Surge Credit Card Reviews: Apply OnlineReviews, rates, fees, and customer service info for The Surge® Platinum Mastercard®. Compare to other cards and apply online in secondsJohn KiernanWalletHubQualify with bad creditDoes not require security depositHigh membership feesHigh regular APRForeign fee
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Rebuild Damaged Credit by Paying in Full Each Month." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is a legit credit card for people with bad credit, issued by Celtic Bank. It reports to the three major credit bureaus each month, which gives you the opportunity to build credit by paying the bills on time and using only a portion of your credit limit. It also has the potential for a fairly high credit limit.
WalletHub Rating Breakdown
User Reviews
3.4/5
1,224 reviewsRead and write reviews
Editor’s Review
2.0/5
John Kiernan, Credit Card EditorRead full review
Market Comparison
Market Comparison
1.6
The Market Comparison is a key component of the WalletHub Rating, as it measures how appealing the terms of a card are compared to a pool of over 1,500 credit card offers monitored by WalletHub. To ensure cards are evaluated for their most relevant purpose, we score each card across various cardholder needs and select the rating for the need with the highest score, which is “Rebuild Damaged Credit by Paying in Full Each Month” for this card.
Fees
1.5
Rewards
0.0
Cost
0.8
Other Features
4.7
1.6/5
Compared against 1,500+ credit cards
KEY TERMS
Credit Score
Credit Score
Fair Credit, Bad Credit
Surge Credit Card Fees
One-Time Fees→$0
Annual Fee→$75 - $125
Monthly Fee→$0 1st yr, $12.50 after
Surge Credit Card APR on Purchases
35.90% (Fixed)
Surge Credit Card's Additional Info
Up to $1,000 Initial Credit Limit
See if you Pre-Qualify with No Impact to your Credit Score
Less than perfect credit? We understand. The Surge Mastercard is ideal for people looking to rebuild their credit.
Unsecured credit card requires No Security Deposit
Perfect card for everyday purchases and unexpected expenses
Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted at millions of locations
Enjoy peace of mind with Mastercard Zero Liability Protection for unauthorized purchases (subject to Mastercard guidelines)
The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is a legit credit card for people with bad credit, issued by Celtic Bank. It reports to the three major credit bureaus each month, which gives you the opportunity to build credit by paying the bills on time and using only a portion of your credit limit. It also has the potential for a fairly high credit limit.
The problem is the Surge Credit Card’s fees can be very high. The annual fee is $75 - $125, and you might have to pay up to $150 in monthly fees each year after your first account anniversary. Plus, at 35.90% (Fixed), the Surge Card’s APR is among the highest on the market, and you won’t earn any rewards on purchases. So, you can find better, cheaper options for improving your credit score.
Surge Credit Card Review Highlights
Annual Fee:$75 - $125.
Monthly Fee: $0 1st yr, $12.50 after.
Regular APR:35.90% (Fixed). The average secured credit card charges 22.43%.
Credit Limit: Offers an initial credit limit of $300 to $1,000 upon approval.
How to Apply: Online, after getting prequalified.
Rewards: None. This is not uncommon among credit cards for bad credit, although some cards do provide points, miles or cash back.
User Reviews. Most WalletHub users give the Surge Mastercard 4 or 5 stars out of a possible 5. The card’s average user rating is currently 3.5 / 5.
If you decide to apply for the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®, you may receive a decision in just a few seconds. However, it could take up to 30 days if Celtic Bank (the card’s issuer) is unable to immediately verify your identity or eligibility for the offer. You can check your Surge Credit Card application status by calling the issuer's customer service department at 866-449-4514. There is no online tool to check your application status.
Note: This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Opinions and ratings are our own.
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Rebuild Damaged Credit by Paying in Full Each Month." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
Editor’s Rating
2.0
User Reviews
3.4
Market Comparison
1.6
fees: 1.5
rewards: 0.0
cost: 0.8
Other Features: 4.7
2.9WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
2.9
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Improve Credit by Paying in Full Each Month." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
Editor’s Rating
2.9
User Reviews
3.4
Market Comparison
2.9
fees: 3.1
rewards: 0.0
cost: 3.0
Other Features: 4.5
1.8WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
1.8
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Rebuild Damaged Credit by Paying in Full Each Month." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
Can't find what you are looking for? Submit your question about Surge® Platinum Mastercard® to our community. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by the issuer of this offer. Please keep in mind that it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered. In addition, WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is a legitimate credit card for people with bad credit. The Surge Card is offered by Celtic Bank and serviced by Continental Finance, which report account information to the major credit bureaus monthly, like with any other major credit card.
Why The Surge Credit Card is Legit
Issued by Celtic Bank, an FDIC member that has a "B-" rating with the Better Business Bureau, in partnership with Continental Finance.
3.5 / 5 average user rating on WalletHub.
Reports to all three of the major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
$0 fraud liability guarantee.
In addition, the Surge Credit Card is legit because it's on the Mastercard credit card network, meaning you can use the card anywhere Mastercard credit cards are accepted.
You can make Surge® Platinum Mastercard® payment online, by phone, through the Continental Finance mobile app, or by mail. To pay your Surge Credit Card bill online, log in to your online account and click on “Pay my Bills.” Then, choose how much to pay, when to pay it, and where the payment is coming from. Continental Finance does allow cardholders to set up automatic payments, too.
You can check your Surge Credit Card application status by calling 1 (866) 449-4514. When you call, you'll need to provide the the required information so that the issuer can match you to your application. The issuer does not allow you to check your application status online
How to Check Your Surge Credit Card Application Status
To talk to Surge Credit Card customer service, call 1 (866) 449-4514 and then enter your account number and follow the automated prompts. This process will get you in contact with a live representative who should be able to answer your questions or direct you to the appropriate department.
How to Talk to Surge Credit Card Customer Service by Phone
Call the Surge Credit Card customer service department. You can even use the number on the back of your card.
The maximum credit limit for the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is $1,000. The Surge Mastercard comes with an initial credit limit of $300 to $1,000 when you get approved for an account, depending on your overall creditworthiness.
Generally, the stronger your credit profile is and the more income you have, the better your chances are of getting a higher credit limit.
The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is available to people with bad credit. That means you do not need to have a credit score to get approved for the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®.
Note that there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for the Surge Credit Card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, recent credit inquiries, number of open accounts, housing status, and employment status. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub.
To log in to your Surge Credit Card account, access the issuer's online banking platform. If you haven't registered your card for online banking yet, you can do it by clicking on “Register for Access”.
You can also access your account via the issuer's mobile app for iOS and Android.
From your online account, you're able to view your statements, make payments, check your transactions or report your card lost/stolen.
Yes, the Surge Credit Card does have pre-approval. Celtic Bank has an online pre-approval page where potential applicants can quickly check their odds of approval for certain Celtic Bank credit cards before they actually apply for one. Current Celtic Bank customers may also receive pre-approved offers periodically by e-mail or when logging into their credit card account. And in some cases, Celtic Bank will mail people pre-approved offers for a specific credit card.
The easiest way to apply for the Surge Credit Card is online, and you can get to the online application by clicking the “Apply Now” button on WalletHub or by going directly to Continental Finance's website. Alternatively, you can apply by phone.
Keep in mind that the Surge Credit Card requires bad credit, which means you need a 500+ credit score for high approval odds. Also note that applying for the card triggers a hard inquiry, which may temporarily...
Share your insights and review for the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®
5
32%
4
23%
3
19%
2
13%
1
13%
3.4
1,224 reviews
1,224 reviews
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mike martin @mig088
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1 Star Rating
Terrible, scam. I try to log in and I cannot, no matter what computer I use. But when I want to apply for a credit card, it goes right through. I cannot make a payment or change my address. I will use the card until I use all my credit, then cancel and not pay.
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0
Vanessa @MidwestCredit
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1 Star Rating
I have had this card for over a year and pay it off monthly. Now, I can't use it even with a paid-off balance. Why? They can't verify my bank that I use every month? So, we did a conference call with the bank for verification. And then, the next month, I couldn't use it again. Also, the $15 per month maintenance fee plus the annual fee is unreasonable. Beware, if you pay your card off every month, they will make your life very difficult. We need to all complain to the Consumer Protection Bureau. I closed my account and disposed of this unacceptable card.
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0
0
Mike George @brutallyhonest
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1 Star Rating
This company is probably the worst regarding customer service that I've ever seen or dealt with. They do not correct their errors and they leave you hanging. When you pay your bill, you go to use your card and you find there's no available credit because they don't know what they're doing. They've moved to the back of the line as far as getting paid, as far as I'm concerned. Seriously, any other credit card would be better. They show you their network on one page of cards that you should not use because they're with the same company and I admit I was foolish for even going along with it, but I needed a card at the time. However, if you can't charge anything on it because nobody credits your account, it's not much good to you.
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0
0
savetapopovich @savetapopovich
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1 Star Rating
Avoid at all costs. I got this credit card and felt cheated as they are constantly changing terms and conditions. Their customer service representatives sound like machines talking and are not able to help at all. I paid it off, canceled it, and will cancel two more credit cards that I have with them and never go back. If you do decide to get this credit card, watch out every month for the fees. Good luck.
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1
1
Shirley Mellars @mellars1968
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5 Star Rating
Verified Customer
I've been with them for some time now and they treat me just fine. I have no reason to badger them. All I can say is keep watch of your card and talk to them if something isn't right. If you're unhappy, closing the card won't hurt your credit that badly. I am happy, though. I hope to keep them for a long time, until I can get 0% interest cards.
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3
0
RAY COLON @rc33950
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1 Star Rating
They charge a $125 annual membership fee with a $10 monthly maintenance fee, even if you have a $0 balance. On top of that, you will be charged one of the highest interest rates in the market. Unless you like throwing money away, you might want to look elsewhere.
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2
0
Pauline Brown-Shockness @shocknessrealty
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5 Star Rating
Surge credit card is excellent, especially their Credit Protection program. The agents I spoke with today—supervisor Daniel and customer service agents Kathleen and Ashley—were awesome. They saved the day for me. I have never had an issue with them since I joined in 2022!
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2
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Arlisse Butler @arlissenb
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2 Star Rating
I've had this card for more than 6 years. During COVID-19, I used the insurance, and after that period, I owed them more than my available credit. I stopped using the card and was paying the minimum amount, which would have taken me 4 years to pay in full. It's been 6 years, and I've only paid $120 on a $1,100 credit. How does that work? If I pay the minimum of $45 and they take $30 a month for fees, that's $15 towards the balance...right? I haven't used the card in 6 years, but it says I'll finish paying in 4 years. Why do I still owe over $900, when my available credit was $210? The following month it's $120, so what's wrong with this picture? And why isn't my balance carrying forward? I don't trust them.
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1
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Fed TheFkkup @rhs6873
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1 Star Rating
Tried to use my card when purchasing fuel while traveling for work because my reliable card with another company was damaged, and these buffoons locked me out of my account! And they will not unlock it. $1000 I have no access to.
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3
0
TANIA CEPEDA @tcepeda
LOL 🤣 You had me at buffoons!
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1
0
Heather @emschick323
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1 Star Rating
Verified Customer
I have the Surge card. They initially gave me a $1,000 limit with no annual fee and the APR was 29.99%. After six months, it doubled to $2,000. I made a few purchases. Then I received a letter from them at the one-year mark stating that my APR was being raised to 35.99%, and they were imposing a $150 annual fee. I guess I fell for the classic bait and switch. My fault. But it won't happen again.
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2025 WalletHub Awards
Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is an Editor's Pick for:
