I got a Fingerhut pre approved credit offer. Is it the real deal?
Getting a Fingerhut pre-approved credit offer means you have a roughly 90% chance of being approved for the Fingerhut Credit Account if you decide to apply. You will only receive such an offer after the account's issuer – WebBank – has done a harmless soft check of your credit and determined that you meet the basic eligibility criteria. Even if you have no interest in shopping at Fingerhut, which sells goods online and through a catalog, you still might want to apply. Despite its somewhat unusual name, the Fingerhut Credit Account is just like any other store credit card in the sense that it reports account information to the major credit bureaus each month. That means whether you make purchases and pay your bill on time every month or never actually buy anything, the Fingerhut Credit Account will help you improve your credit score.
You don't need to get Fingerhut pre-approval before applying, though. And even if you have bad credit, your odds of success are still pretty good. Fingerhut is one of the easiest credit cards to get that doesn't require you to put down a refundable security deposit.
So pre-approval isn't a prerequisite. But it's definitely nothing to worry about, either. Pretty much all credit card companies send out pre-approval offers. And getting one from Fingerhut could be your ticket to a higher credit score. That's why it's important to know what it means and how to react. And to help in that regard, we'll summarize what you need to know below.
Here's how Fingerhut pre-approved credit offers work:
- You Have to Be Invited: You can't just go and check whether you pre-qualify. The only way to know you're pre-approved for Fingerhut Credit is to receive a letter from them.
- You Can Apply by Mail or Online: Either complete the paper application included in your pre-approval letter or enter your “Pre Approved Customer Number” at the top of Fingerhut's online application.
- There's a Consolation Prize: If you don't end up getting approved, Fingerhut might offer you a place in their FreshStart program, where you get an installment loan for a Fingerhut purchase. If you pay it back on time, you graduate to a credit account.
So in conclusion, the Fingerhut Credit Account is already pretty easy to get, receiving a pre-approved offer means your odds are even higher than usual, and getting approved is the first step toward rebuilding your credit. The account will help even if you don't make any purchases.
If you'd like to see your credit status before applying, you can check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub, the only site where credit reports and scores update daily.
