone, from building or rebuilding your credit to doubling your credit line.

Who Can Benefit from Surge?

The Surge Platinum Mastercard can be beneficial for the following types of individuals:

Individuals with a Limited Credit History

Those with a limited credit history or who are working on building their credit may benefit from the Surge Platinum Mastercard. Since it’s not a secured card, it can be a suitable option for establishing or improving credit without requiring a security deposit.

People Rebuilding Credit

Individuals who are in the process of rebuilding their credit may find the Surge Platinum Mastercard useful. While it doesn’t offer rewards, it can still provide an opportunity to demonstrate responsible credit management, which is essential for improving credit scores (and is a reward in itself).

How to Get the Surge Mastercard

Credit Requirements

You can get approved for the Surge card with fair to poor credit. However, you should remember that applicants with bad credit may get approved for lower credit limits.

Pre-Qualify with No Credit Score Impact

A great feature of the Surge® Mastercard® is the ability to pre-qualify without fears of harming your credit. This simple form allows you to quickly find out your likely approval status without affecting your credit score. This feature provides valuable insight, helping you prepare effectively for obtaining your card. If you don’t qualify, your credit remains unaffected.

Continental Finance has the following rules regarding who is eligible for its credit cards:

Application Requirements
Age Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
Social Security Number (SSN) Applicants need to provide a SSN to prove that they are a U.S. citizen and eligible to apply.
U.S. address Applicants must provide a United States mailing address. PO Boxes are not allowed
Proof of income You need to provide proof of your income, including demonstrating you can make the minimum monthly payment
Bank account Applicants need to provide a valid checking or savings account to link to the card for payments.
Credit Bad credit (sub 500 FICO Score) or better required

Credit Building Benefits

One of the key advantages of this card is its ability to help you build or rebuild your credit history. With responsible use and timely payments, the Surge Platinum Mastercard can effectively improve your credit score. This is especially beneficial for individuals who may have had past credit issues or are new to credit.

Double Your Credit Line in 6 Months

The Surge Mastercard is a versatile unsecured credit card offer that provides a pathway towards better credit. While the card starts with a modest credit limit (between $300 to $1,000), Surge regularly monitors cardholder’s credit growth to identify potential credit limit increases.

If you use the Surge Platinum Card responsibly (meaning you make your payments on time every month and keep your overall credit use low), Surge may reward you with more credit in as little as six (6) months! Make your first six monthly minimum payments on time, and Surge will raise your credit limit – doubling your purchasing power.

Mastercard Benefits

Cardholders also enjoy basic protections through the Mastercard payment network. The Surge Card is a Platinum Mastercard product, meaning cardholders can expect the following essential benefits:

Zero Liability Protection Mastercard Global Services ID Theft Protection

Other Card Benefits

Other features of the Surge Mastercard include:

Credit reporting Surge provides monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax
Credit score access Cardholders enjoy free access to your Vantage 3.0 score from Experian when signing up for e-statements.
EMV chip Surge cardholders enjoy an additional layer of security thanks to EMV chip technology. Cardholders can also add their card to smart wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Mastercard Use anywhere Mastercard® is accepted.

Cardholders also gain complimentary access to their credit score when they enroll in e-statements. This simple application process provides free access to your credit score monthly – allowing you to see the impact actions like making your monthly payments on time have on your credit score each month.

Comparison

Reflex Mastercard® Surge® Mastercard® Aspire® Cashback
Pre-qualify? Yes Yes Yes
Annual fee See terms See terms As low as $85
Starting limit Up to $1,000 Up to $1,000 $350
Double your line?* Yes Yes N/A
Rewards N/A N/A 3% back on gas, groceries, & utilities, 1% on all else
Network Mastercard Mastercard Mastercard
Monthly credit reporting Yes Yes Yes
*Double your credit limit by making the first six monthly minimum payments on time.

Tips for Using the Surge Mastercard Responsibly

To make the most of your Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Credit Card and maximize your credit potential, here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Pay On-Time: Late payments can hurt your credit score and overall credit potential. Set up automatic payments or reminders to ensure you never miss a payment.
  • Keep Your Credit Use Low: Aim to keep your outstanding balance below 30% of your available credit limit. This shows lenders that you are responsible and not overly reliant on credit.
  • Monitor Your Score Regularly: Take advantage of the free credit score and monitoring services offered by the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Credit Card. This allows you to track your progress and identify areas for improvement.
  • Avoid Unnecessary Debt: While having a credit card can be convenient, it’s important to use it wisely. Avoid making unnecessary purchases or taking on more debt than you can comfortably repay.

What We Like About Surge

Reports to Credit Bureaus

The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is designed to help people with bad credit build their credit history. One of its key benefits is the reporting of payments to all three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. These credit agencies collect and analyze data to determine your credit score.

While reporting payments to all three credit bureaus is important for establishing credit, it is worth noting that this feature is not unique to the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®. Many other credit cards for people with bad credit also offer this service.

Credit Limit Increase

The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® offers an initial credit limit ranging from $300 to $1,000. You can double your credit limit by making on-time payments for six months. Increasing your credit limit can help lower your credit utilization ratio, which is the amount of available credit you use. This ratio is an important factor in calculating credit scores.

Things to Consider

Pay Attention to Surge’s Fees

The Surge Mastercard is like other credit repair cards in that it comes with associated fees. There is a variable annual fee, a monthly maintenance fee, and a one-time fee if you would like to request an additional card.  Fortunately, the monthly maintenance fee is waived for the first 12 months from the date you open your account. This feature makes the Surge Card an attractive option if you plan to use the card for a short period before upgrading to a different card.

FAQs

Here are answers to everyday questions others have asked about the Surge Mastercard:

  • Founded in 2005, Continental Finance Company (“CFC”) is one of America’s leading marketers and
    servicers of credit cards for consumers with less-than-perfect credit. The company specializes in
    providing access to credit products and services to consumers who are largely overlooked by traditional
    credit card issuers and local banks

You’ll need to provide personal information, including your:
Full name
Social Security number
Date of birth
Physical address (No P.O. Box)
Estimated gross monthly income

  • No, current product offerings do not allow co-applicants at this time, but you may add an authorized user
    during the application process or anytime after your account is opened.
  • In most cases, an instant decision is provided. However, in some cases additional information is needed
    in order to make a decision which could take up to 30 days.
  • If you’re approved and you fully fund any security deposit (if applicable), your credit card and welcome
    materials will be mailed within (3) business days.
  • Credit Protection is an optional debt cancellation program offered with your credit card account.
  • The Surge Mastercard is available in all 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia.
  • Payment usually takes 1 to 3 business days to post to the account.
  • Surge may allow cash advances, depending on your offer. Check your terms and conditions.

Surge Card Ratings

How does the Surge stack up? Here is a selection of expert reviews for the card:

Should You Apply for the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®?

The Surge Mastercard can be a great match if you need to build or improve your credit due to having fair or poor credit. While this card has fees and a higher-than-average APR, these features are standard with many credit cards for consumers with little to no credit.

The ability to pre-qualify makes it easy and quick to know ahead of time whether you will be approved, and the fact that it does not impact your credit score makes it even better. Plus, the available tools – including free credit limit increases, sending your activity to credit reporting bureaus, and free credit score access – give a helping hand in increasing your credit faster and with more peace of mind.

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