Total VISA^® Credit Card Review

If your less-than-perfect credit score is preventing you from being approved for an unsecured credit card, the Total VISA^® Credit Card may be tempting. That’s because it welcomes applicants with poor / Fair credit, boasts an easy and quick application process and reports your credit activity to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion).

But due to its high ongoing costs — including a program fee, annual fee and monthly servicing fee — you’ll be better off with an alternate card. Oh, and if you want a card with a pretty design, there’s a fee for that, too.

• Reports to the three major credit bureaus

  This card reports your credit activity to the three major credit bureaus. If you’re trying to build or rebuild your credit, this is important because lenders use this data to determine your creditworthiness and decide whether they’ll approve you for a loan or credit card or increase your credit limit.

• Can qualify with bad credit

  The Total VISA^® Credit Card accepts applications from those with less-than-perfect credit. This means if your credit score falls below the “good credit” benchmark, you still have a chance.

• No security deposit required

  While many credit cards designed for people with bad credit are actually secured credit cards that require a security deposit of at least $200, the Total VISA^® Credit Card is an unsecured card that accepts applicants with poor / fair credit.

• Visa is accepted everywhere

  A key part of using your credit card to improve your credit score is to use your credit card and pay off the balance in full each month. It’s important to keep your credit utilization below 30%, so if you have a $200 line of credit, you really shouldn’t have more than $60 on your statement closing date. To be able to make use of your card, and buy more than a tank of gas for your car while building your credit score, you can simply pay off the purchase the next day.

• Extremely high APR

  If you carry a balance on your card month to month, you’ll be subject to interest charges at an extremely high rate. In fact, this card has one of the highest APRs currently available.

• One-time program fee

  Before you can even get this card, you need to pay a one-time program fee of $95. There’s an option to pay this in three monthly installments, but that just delays getting the card. Instead, you’d be better off using that money toward a security deposit on a secured credit card.

• Annual fee

  In addition to the program fee, you’ll be assessed an annual fee.

• Monthly servicing fee

  For your first year as a cardholder, you don’t have to pay a monthly servicing fee, but after the introductory period, the fee is $99 annually, or $8.25 per month.

• Credit limit increase fee

  Generally speaking, credit card issuers will consider you for a credit limit increase upon request. They’ll run a credit check and either approve or deny your request. In some cases, with credit cards for bad credit, there will be a policy that the issuer begins to review your credit after a certain period of time.

  Well, with Total VISA^® Credit Card, a credit limit increase will cost you a portion of your approved credit limit increase. For example if there’s a 25% fee, a $100 credit limit increase would cost you $25.

• Some liability for fraudulent charges

  Most credit cards offer $0 fraud liability — meaning, you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized or fraudulent charges if your credit card is lost or stolen. However, with the Total VISA^® Credit Card, you may be responsible for up to $50 for fraudulent charges, which is the maximum amount any cardholder can be liable for under federal law.

• Limitations on where you can use the card

  In an attempt to limit fraudulent charges, you can’t use your Total VISA^® Credit Card to pay for gasoline at automated fuel pumps. You can, however, go into the gas station and use your card there to pay for fuel.

  Additionally, you can’t use this card to make purchases outside the U.S.

Total VISA^® Credit Card vs. Discover it^® Secured Credit Card

The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card is a superior choice for anyone with Limited / Poor credit, since it lacks the fees that come with the Total VISA^® Credit Card, doesn’t require credit history, earns cash back on every purchase and offers an intro APR on balance transfers. But while the card has a $0 annual fee, it does require a refundable security deposit ranging from $200 to $2,500, which will equal your credit limit.

That said, your deposit isn’t gone forever. Automatic account reviews begin at seven months to see if they can graduate you to an unsecured line of credit and have your deposit returned. You can also get your deposit refunded if you pay your balance in full and close your credit card account.

The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card lets you 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

You should always pay your bill on time, but Discover makes an exception when it happens the first time. The late fee is none the first time you pay late. After that, up to $41. Additionally, you won’t be assessed a penalty APR.

Due to all of the fees, Total VISA^® Credit Card is a very expensive credit card to own. You should only get it if you absolutely need a credit card and have exhausted other options. While you have this, or any, card, work on improving your credit score and consider these tips to raise your credit by up to 100 points in 30 days.

Our recommendation is that if you can afford to put down a security deposit, the Discover it^® Secured Credit Card card is a great alternative, since it provides a path to graduate to an unsecured card.