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It can be hard to rebuild your credit, but if you've had serious credit problems, it is still possible to get a credit card. The Milestone® Gold Mastercard® is an option, but you'll potentially have to pay a high annual fee.
Pros:
- Prequalify with no effect on your credit score
- No security deposit required
- Choose a custom card design
Cons:
- Annual fee of up to $99
- Setup and maintenance fees are deducted from your credit limit
Experian Review
When you're trying to rebuild your credit, your first priority is usually finding a new credit card account that will approve you. If you pay your bills on time and carry very little debt, this new card will help you improve your credit. The Milestone® Gold Mastercard® can help you accomplish these goals, but it may come with a high price.
A Card for People With Bad Credit
The Milestone® Gold Mastercard® is designed for people with poor or bad credit. And while its standard interest rate of 24.90% APR is higher than most credit cards, it's actually pretty competitive compared with other cards designed for people with bad credit. But most important, you are very likely to be approved for this card, no matter how bad your credit is.
Multiple Annual Fees
The drawback of this card is its annual fee—or actually annual fees. Depending on your credit history, you could be offered one of four different fee plans: The most qualified applicants will pay a $35 annual fee, but others may pay a fee of $75 the first year and $99 each year after that.
In fact, you won't even know what your annual fee will be until you're approved for the card. This is different from most credit cards, which typically charge one annual fee for all applicants. Thankfully, you don't need to pay the fee and open an account if you don't like the plan you get.
No Deposit Needed
So should you consider this card? There's no doubt that it could be a valuable way to rebuild your credit, yet there are some less costly alternatives. For example, there are several secured credit cards with no annual fee offered by major banks. But these cards require you to submit a refundable security deposit before you can open an account.
If you don't want to submit a refundable deposit, then it may be worth considering an unsecured card like the Milestone® Gold Mastercard®. It's made for people with bad credit, and with a year or two of responsible use, you may be able to move to a card with a lower annual fee and more robust benefits.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer or other company, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. All information, including rates and fees, are accurate as of the date of publication.
This article was originally published on April 30, 2019, and has been updated.