Consumer Reports names the 'Worst Credit Card'
Filed under: Credit Cards
So just what was it that earned this card its dishonorable title? For starters, the processing charge is steep and not even consistent. Depending on when you go to First Premier's website, you might get zinged with a processing charge of $25 -- or $95. (The first time I looked, it was $45. The second time, $25. Keep it up, and the fee is all over the map.)
At $75, the annual fee is high, too. And the APR ranges from 23.9% to 59.9% on purchases and cash advances, again, depending on when you visit the site. (To be fair, as ridiculous as a 59.9% APR is, it's better than the 79.9% that First Premier offered last year.)
What this means, says Consumer Reports, is that you'll spend anywhere from $100 to $170 in fees during your first year, and considering you're only going to get a $300 credit limit, those fees are pretty sorry indeed. In fact, even if you get your credit ceiling raised, you aren't any better off. For every $100 that your credit limit increases, you'll spend another $50 in fees.
And Second Place Goes to...
The runner-up for worst credit card, according to Consumer Reports, is Platinum Zero Secured Visa from Applied Bank. In a way, I think this one might be worse than First Premier's Mastercard. While you might experience more financial damage with First Premier, Platinum Zero's marketing -- its website promises "zero worries" -- is designed to fool people and gives the credit card industry a really bad name.
See, I hear the word "zero" and I think of nothing. And that seems to be what you're getting charged at first: a 0% APR on purchases, a zero application fee and a zero annual fee.
But cardholders do indeed have something to worry about. According to Consumer Reports, the bank charges a $9.95 monthly maintenance fee that adds up to $119.40 a year. And if you're late paying your bill, you'll pay a $35 late fee. In addition, the agreement on the card says, "There is no grace period for the account. Interest charges accrue on purchases, cash advances and our charges beginning on the date the transaction occurs or on the first day of the billing cycle in which the transaction is received by us or, at our option, the date the transaction is posted to your account."
Zero worries? If I was the owner of this card, I'd worry plenty.
What Consumers Need to Know
But what if these were the only cards you qualified for? Should you take them and be happy you can at least get a credit card? Or should you go for some alternative like a secured credit card or a pre-paid card?
I sought out Beverly Harzog, a financial guru, author and spokesperson for CardRatings.com, a credit card review and comparison site, to get her thoughts on the matter. If these are your only options, Harzog thinks going for a secured credit card is a reasonable move. But even then, she cautions, "You have to be on your toes and watch out for a few things. First, you want to make sure that the card issuer reports to the credit bureaus. If they don't, this will not improve your FICO score or help you build a credit history.
"Second, be sure you know exactly what the fees for the card are. You'll [want to look for] fees such as activation fees, monthly maintenance fees and even ATM transaction fees," Harzog says. "Third, compare interest rates before you pick a secured card. I like the Public Savings Bank Secured Card, which has a zero percent introductory APR for six months and a regular APR of 11.24%."
Whatever you do, don't give up and assume there's no hope for you and your finances. As Harzog says, "No matter what your FICO score or how limited your credit history is, you still have choices." Choices, I should add, far beyond those from First Premier or Platinum Zero.
Still, if you can't qualify for a credit card and don't want to get a pre-paid card, which comes with fees and can't help you establish either a credit history or credit score, then remember you still have another option: cash. There's something to be said about socking away some money in a savings account until you really need it. And the feeling of not getting slammed with hidden fees or a 59.9% APR? Priceless.
Geoff Williams is a frequent contributor to WalletPop. He's also the co-author of the book Living Well With Bad Credit.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-13-2010 @ 8:07AM
Arthu said...
Outrageous , is all i can say. Joe the loan shark on the corner will do better. This should be outlawed but the corrupt congress lets them get away with these ripoff fees and interest rates. Stay away from them . Nothing more then EXPLOITING people in need.That's the main reason credit cards exist .Due to the low wages they pay in this country The republicans froze the minimum wage for 10 years when they were in power.Now they blocked the democrats from outlawing outsourcing that exploits labor overseas. Ther republican party should be outsourced-----to another planet.
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10-13-2010 @ 10:53AM
John said...
That's why the White House needs to get 100% behind Elizabeth Warren in implementing and running the Consumer Protection Agency. Glad to have seen Obama get her in the back door. The Republicans would have blocked her nomination for sure.
10-13-2010 @ 11:52AM
xxtao said...
And the APR ranges from 23.9% to 59.9% on purchases and cash advances, again, depending on when you visit the site. (To be fair, as ridiculous as a 59.9% APR is, it's better than the 79.9% that First Premier offered last year.)I am female, 20,a young and big beautiful woman in US,i just wonder if i can meet a man who can love me here,because i am single at present and i need someone¡¯s support..i uploaded my hot photos on kissbbw.com under the name nancy099,maybe you want to check out my photos first!
10-13-2010 @ 11:53AM
bbk said...
First, you want to make sure that the card issuer reports to the credit bureaus. If they don't, this will not improve your FICO score or help you build a credit history.I am an Air Force and single at present .I need a woman who can love me back ..I also uploaded my hot photos on Uniformedmingl e .c om under the name of hoho212..It's the largest and best club for seeking Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Police Force, and the admirers of those who wear the uniform.I just hope you don't mind me being a soldier ...Please Check it out!I'm serious.
10-13-2010 @ 11:54AM
Pat said...
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10-13-2010 @ 2:11PM
Chris said...
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10-13-2010 @ 8:12AM
rhea said...
Nice article, very informative! Especially that the holiday is near, many will renew or get new credit card.
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10-13-2010 @ 8:48AM
Wolfhound said...
How can a 59.9% APR not be usuary? Where does this nonsense end? We need to beat up our Congressman, because they are obviously pandering to the banks.
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10-13-2010 @ 2:56PM
Jenna said...
It does not really surprise me to see that most people are opting to avoid debt. Why do banks insist on being difficult, they take all our money, turn around and put it into investments that go bad. Then they try to take more of our money so that they can fix their mistakes. It is all malarky. Http://www.savecreatively.com has some great info and tips on how to save money wisely. These days we need all the help we can get to avoid getting snickered by a bank. That is also why I like save creatively's free samples to.
10-13-2010 @ 3:21PM
lita said...
You are right. This isn't a credit card; this a government-approved license for usury. This is not as bad as payday loan companies which, for some reason, are allowed annual interest rates as high as 400%. As far as real credit cards go, my vote goes to Citibank and Chase. Citibank drops you for inactivity which affects your credit rating; then they send you an invitation to sign up again which, if you are foolish enough to do so, dings your credit rating again. And Chase? They deceived thousands of customers (I wasn't one) to transfer their balances to their Chase account with a low interest rate for as long as it took to pay off. Then they were allowed to raise the minimum monthly payment to 2.5 times the original minimum, and that low interest rate became a moot point because, heck, they could legally do anything they wanted. (They gave you the option of leaving things unchanged and allowing you to pay off your debt under the initial contract but you would not be able to use your card and your account would be closed once the balance was paid off, dinging your credit rating, of course. How generous.)
10-13-2010 @ 4:40PM
nachopam said...
@Lita-you are absolutely right about Chase. My payment went from $150 a month to $260 a month and they lowered my credit limit to $10,000 so my debt to income ratio went up and lowered my credit score. Soon I will be in credit counseling because my child support will run out next month and I won't be able to make that minimum payment. I have helped them all these years by carrying a balance and putting money in their pockets, just to feed my kid, and now my life will be ruined because they are crooks! Thanks a lot Chase!
10-13-2010 @ 8:55AM
TJ said...
In 1980, because of inflation, Congress passed the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act exempting federally chartered savings banks, installment plan sellers and chartered loan companies from state usury limits. This effectively overrode all state and local usury laws and we dismantled the most ancient of human laws, the law against usury, which had existed in some form in every civilization from the time of the Babylonian Empire to the end of Jimmy Carter's term.
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10-13-2010 @ 9:12AM
Rick said...
I am aware of these "$300 deals" that have you pay out enormous fees and interest rates, they should be regulated and also fined very heavily for praying on so many people
I think if the Mafia was allowed to offer a card they would have more compassion than these heartless flesheating companies.
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10-13-2010 @ 11:44AM
pd39 said...
These are the kind of companies that cause government to pass laws that cover EVERY credit card issuer, and by extension, EVERY card user.
And they are probably backed and owned by terrorist supporting groups who need money as quick as possible for what they do now that the Bush administration actions have cut off their normal sources of income.
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10-13-2010 @ 10:34AM
Lord Enki said...
Paying mine off and when I make the last payment the representative gets to hear my shredder shred their card and then I tell them to close the Account completely. The credit card companies are scumbags
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10-13-2010 @ 12:40PM
Rebecca said...
Actually, that's really bad for your credit, it just lowers your credit to debt ratio. You keep it open, use it enough for them not to close it and pay it off every month before it's due so they can't charge you interest. I think you have to use it every six months or so or they'll close it. I buy something stupid, like one stop at the gas pump and then pay it off right away. Helps keep building your credit, but they're not making anything off of you. It's time we started screwing them, not the other way around!!
10-13-2010 @ 4:02PM
Mary said...
I was advised when I pay off my credit cards to put them in a drawer and don't use them again. If you close the account it affects your credit rating. Keeping the cards open shows that you have a good credit history. I would only close cards that have annual fees or charges for keeping the accounts open. I belong to a federal credit union so I don't have to worry about fees for cards.
10-13-2010 @ 10:39AM
Ike said...
OrchardBank also has $60 annual fees[found out too late].
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10-13-2010 @ 10:42AM
Marge said...
These cards are outrageous. The only good that has come out of this predatory practice is that the Billionaire that controls the banks has donated 100's of millions of dollars. Of course his ego requires naming rights. There is now a health system named after him, an underground lab and the president of the bank has a business school named after him.
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10-13-2010 @ 10:46AM
TomOzzy123 said...
Absolute usery. Add Bank of America to that list if you miss a payment or two.
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