Fit® Platinum MasterCard® Credit Card
REVIEW

• $400 credit limit doubles to $800! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
• All credit types welcome to apply
• Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
• Initial Credit Limit of $400.00* (Subject to available credit)
• Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
• Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
• Free access to your Vantage 3.0 score from Experian* (When you sign up for e-statements)
• Checking Account Required

Pros	Cons
Decent starting credit limit of $400	High APR
Credit Limit doubles to $800 after paying on time for 6 months	Charges monthly fee from second year onwards
Mobile App
Free Credit Score

At A Glance

The Fit Mastercard from Continental Finance is designed for rebuilders who have FICO scores in the 500 range. Cardholders will get an initial credit limit of $400. If you pay the first six bills on-time, your credit limit will double from $400 to $800 . This feature makes this card quite unique for credit cards targeting those whose credit score is in the 500 range. The Fit credit card also has features like Mobile apps, free credit score from Experian.

Card Details

Annual Fee	$99
Activation Fee	$89
Monthly Fee	None for first year, then $6.25 a month ($75 annually)
APR	29.99%
Late Fee	Up to $41
Cash Advance APR	29.99%

Annual Fee - The annual fee for the Fit credit card is $99.

Monthly Fee - There is no monthly fee for the first year. From the second year onwards, there will be a monthly fee of $6.25.

Regular APR - 29.99%. The APR is high (though normal for many credit cards). Our recommendation has always been : do not carry a balance but pay your bills in full instead.

Starting Credit Limit - $300, $500, $750 or $1,000.

Double Credit Limit After 6 Months - When you pay your first six billing statements on time, you credit limit will double. For example, if your starting credit limit is $1,000, it will double to $2,000 after six months if you pay on-time.

Free Vantage 3.0 score from Experian - Cardholders will get a free Vantage credit score from Experian when they sign up for e-statements.

Competition

Card	Annual Fee	Upfront Fee	Monthly Fee	APR	Starting Limit
Fit Mastercard	$75	$89	$0 1st Year Then $6.25/month	29.99%	$400
Surge Mastercard	$75 - $95 1st Year Then $99	N.A.	$0 - 10/month	24.99% - 29.99%	$300 - $1,000
Reflex Mastercard	75 - $95 1st Year Then $99	N.A.	$0 - 10/month	24.99% - 29.99%	$300 - $1,000
Merrick Bank	$0 to $72	N.A.	N.A.	19.45% - 28.45%	$500-$1,350
Mission Lane Visa	$59	N.A.	N.A.	26.99% - 29.99%	$300-$1,000
Revvi Visa	$75 1st Year Then $48	$89	$0 1st Year Then $6.25/month	34.99%	$300
First Access Visa	$75 1st Year Then $48	$95	$0 1st Year Then $6.25/month	34.99%	$300
First Digital Mastercard	$75 1st Year Then $48	$95	N.A.	19.49% to 35.99%	$300
Total Visa	$75 1st Year Then $48	$89	$0 1st Year Then $6.25/month	34.99%	$300

There are many credit cards that target those of you with bad credit. As the key feature of this card is that your credit limit could double after six months of timely payments, we will compare the Fit credit card with other similar credit cards as well as those with similar fees. But first, let's compare this card with Continental Finance other credit cards.

Compared with other Continental Finance Credit Cards

Continental Finance has two other credit cards, the Reflex Mastercard and the Surge Mastercard. Both the Reflex and Surge credit cards have the same annual fee range as the Fit credit card. However, while the Fit credit card charges a $6.25 monthly fee from the second year onwards, both the Surge and Reflex credit card have monthly fees between $0 and $10 a month. That means you might end up paying no monthly fee with the Reflex and Surge versus the Fit Mastercard. The Fit credit card also has a one-time application fee of $89 which both the Reflex and Surge do not have.

As far as starting credit limits go, the Fit Mastercard starts you off at a $400 limit. With both the Reflex and Surge, you either get $300, $500, $750 or $1,000 limit (potentially higher than Fit). For all three cards, your credit limit will double when you pay your first six payments on time. From the fee and credit limit terms, it is clear that the Reflex and Surge are targeting those with credit scores in the higher range of the "bad credit spectrum" which is tyically from 590 onwards. In contrast, the Fit Mastercard would be better suited if you score are in the lower or mid 500 range.

Compared to other cards that increase your credit limit

There are two cards that will increase your credit limit after a few months of timely payments. They are the Merrick Bank Double Your Line Visa and the Mission Lane Visa Credit Card.

The Merrick Bank Double Your Line Visa has an annual fee of between $0 and $72. They do not charge any monthly fee or application fee. Their credit limit starts from $550 to $1,350 and will double after you pay the first 7 payments on-time. The Merrick Bank credit card however, will only accept applicants with at least a 620 credit score. That is why the fees and credit limits are more favorable than the Fit credit card.

The other card to compare the Fit Mastercard to is the Mission Lane Visa. It has a $59 annual fee and will increase your credit limit after 7 timely payments. However, though many folks have reported double their limits, Mission Lane does not explicitly say they will double your limit after 7 months. They do accept applicants with 550 credit score and higher but they are very strict on absolute debt levels. If you only have credit card debt, your total debt must not exceed $20,000. If you have a mortgage, your total debt must not exceed $80,000. If you do not meet this criteria, you will not get approved. So while the Fit Mastercard may have higher fees, they might be more appropriate for some of you versus the Mission Lane Visa.

Compared to cards with similar fees

There are many other cards with similar fees to Fit Mastercard. They include Total Visa, First Access Visa, Revvi Visa and First Digital Mastercard (see table above). The main difference Fit and these other cards is that after paying on time for the first 6 months, your credit limit will double from $400 to $800. This alone makes the Fit Mastercard a better card than these other cards. Furthermore, Fit has a mobile app and provides free Vantage scores which these cards do not provide.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Decent Starting Limit of $400 - The Fit Mastercard starts you off with a decent credit limit of $400. Most credit cards for folks with low scores start you off only with $300 limit or less.


• Double Your Credit Limit after 6 on-time payments - Fit Mastercard will double your credit limit from $400 to $800 if you pay the first six months of your billing statements on-time.


• Reports to ALL three major credit bureaus - This card reports to all three major credit bureaus so if you use the card responsibly (ie pay your bills on time and preferably in full), your credit score should improve over time.


• Reasonable Annual Fee - The annual fee is actually reasonable for these types of cards (once again check their website as this have changed recently as well). However, you do have to weigh that against the fact that they also charge other fees on top of your annual fee.


• Free Vantage 3.0 Score from Experian - When you sign up for e-statements, you will be able to get a Free Vantage 3.0 Score from Experian. While getting some form of free credit scores are now quite common in prime credit cards, it is still not common for cards in the poor credit space.


• Has Mobile App - This is one of the rare credit cards that has a mobile app.

Cons

• One time Processing Fee - Once you are approved, you will have to pay a one time processing fee (please check their website terms and conditions as these tend to change). This will reduce your initial credit limit of $400.


• Monthly Fee from Second Year Onwards - From the second year onwards, you have to pay a monthly fee. (please check their website once again as this figure has changed recently again).


• High APR - Most APRs for poor credit type cards are high and to be honest, you should not be too concerned about this because you should aim to pay your bills in full every month.


• Need Checking Account - This should not be an issue for most of you. But if you have had problems with the Chex system and do not have a bank or checking account, then you cannot apply for this card.

Our Take: Double Your Limit to $800 in 6 months

The Fit Mastercard is a credit card that rebuilders should consider if their scores are in the mid 500 area. Unsecured credit cards that target those of you in this credit score range tend to have similar fees as the Fit Mastercard in that they all have annual fees, monthly fees after the second year and also require a one-time application or activation fee. The advantage that the Fit credit card has over these cards is that your credit limit will double from $400 to $800 after paying on time for the first six months. It also has features like mobile app, free credit scores that other cards lack.

However, we also have to be aware that there are other cards with slightly lower fees but also increase your credit limits after 6 months of timely payments. Continental Finance also has two other cards, the Reflex credit card and the Surge credit card that will also increase your credit limit after 6 months of time payment. The Mission Lane Visa is another card that has lower fees and also increase your credit limit after 7 months. However, they have really stringent criteria with regards to absolute debt.

Before applying for the Fit Mastercard, you could try to get pre-approved for the Reflex and Surge credit cards (soft inquiry with no impact on credit scores) and see if you could get better terms than the Fit. Having said that, after evaluating and reviewing the Fit Mastercard credit card, I would give this card a 3.7 out of 5 rating because your credit limit will double to a very respectable $800 from $400 after paying on time for 6 months. If your credit scores are in the mid 500 area, this is definitely a card to consider if you are looking for an unsecured credit card to rebuild your credit.

How to apply?

Applying for the Fit Mastercard is really easy and involves just filling in one page of information. You need to full in your name, physical address, email address, date of birth, social security number, total monthly income, primary source of income, primary phone number. You also have to answer the following questions: If you have a checking account? If you intend to use the card for cash advance? If you would like an additional card? Finally, you have to certify that you are 18 years old and above and a US resident. After checking off that you have read all the terms and conditions, you can press the "SUBMIT" button and you will know if you are approved pretty much instantly.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I apply with a co-applicant or as a joint account?

Can I apply with a co-applicant or as a joint account?

When will I receive my new Fit credit card?

When will I receive my new Fit credit card?

How long does it take Fit Mastercard to approve my application?

How long does it take Fit Mastercard to approve my application?

Can I manage my Fit card account online?

Can I manage my Fit card account online?

Can I get a cash advance with a Fit credit card?

Can I get a cash advance with a Fit credit card?

What is the minimum payment each month for the Fit card?

What is the minimum payment each month for the Fit card?

Customer Service Information

Phone

Automated Account Information

1-866-449-4514
(Available 24 hours a day/7 days a week)

Customer Service

1-866-449-4514
(Customer Care Specialists are available 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat/EASTERN TIMES)

Payments

1-800-518-6142
(7 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat/EASTERN TIMES)

Lost/Stolen Card

1-800-556-5678

Mail

Inquiries Reflex Card
P.O. Box 3220
Buffalo, NY 14240-3220

Payments on Account

Reflex Card
P.O. Box 6812
Carol Stream, IL 60197-6812