[UPDATE: Some offers mentioned below have expired and/or are no longer available on our site. You can view the current offers from our partners in our credit card marketplace. DISCLOSURE: Offers from our partners are mentioned below.]
Like credit cards, credit accounts allow you to make purchases you can pay off over time. But unlike a credit card, you can only use a credit account to make purchases from that specific merchant. One such credit account is provided by Fingerhut, an online retailer that allows you to make purchases from its inventory of over 500,000 products.
How Fingerhut Credit Account Works
To use Fingerhut, customers must first apply for the Fingerhut credit account, which offers a line of credit toward purchases from Fingerhut.com, the Fingerhut catalog, as well as its approved partners. After an account is approved and opened, customers can shop for products including electronics, jewelry, shoes, housewares, furniture and decor items. Fingerhut stocks items from many major brands including Samsung, Dyson, Skechers and KitchenAid.
Once a purchase is made, customers are charged for the cost of the item(s) as well as shipping and handling fees. Account holders then have the option of avoiding interest charges by paying the entire balance in full within 24 days of the close of each billing cycle, or carrying a balance (and incurring interest charges at the rate of 25.15% APR, which is a variable rate based on the Prime Rate). The Fingerhut credit account also has a late fee of up to $38 and a returned payment fee that’s also up to $38. However, there is no annual fee for this account.
Types of Fingerhut Credit Accounts
Fingerhut has two different types of credit programs — the Fingerhut Advantage Revolving Credit Account and the Fingerhut FreshStart Credit Account, both of which are issued by WebBank. Make sure you review each of these types before applying, so you have an understanding of which is right for you.
The Fingerhut Revolving account potentially has a one-time down payment requirement when you make your first purchase, which counts toward your order. With the FreshStart Credit Account, you make a purchase and then pay a down payment of $30. After you prove you can pay off the balance, on time and in full, you can be “promoted” to a revolving account with a higher credit limit and no down payment requirements.
Current Sign-Up Bonus
New customers can receive $50 off their first order of $200 or more when they use their approved Fingerhut Advantage Credit Account issued by WebBank and entering the promo code NEW50. Note: This is a limited-time offer and will expire, so it’s a good idea to check with Fingerhut to see if it’s still applicable.
Advantages
This type of credit account is available to applicants with a wide range of credit profiles including those who have poor credit and may not qualify for many other standard accounts. And because this credit account has no annual fees, it can be an attractive alternative to other types of credit marketed to people with poor credit that have very high annual and monthly fees. When account holders make timely payments to their accounts, it will reflect positively on their credit histories and can help improve their credit scores.
It’s also worth noting that Fingerhut offers an impressive array of merchandise across many different categories, so customers have a good chance of finding the items they need to buy, all while working to improve their credit scores.
Disadvantages
Although Fingerhut offers a strong selection of name brand merchandise, customers may find that its prices are not competitive with other major retailers. The interest rate with Fingerhut is also higher than what you’d see with most other lines of credit. Ideally, Fingerhut customers could avoid the costly interest charges by paying their statements in full each month, but that may not always be possible.
One other important thing to note is that Fingerhut credit doesn’t carry over to other retailers, so you can only use it on the items Fingerhut offers. However, account holders may occasionally receive offers from select Fingerhut partners — like florists or insurance companies — where they can use their Fingerhut account.
Who This Is Right For
If you are working to build (or rebuild) your credit, this card may be a good option for you. When customers use this line of credit to purchase items and then pay their bills on time, they will likely see their credit scores improve. Fingerhut credit may also be ideal for people who are trying to improve their credit without having to pay costly fees, as it comes with no application fee, annual fee or monthly fee.
If you’re using Fingerhut to help you improve your credit, it’s a good idea to monitor how it’s affecting you over time. You can see where your credit currently stands by viewing two of your credit scores on Credit.com.
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.
At publishing time, the Fingerhut Credit Account is offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply and ultimately sign up for this card. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.
