Written by: Brittney Mayer
Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Obtaining a new credit card with poor credit is a bit like trying to find a meal after 2 a.m. — you usually have to settle for whatever you can find, regardless of its quality. And while you might normally turn up your nose at a drive-thru menu, it can hold a lot more appeal when it’s the only thing available.
When your credit is so low that most banks don’t want to take on your risk, subprime cards, like the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card, become the choice of necessity.
But just like 2 a.m. tacos aren’t fine dining, subprime credit cards aren’t prime rewards cards — and they don’t pretend to be. The Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card is marketed as a credit-builder for the subprime market, and that seems to be exactly what cardholders receive. Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card reviews reveal both happy customers and dissatisfied ones, which is to be expected with nearly any credit card. In the article below, we’ll take a look at some of the common complaints and the aspects of the card that customers were pleased with.
Our Take | Consumer Reviews | Additional Options
Our Take: An Attainable Credit-Building Option
Overall, the most appealing trait of the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card for most potential cardholders is its accessibility. For those with poor credit, finding an unsecured credit card — one that doesn’t require a deposit to open — can be a challenge, but the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card is available to a wide range of credit types, including those with low scores.
As a Visa card, the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card can be used anywhere Visa is accepted in the United States (subject to available credit), and since Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card reports to all three major credit bureaus, responsible use can help you build a positive credit history. Signing up for the card is remarkably easy, with the simple online form taking just a few minutes and responses available almost immediately in most cases.
- Earn 1% cash back rewards on payments made to your Total Credit Card
- Checking Account Required
- $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
- No security deposit, simply pay a one-time $95 program fee to open your account.*
- User friendly Mobile App.
- *See Rates, Fees, Costs & Limitations for complete offer details
- See Total Card Visa Rewards Programs Terms & Conditions for details
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 minutes | 35.99%* | Yes | 8.5/10 |
Of course, as a subprime card, the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card isn’t the cheapest card on the block, nor does it have the highest credit limits — but both are competitive with other, similar cards.
To start, all qualified Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card cardholders will receive an initial $300 limit (subject to available credit), though credit limit increases can become available.
So far as fees are concerned, you’ll need to pay the one-time $89 program fee after approval to open your credit card account. Additionally, you’ll be charged the annual fee — $75 for the first year, $48 a year thereafter — as soon as you open your account, which will reduce your initial available credit.
You can choose from six designs to personalize your Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card.
While your annual fee drops after the first year, you’ll start being charged a monthly servicing fee that second year, which will mean a $6.25 charge on your bill each month.
You’ll also pay a $29-per-card fee for any additional cards you request, and the cards can be personalized! There are six available card designs so you can choose which matches you best.
Beyond the card and service fees, the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card also charges a fairly high APR, which can mean pretty costly interest fees if you carry a balance from month to month.
At the same time, the card’s APR is fairly consistent with other subprime products. And, unlike some of those products, the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card does offer a grace period during which you can pay off your full balance to avoid interest fees entirely.
All in all, the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card isn’t the best credit card out there, but it certainly isn’t the worst, either. And if your credit disqualifies you from a card with lower interest rates and fees — and you don’t want to go with a secured card — the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card seems to be a solid option to build your credit if you pay in full each month.
Consumer Opinion: Flexible Requirements, Low Credit Limits
Since the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card is designed for the subprime market, it’s going to have its fair share of complaints. And, as you can likely guess, the majority of those complaints focus on the card’s high fees, high interest rates, and low credit limits — with a lot of emphasis on the latter, as well as the small credit limit increases typically offered.
I have had this card for over nine months and I have made every payment. In fact, for the last four months I have been running a balance of below $10 and paying it before the bill is sent. After all this time they approved me for a $50 increase. — CreditKarma.com Reviewer
The rest of the complaints center around the online payment system and customer service. Several reviewers had problems making online payments or with scheduled payments taking several days to process, sometimes resulting in late fees. Others report it taking a long time to get a customer service representative on the phone.
I wish I could give less than one star. This card is awful. When you submit a monthly payment by checking account number, it takes 14 days, or longer, for the funds to become available.
There is no online customer support, which is unheard of, and when you call the customer service number provided, the hold time is 30+ minutes each time. The interest rate is way too high and it’s just not worth it. Don’t waste your time or money on this card. — CreditKarma.com Reviewer
On the other hand, a good number of reviewers are happy with their Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card — and the credit-building results they’ve had with it. Many of these consumers had trouble obtaining a different card due to poor credit and have successfully used the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card to improve their credit and increase their scores.
I have had the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card for 13 months now. I love it. The reality is, if your credit is shot to heck, you may not even qualify for a secured card, such as Capital One. I didn’t at first, because my credit score was in the 400’s due to extenuating circumstances seven years ago out of my control.
They raised my limit last month. I pay off the whole balance or I pay more than the minimum every month. My credit score shot up 250 points from just paying on time. But it’s down slightly because I applied for some more credit. I’m looking forward to it going back up eventually. Customer service is fine. — WalletHub Reviewer
Like the reviewer above, the consumers who seem to have the best results with the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card are those who understand what the card is supposed to be — and what it isn’t. The thing to understand is that high fees and interest rates are the cost of having poor credit unless you want to put up the deposit to open a secured credit card.
Additional Credit Card Options for Bad Credit
In general, if the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card is on your list of potential cards, it’s likely your credit is low enough that other unsecured subprime cards or secured credit cards will be your only real alternatives for open-loop revolving credit.
While the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card is relatively on par with the rest of the subprime credit cards available these days, you might find a better fit from another card. Our expert-rated picks are below.
- Don’t let a low FICO score stop you from applying – we approve applications others may not.
- You don’t need good credit to apply.
- Just complete the short application and receive a response in 60 seconds.
- When you need assistance our award-winning US-based Customer Service agents are there to help.
- FICO scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any PREMIER Bankcard® product.
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 minutes | See Provider Website | Yes | 9.0/10 |
- You don’t need good credit to apply.
- We help people with bad credit, every day.
- Just complete the short application and receive a response in 60 seconds.
- You can build or rebuild your credit: apply for a PREMIER Bankcard credit card, keep your balance low, and pay all your monthly bills on time.
- Don’t let a low FICO score stop you from applying – we approve applications others may not.
- FICO scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any PREMIER Bankcard® product.
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 minutes | See Provider Website | Yes | 9.0/10 |
- Earn 3% Cash Back Rewards* on Gas, Groceries and Utility Bill Payments
- Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards* on all other eligible purchases
- Up to $1,000 credit limit subject to credit approval
- Prequalify** without affecting your credit score
- No security deposit
- Free access to your VantageScore 4.0 score from TransUnion®†
*See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program.
** Prequalify means that you authorize us to make a soft inquiry (that will not affect your credit) to create an offer. If you accept an offer a hard inquiry will be made. Final approval is not guaranteed if you do not meet all applicable criteria (including adequate proof of ability to repay). Income verification through access to your bank account information may be required.
† Your credit score will be available in your online account starting 60 days after your account is opened. (Registration required.) The free VantageScore 4.0 credit score provided by TransUnion® is for educational purposes only. This score may not be used by The Bank of Missouri (the issuer of this card) or other creditors to make credit decisions.
| Application Length | Interest Rate | Reports Monthly | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 minutes | 29.99% or 36% Fixed | Yes | 8.0/10 |
+See More Credit Cards for Bad Credit
The Path to Positive Payment History
Although the quick-service food available in the middle of the night is rarely the most appetizing fare, it’ll still get the job done — particularly if it’s all that’s available. Greasy food is better than nothing when your stomach is running on empty.
When your credit is bottoming out, the options for new credit are slim pickings. So when you do find a card, like the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card, that may accept your high credit risk, you’ll need to expect that you won’t receive the most generous terms. The fees will be high and so will the APRs, and your credit limit will likely be less-than-impressive.
At the end of the day, however, those who are looking at subprime credit cards are likely doing so because they can’t qualify for anything better and don’t want to be bothered by a deposit. If you recognize — and accept — the intention of the card, the Total Visa® Unsecured Credit Card is a comparable, accessible unsecured credit card for rebuilding bad credit.
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