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Bad credit can be expensive. But the Total Visa® Credit Card may be even worse. Although this card is easy to get for even the worst credit, the fees it charges are over the top. The cost of a Total Visa® Credit Card account is nearly as high as the refundable deposit for a secured card, and the quality is lower. See how in our full Total Visa® Credit Card review below.
Total Visa® Credit Card
New/Rebuilding Under(579)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
34.99%, variable
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee
$75 for first year, after that $48 annually
Welcome Offer
N/A
While there is no security deposit, there are better cards available for people building credit, particularly because of the fees this card charges.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
20,000 ThankYou® Points Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Up to 2% cash back 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
This credit card is a good fit for: Credit builders who have been rejected for every other card.
This card is the definition of bare bones, offering only very basic perks.
The most significant perk of the Total Visa® Credit Card is that it is easy to get. There aren't any minimum credit score requirements, and people with bad credit are welcome to apply.
While this card is easy to get, you'll still undergo a credit check. Approval isn't guaranteed, though it is very likely as long as you can pay the fees.
Once you open an account, your payment history and balance will be reported to the three major credit bureaus. This means the Total Visa® Credit Card could help you build credit if you use it responsibly, including paying your bill on time every month and not using a large portion of your balance.
Many credit cards for bad credit are secured cards that require a refundable deposit to open. The Total Visa® Credit Card doesn't have a security deposit requirement.
However, this isn't as good as it sounds when it comes to the Total Visa® Credit Card. The high program fee, annual fee, and maintenance fees of the Total Visa® Credit Card are actually more expensive than the minimum deposit for many secured credit cards.
For example, many secured credit cards have a minimum deposit requirement of $200. The program fee and first year's annual fee for the Total Visa® Credit Card totals $164. So, for $36 more, you could potentially get a secured credit card with a refundable deposit and no annual fee.
This card has several downsides, from high fees to low spending limits and more.
This card not only charges a fee for just about everything, they're high fees at that. To start, you'll need to pay a nonrefundable $89 program fee just to open your account. Then you'll be charged a $75 annual fee before you even get your card.
The annual fee does drop down to $48 after the first year -- but don't relax yet. There is a servicing fee that kicks in during the second year of $6.25 a month ($75 a year). And if you don't remember to pay that service fee, you'll be charged interest on it.
That interest will be expensive, too. Total Visa® Credit Card has an APR higher than the majority of cards on the market. The late payment fee is also higher than average.
Then there's all the other fees. Want an additional card or a premium card design? There's a fee for that. Want a credit limit increase? Big fee (see below). Don't ask for express delivery on your card -- that's another fee.
Every approved applicant will receive an initial credit limit of just $300.
The annual fee is charged as soon as you open your account. This means before you even use your card, your credit limit will be down to just $225. You won't be eligible for a higher credit limit until you've had the account for at least one year.
Adding insult to injury, you'll need to pay yet another fee if you want a higher credit limit on your Total Visa® Credit Card. You'll be charged 20% of the amount of the increase for a credit limit increase. So, if you get an increase of $100 to your credit limit, you'll be stuck with a $20 fee.
Often, a high annual fee for a credit card is associated with lots of purchase rewards. Not in this case. The Total Visa® Credit Card doesn't earn any kind of rewards. No cash back, no points -- nothing.
You also shouldn't look for any other common card perks. There's not even a welcome bonus of any kind. In fact, if you count the mandatory program fee to open a Total Visa® Credit Card account, which is charged on top of the annual fee, it's basically like a reverse sign-up bonus.
As you might expect from all the cons already listed, customers are not big fans of this card. The reviews rip apart the service fees and high interest rates. But perhaps even more concerning is the many complaints about the customer service.
Not only do users seem to have trouble getting people on the phone, but canceling the card also appears to be a challenge for many reviewers. Considering the cost of the card, it could get expensive quickly if you can't conveniently cancel when you're ready to move on.
Find other options: Best Starter Credit Cards for No Credit
Almost anyone can qualify for the Total Visa® Credit Card card. There are no minimum credit score or credit history requirements. This makes the card very easy to get.
Although there aren't credit score requirements, you do need to meet other card requirements. This includes having a valid checking account. Remember that federal law also requires credit card companies to verify your identity when you apply.
Given the high fees, high interest rate, and low credit limit, the Total Visa® Credit Card should be avoided by most people. Make sure you explore all of your other options before you choose this credit card. A secured credit card will likely offer better terms, including a refundable deposit instead of giant fees.
For more choices, take a look at our picks for the easiest credit cards to get and see if one could be good fit for you.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.