When you have bad credit, it can be extremely hard to build it back up. To rebuild your credit, you need to open a new credit account, pay your bills on-time and keep it in good standing. But when your credit is bad, there are very few companies that are willing to approve you for a new credit card account. However, the Build Mastercard is specifically designed for people with bad credit. Let’s take a look at this card and see how it works.
How the Build Mastercard Works
This card is designed for people who have had serious credit problems, and it charges setup and maintenance fees to offset that risk. It is marketed as an affordable alternative to payday loans for customers who are trying to establish, strengthen or rebuild their credit history. It promises customers clear upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and tools that help them use and build credit wisely.
To open a new account, you will have to pay a one-time account setup fee of $53 and a membership fee of $72 annually. These set-up and maintenance fees will be charged to your account before you begin using your card, and will reduce the amount of credit that will be initially available. For example, if you receive a $500 line of credit, then your initial available credit will be $375, which is $500 minus the $72 membership fee and the $53 account setup fee.
Featured Card
Fit Mastercard® Credit Card
Applying for this card will securely direct you to the issuer's website.
Top Features:
Reports to major credit bureaus; initial credit limit of $400; fast application process with results in seconds
The late payment and returned payment fees are each $35, but thankfully, there are no over-the-limit fees or foreign transaction fees imposed on charges processed outside of the United States.
Another important aspect of the Build Mastercard is that it has no grace period. With most credit cards, you can avoid interest charges by paying your monthly statement balance in full. The period between the statement closing date and the payment due date is known as the card’s grace period. Since the Build Mastercard has no grace period, it will begin charging interest on purchases and cash advances on the date of the transaction. The standard interest rate for purchases and cash advances is 29.9% APR, which is a variable interest rate that can rise or fall with the Prime Rate.
As a Mastercard, this card is accepted worldwide at millions of merchants in nearly every country. Mastercard also offers a Zero Liability Protection policy. This means that even though the Fair Credit Billing Act allows card issuers to hold customers liable for a maximum of $50 in the event of fraud, you’ll never be responsible for any amount in the event of an unauthorized transaction. To utilize this policy, just take reasonable care to protect your card from loss or theft and promptly report any loss, theft or unauthorized charges to your card issuer.
Build Mastercard Advantages
This card is designed for applicants with bad credit. If you’ve had credit problems, then you will be far more likely to be approved for this card than you would for a card that wasn’t meant for those with bad credit. Unlike secured cards, the Build Mastercard doesn’t require that you pay a deposit and it will start off most accounts with a $500 line of credit (which will be reduced to $375 until you’ve paid the $72 membership fee and the $53 account setup fee).
The Build Mastercard is also a full fledged credit card, which will make it easier to rent a car or check into a hotel room. In contrast, those who have debit or prepaid cards can have difficulties when traveling and may have to submit a cash deposit to rent a car or check into a hotel.
Featured Card
Fit Mastercard® Credit Card
Applying for this card will securely direct you to the issuer's website.
Top Features:
Reports to major credit bureaus; initial credit limit of $400; fast application process with results in seconds
And although this card has numerous fees to open an account, it has no foreign transaction fees. Most credit cards, and even some premium reward cards, still charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on all charges processed outside of the United States. So whether you are making a quick trip across the border, or taking a vacation overseas, you can use this card anywhere without being assessed an additional fee for each transaction.
Finally, the Zero Liability policy is one of the best protections offered by a credit card. This allows you to use your card with the confidence that you won’t have to pay any of the cost of fraudulent transactions.
Build Mastercard Disadvantages
The $72 membership fee and the $53 account setup fee are expensive, and some applicants may want to consider a secured card instead. There are plenty of good secured cards listed here. While you may have to pay an even higher deposit to open a secured card account, that money is refundable when you close your account in good standing. The 29.9% APR interest rate is high, but not out of line for a card marketed to those with bad credit. Finally, the lack of a grace period means you will always have to pay some interest on your charges, even when you pay your statement balance in full.
Bottom Line
The Build Mastercard is specially designed for people with bad credit, and it has its own distinct advantages and drawbacks. By carefully understanding how this card works, you can decide if it is right for your needs.
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