Mr Credit CardBased on our analysis, the $750 and $1,000 offer the best value in terms of fees and credit limit that you will get on the card. In this review, we will explain why and highlight consumer reviews.
Card Details: 4 Different Credit Limits
| Card | Annual Fee | Monthly Fee | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surge $1,000 | $125 | $0* | $1,000 |
| Surge $750 | $125 | $0* | $750 |
| Surge $500 | $125 | Year 1 = $0, then $12.50/month | $500 |
| Surge $300 | $75 Y1, then $99 | Year 1 =$0, then $12.50/month | $300 |
Has 4 Different Versions
The Surge credit card requires you to go through a pre-approval process and if you are pre-approved, you may be offered one of 4 versions. The 4 versions have different credit limits, $300, $500, $750 and $1,000. The $750 and $1,000 versions only have an annual fee of $125. The $300 and $500 limit versions both have an annual fee and a monthly maintenance fee from the second year onwards.Other Less Known and Unique Features
Surge has some other features that are unique and less well-known.
True Second Chance Credit Cards and Bankruptcy OK
The Surge Mastercard is a true second chance credit ardbecause even if you have had your card charged off (even in a bankruptcy), Surge will give you a second chance and approve you if you have cleaned up your credit report or even just emerged from a bankruptcy. Surge and Continental Finance will give you a second stab at their credit cards.
You Can Get Surge Even if you have another Continental Finance Card
A little fact is that Continental Finance will allow you to have more than one credit card. In fact, there are many people whose first Continental Finance card is the Fit Mastercard, were happy with it, and ended up getting the Surge Mastercard. However, one thing to bear in mind is that you will need two separate logins for your online account and mobile app.
You can pay with a debit card
Surge is one of the rare credit card that allow you to pay your credit card bill with a debit card. This is something many young cardholders and rebuilders look for but find lacking in most other credit cards. However, you do have to pay over the phone in order to use the debit card. You can either use a live rep or set up your debit card as a payment method over the phone. I suggest you set it up as a payment method so you can use the automated virtual assistant. Using a live representative will cost you $10 for each payment you make over the phone.
Maximum $4,000 Credit Limit
Another lesser known fact about the Surge Mastercard is that the maximum credit limit you can get is $4,000 over time. This is in their terms and conditions but now highlighted by them or other credit card reviewers.
Free Vantage 3.0 scores if you receive e-statements
The Surge credit card will also give you access to a free Vantage 3.0 credit score. But you have to sign up for e-statements to be able to access it.
Analysis and Competition
Total Fee to Credit Limit Calculation for Surge
I am going to use the Surge $1,000 credit limit as an example to do the calculations. The annual fee is $125 and there is no monthly fee from the second year onwards for this version. The TFCL ratio is $125/$1,000 = 12.5%.Comparison of Surge $750 and $1,000 Limit Version with Competitors
| Card | Annual Fee | Monthly Fee | Credit Limit | Fees/Credit Limit Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surge $1,000 | $125 | $0 | $1,000 | $125/$1,000 = 12.5% |
| Surge $750 | $125 | $0 | $750 | $125/$750 = 16.67% |
| Upgrade Select Card | $39 | $0 | $500 - $2,000 - most get $1,500 or below | $39/$1,500 = 2.6% |
| Arro Mastercard | $0 | $3/month | $50 - $2,500 | $36/$1,500 = 2.4% |
|
Indigo, Milestone Destiny Mastercard |
Year 1 = $175 Year 2 Onwards = $49 |
Year 1 = $0 Year 2 Onwards = $12.50/month = $150 annually |
$700 |
Year 1 = $175/$700 = 25% Year 2 Onwards = $(49 + 150)/$700 = 28.4% |
I have decided to compare the Surge Mastercard $750 and $1,000 version with Upgrade Select Visa, Arro Mastercard, and the credit cards from Concora Credit Inc, which includes the Indigo Mastercard, Milestone Mastercard and Destiny Mastercard.
Though the credit limit for the Upgrade Select Visa ranges from $500 to $2,500, most will get a limit of $1,500 or less. For the purpose of comparing it with the Surge $750 and $1,000 limit version, I have decided to use $1,500 as the credit limit. I will also do the same for the Arro Card since the credit limit ranges from $50 - $2,500.
As you can see from the comparison table above, the Surge Mastercard compares very well the the credit cards from Concora very well with regards to the Total Fee to Credit Limit Ratio. The reason is because they do not charge any monthly maintenance fee from the second year onwards. Our rule of thumb should be that TFCL ratios should be 15% or less meaning that you should not pay more than 15% of your credit limit in fees. So the Surge Mastercard has decent TFCL ratios for their $750 and $1,000 limit versions.
Despite having good TFCL ratios, the annual fee of the Surge Mastercard is is high. The $750 and $1,000 limit versions have a $125 annual fee. Competitors like Upgrade Select and Arro Mastercard have much lower fees. Upgrade Select has a $39 annual fee, which is $86 lower than Surge. Arro Mastercard charges a $3/monthly fee which works out to $36 annually. This is $89 lower than Surge. As a result of much lower fees, the Upgrade Select and Arro Mastercard has lower TFCL ratio than Surge.
To get approved for Upgrade Select, you would require a FICO score of at least 580 and above. To get approved for the Surge Mastercard $750 and $1,000 limit version, you need a Vantage score of above 600. Arro Mastercard does not check your credit score but requires a minimum monthly income of $1,800 instead.
Comparison of the Surge $300 and $500 Credit Limit Versions with Competitors
| Card | Annual Fee | Monthly Fee | Program Fee | Credit Limit | Fees/Credit Limit Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surge $500 | $125 | Year 1 = $0, then $12.50/month | $0 | $500 | Y1 = $125/$500 = 25% |
| Surge $300 | Year 1 = $75, then $99 | Year 1 = $0, then $12.50/month | $0 | $300 | Y1 = $75/$300 = 25% |
| Total Visa | Y1 = $75, then $48 | Y1=$0, then $8.25.25/month = $99/Year | $95 | $300 |
Y1 = $(75 + 89)/$300 = 54.67% Y2 = ($48 + $99)/$300 = 49.33% |
| First Access Visa | Y1 = $75, then $48 | Y1=$0, then $8.25/month | $95 | $300 |
Y1 = $(75 + 89)/$300 = 54.67% Y2 = ($48 + $99)/$300 = 49.33% |
| First Digital | Y1 = $75, then $48 | Y1=$0, then $8.25/month | $89 | $300 |
Y1 = $(75 + 89)/$300 = 54.67% Y2 = ($48 + $99)/$300 = 49.33% |
| Upgrade Select Visa | $39 | $0 | $0 | $500 - $2,000 | $39/$500 = 7.8% |
| Arro Mastercard | $0 | $3/month | $0 | $50 - $2,500 | $36/$500 = 7.2% |
Both the Surge $300 and $500 limit versions have much higher fees than the $750 and $1,000 limit versions because in addition to an annual fee, they also charge a $12.50/month monthly fee from the second year onwards. If we use the $500 limit version as an example, from the second year onwards, you will be paying a total of $275 in fees. For the $300 limit version, you will be paying a total of $249 in fees from the second year onwards. Regardless of the credit limits, that is a lot of fees to pay for a credit card.
The cards I have chosen to compare with both the $300 and $500 version share a similar trait. And that is they also charge both annual fee and monthly fee from the second year onwards. In some cases, they also charge a one-time processing fee before you can activate your card. I am not going to go through each comparison but as you can see from the table above, most of Surge's competitors require you to pay a lot of fees and their TFCL ratio is also really high.
There are a couple of exceptions though that I want to highlight. And that is the Upgrade Select Card and the Arro Card (which are both mentioned in the comparison with the $750 and $1,500 limit verions). These cards do not charge any monthly fee at all and their annual fee is significantly lower than Surge. Hence, from a fee and TFCL perspective, both these cards are better than the Surge $300 and $500 limit versions because they have much lower fees.
Our Take: $750 and $1,000 Limit Versions Are Good
The Surge $300 and $500 credit limit versions have lower credit limit and much higher fees than the $750 and $1,000 versions. This is reflected in a much higher TFCL ratio. If you are pre-approved for either the $300 or $500 limit version, I would not go ahead with the application. Instead I would try to get other lower fee credit cards like the Upgrade Select Card or the Arro Mastercard. You would require a FICO score of at least 580 for the Upgrade while the Arro Mastercard does not perform any hard inquiry but instead requires a minimum monthly income of $1,800. These two alternatives have much lower fees than Surge.
To sum up, based on our evaluation and review of the Surge Mastercard, we give it a 3.7 stars out of 5 for it's rather generous credit limit, the presence of modern features like mobile app, free Vantage scores and the ability to pay via debit card. The higher fees present in the $300 and $500 credit limit versions prevents us from giving it a higher rating.
Surge Mastercard accepts applicants with Vantage 3.0 scores between 500 to 680 though the average approved applicant has a Vantage 3.0 score of around 600. If your Vantage 3.0 score is around 600, then you should definitely go through the pre-approval process to see if you get the $750 or $1,000 version. I would not get the $300 or $500 limit version and consider other lower fee unsecured credit cards instead.
Alternative to Surge Mastercard
Upgrade Select Visa - The Upgrade Select Card has an annual fee of $39. This is in contrast to the $125 annual fee of the Surge $500, $750 and $1,000 limit version. In addition, Upgrade does not charge any monthly fee from the second year onwards (unlike the Surge $300 and $500 limit version). Credit limits range from $500 to $2,000. You need a FICO score of at least 580 and above to get approved for Upgrade. This requirement is not much different from Surge's 600 and above Vantage score requirements.
Arro Mastercard - The Arro Mastercard is an unsecured credit card that does not do any hard inquiry. Instead, you would require to have a monimum monthly income of $1,800. Arro would require you to link your bank account which your paycheck is direct deposited to Arro to verify the income and you will be approved based on that, your bank balance and cash flow. Arro charges a monthly fee of $3/month ($1/month during the first year) which works out to $36 a year. This is significantly lower than the fees that Surge charges. If your credit scores is in the 500s and you meet Arro's income requirement, then this would be a much better alternative to Surge.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to pay in full or just the minimum payment the first 6 months to get the credit limit increase?
Do I have to pay in full or just the minimum payment the first 6 months to get the credit limit increase?
Can I apply with a co-applicant or as a joint account?
Can I apply with a co-applicant or as a joint account?
How long does it take Surge Mastercard to approve my application?
How long does it take Surge Mastercard to approve my application?
When will I receive my new Surge credit card?
When will I receive my new Surge credit card?
[Label]How do I get my free credit score?
How do I activate my Surge credit card?
How do I activate my Surge credit card?
Can I get a cash advance with a Surge credit card?
Can I get a cash advance with a Surge credit card?
What is the minimum payment each month for the Surge card?
What is the minimum payment each month for the Surge card?
Consumer Reviews
I accidentially missed my payments and realized only a few days later. I called and explained the situation to the CSR and she was willing to remove the late fee as I had a great on-time record with them.
I was a little behind my payments and called customer service. They were really helpful and set me up on a program to help me regain my positive status. I am really surprised.
I am extremely happy with my Surge Mastercard. I did not have good credit when I applied and I was really surprised at their customer service. I was treated very well as though I had excellent credit. The double your credit line promotion was legit and I got mine doubled.
Continental Finance has a well good well functioning mobile app and so far, my card has worked without any glitches. One thing you have to beware of is that you can only make a few payments a month and if you exceed a certain limit, you would have to pay over the phone.
I made a few calls the last 3 weeks to customer service and each call was pleasant and my issues were resolved promptly. I would definitely recommend the Surge credit card.
I received my card and could not activate it. So I called customer service because the activation period was over. Issue was resolved and I could use the card three days later.
I signed up for their credit protection program and was lucky I did cos I got laid off. But customer service was great and the made the process of activating it seamless.
I dedided to close my Surge card when they increased their annual fee from $75 to $125. I already have the card for about a year and a half so it has fulfilled it's purpose of helping me rebuild my credit.
This card has been fantastic for rebuilding my credit. Customer service has been great too. Having said that, the automated system is a nightmare and the fees, interest rates, monthly maintenance and annual fees are really high and frankly speaking a rip off. If you are rebuilding, then I would suggest you use this card for a year, two at the max and then look to get low annual fee or no annual fee cards once you have rebuilt your credit to a decent level.
I got approved with a limit of $1,000 which doubled to $2,000 after 6 months. Then they increased the annual fee from $99 to $125 and APR from 25.99% to 35.99%. What the heck!
Surge is a good card but I had problems with their automated systems. I had to pay over the phone a couple of times which cost $4.95 each time.
The Surge credit card itself is good, the messaging through Livechat is good, but there are a few things they could improve on. First, when you call the 1-866 number you never get a live person, its all automated. Secondly, I pressed the number 1 to change my address but all it did was give me a number I was talking on. It took a long time to get my new address into their system and Surge could definitely improve in this.
I got an offer in the mail for the Surge card around 3 years ago. I was quite skeptical but nevertheless took the offer for an initial $500 credit limit. I used it sparingly, always paying on time. My credit limit has now been increased to $1,800 and I have been offered and accepted the Reflex card as well. So right now, I have 2 continental finance cards. Having this card helped my credit rating increase a lot. Their customer service has been nothing but exceptional. However, the website interface could use some improvement. As my credit has improved over the last 3 years, I now have a Citi, Amex and Cap One with much higher limits. If you are looking to rebuuild your credit score, I would 100% recommend this as a "re-starter" card.
I got a Surge card after bankruptcy with a $500 limit. I got a car rental and the rental company put a hold of $300 on my credit card. I returned late and was charge extra fees with the card since it was on the file and the person behind the counter could not do anything about it. This put me over the limit and I was charged over the limit fees. Please be aware if you use this card for car rentals.
Customer Service Information
Phone
Automated Account Information1-866-449-4514
(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
P.O. Box 3220
Buffalo, NY 14240-3220
Payments on Account
Reflex Card
P.O. Box 6812
Carol Stream, IL 60197-6812
How to apply?
