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Capital One® Guaranteed Secured MasterCard®

Snapshot of Card Features:

  • Guaranteed approval
  • May help you establish or re-establish your credit history
  • $0 fraud liability for unauthorized use
  • For Canadian Residents only.
Intro AprBalance TransferOngoing APRAnnual FeeCredit Needed
N/A19.8%19.8%$59Fair - Bad
No Credit
 

Our Expert Review

Rates & Term Details

Important
Always read the terms and fees disclosure provided by the credit card issuer on their site before applying. The issuing bank's terms may include more detailed or updated information than presented here.

Notes
*View Capital One® Guaranteed Secured MasterCard® card rates, fees, rewards and other important information.


Beverly Harzog - March, 2011

If you're having trouble getting approved for an unsecured credit card, the Capital One® Guaranteed Secured MasterCard® might be just what you need. This is a good choice if you need to establish credit in Canada or if you've had recent credit problems, such as a bankruptcy. This card is for Canadian residents only.

Benefits

The application is easy and you're guaranteed to get approval, although there are a few exceptions listed on the website. Your security deposit can be as low as $75 or $300. Note that the amount required will be determined once you're approved for the card. If you decide to close the account, your security deposit is fully refundable as long as your account is in good standing.

Rewards

Rewards do not apply.

Balance Transfers

There's a zero to three percent balance transfer fee, depending on whether the transfer is deemed standard or special. This card carries a 19.8 percent (V) APR on balance transfers.

Rates

The Capital One® Guaranteed Secured MasterCard® carries a 19.8 percent (V) APR on purchases. Cash advances carry a one percent fee and a 19.8 percent (V) APR. There's a $59 annual fee. Other fees apply so be sure you read the "Important Disclosures" document on the website. For instance, there's a $29 fee if you exceed your credit limit.

Who Should Apply

Canadian residents who want to either rebuild or establish their credit history. The issuer also suggests that applicants have a household income greater than $20,000.

Credit Standing

This card is designed Canadian residents who either have bad credit or no credit history.

Author

Beverly Harzog

About Credit.com's Credit Cards and Prepaid Cards:

You may be able to build, rebuild, or reestablish your credit history by making on time monthly payments to all creditors and by maintaining all your balances under the credit limits. From premium reward cards to accounts that help you rebuild your credit, we have the credit card for you! If your future goals include owning a home, buying a car, owning your own business, or traveling, having a credit card can be an excellent first step. With credit card services from leading issuers like American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citibank, Discover, First PREMIER® Bank, HSBC Bank, IBERIABANK, MasterCard, Simmons First and Visa, you can find the best credit card for you at Credit.com.

The key to success with credit cards is to know how to use them to your advantage and not to get caught up in the traps that lurk behind the benefits. Credit.com offers many kinds of credit card benefits, from airline and gas rewards to cashback cards, and the first step is filling out a credit card application online. You can also apply for specialty credit cards, such as student credit cards or business credit cards. Credit.com also offers credit cards for the United Kingdom and Canada.

In addition to credit cards, Credit.com offers three other card options that can provide excellent choices for people with less-than-perfect credit: Prepaid cards from Mastercard and Visa allow you to load money onto the card and then use it like any other major credit card. They require no credit approval and carry the same fraud protection as the regular cards. But fees can be high, so be sure to shop carefully for a prepaid card.

Secured cards require you to open a bank account and deposit funds in a bank account (security deposit) in case you can't pay the bills. You'll get a major credit card you can use anywhere those types of cards are accepted. Shop carefully for a secured card to avoid costly fees.

Debit Cards issued under the Visa card or Mastercard name can be widely used and carry fraud protection. But if your card number is stolen and used, you'd want to find out immediately. Otherwise, you could bounce checks. One strategy: Have two checking accounts and associate your debit card with the one with the small balance. Just transfer the purchase amount into the account before you buy something with the card.

  

*For complete information, see the terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's web site. Once you click to apply for this card, you will be directed to the issuer's website where you may review the terms and conditions of the card before applying. While Credit.com always strives to present the most accurate information, we show a summary to help you choose a product, not the full legal terms - and before applying you should understand the full terms of products as stated by the issuer itself.

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The Pros and Cons of Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards offer the convenience of a credit card without the difficult approval process or risk of getting into debt. These cards work a lot like a gift card, you will have to load the account with cash (direct deposit is usually available) before you can use it for a purchase

Prepaid cards are not credit cards; you cannot spend more than the balance you have deposited and you will not be charged interest for your spending. The prepaid account will not be reported to the credit bureaus as a credit card.

Pros:
Cons:

Fees and charges can vary significantly between different prepaid credit card offers. Be sure to read the fee schedule for the prepaid credit card before you apply.


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