Can You Use a Fingerhut® Credit Card Anywhere? (3 Options for Purchases)

Most everyone has heard of Fingerhut, the retailer founded in 1948 and one of the first (and more popular) catalog stores to offer credit. Unlike other stores, where you would need to apply for a store card with approved credit terms, Fingerhut allowed consumers to break up their payments into installments, often with a fee or interest percentage built into the price of the product.

Despite changes in the product lineup, marketing methods, and customer base, Fingerhut remains a household name that appeals to those who may not qualify for a traditional credit or loan arrangement. Here’s a bit more about how their credit program can be used to purchase Fingerhut merchandise and goods and services from other retailers.

How to Apply | 3 Alternatives

Fingerhut credit was designed to be used for Fingerhut merchandise, though now most shopping is done through Fingerhut.com rather than its printed catalogs. This makes it easy to buy towels, home décor, kitchen gadgets and more – directly from the company – and without a cumbersome application process.

However, an additional feature of the Fingerhut credit accounts is the chance to use spending power outside of Fingerhut’s catalog and website.

Among the select partners that honor Fingerhut credit accounts are florists and insurance companies. These partnerships change, and Fingerhut will notify you of your eligibility to participate once your credit application is accepted. (Teleflora has been a well-known partner in the program for many years.)

There are currently two accounts you can apply for: Fingerhut Advantage Revolving Credit Account and Fingerhut FreshStart® Credit Account. Both can be used to make purchases from Fingerhut online, from the catalog, or over the phone. Applications for both options can be found at the Fingerhut website.

Since Fingerhut has traditionally been a buy-now-pay-later option for those with bad or no credit, it’s not surprising that the company’s credit accounts are marketed to this consumer group. Many with bad credit have found it easy to be approved.

Both credit accounts are designed to make purchasing from Fingerhut’s catalog of 700,000 products (including brands such as Samsung, Dyson, and KitchenAid) a seamless process.

Fingerhut Credit Account

at Fingerhut'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.3

OVERALL RATING

4.0/5.0

Our Review »

• Easy application! Get a credit decision in seconds.
• Build your credit history – Fingerhut reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
• Use your line of credit to shop thousands of items from great brands like Samsung, KitchenAid, and DeWalt
• Not an access card

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	See Issuers Website	$0	Poor Credit

The Fingerhut Advantage Revolving Credit Account is issued by WebBank and may require a one-time down payment. This is usually applied toward your first order.

Subsequent purchases, upon continued good use of the card, will not require a down payment. Revolving accounts traditionally have the same payment amount each month, making it easy to budget your Fingerhut purchases.

The Fingerhut chart below shows what your minimum payment would be, based on an account balance with an APR of 25.40%. (See complete WebBank/Fingerhut Advantage Credit Account Terms and Conditions.)

The Fingerhut FreshStart® Credit Account is a three-step installment credit program that works like a credit card. While it takes a bit more to get approved, it’s a legitimate credit account for reporting purposes.

It works by requiring the account holder to make a one-time purchase for the total of your credit limit (usually very small upon opening). A $30 down payment ships your order.

Once the balance is paid in full over several monthly payments, the credit account will be yours for future use with no down payments. You will also have your credit limit raised at that point.

For those who are not interested in buying Fingerhut merchandise, or who want the freedom to use credit anywhere, the following cards are good options for those with bad credit. Card applications are usually processed within minutes. All of them are equally useful for rebuilding or establishing credit.

1. Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.0/5.0

• No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
• Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
• Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
• You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
• Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
• Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	30.74% (Variable)	$0	Limited, Bad

This card is a solid choice for those needing a secured card with the flexibility of MasterCard. The card charges no annual fee and reports to the major credit agencies, making it a better option than a prepaid card. Approved card members pay a security deposit of $49, $99, or $200 (to be determined at application), and are granted an initial $200 credit line. After five months of on-time payments, the credit limit is increased.

2. Total Visa® Card

at Total Card'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.3

OVERALL RATING

3.8/5.0

Our Review »

• Earn 1% cash back rewards on payments made to your Total Credit Card
• Checking Account Required
• $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
• No security deposit, simply pay a one-time $95 program fee to open your account.*
• User friendly Mobile App.
• *See Rates, Fees, Costs & Limitations for complete offer details

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	35.99%	$75.00 1st year, $48.00 after	Fair, Bad Credit

This card requires a checking account at the time of application, and approved applicants will pay a program fee to access their credit line. The card offers the perks of a genuine VISA card and reports to all three major credit bureaus, making it a reliable option for establishing credit.

3. Milestone® Mastercard®

at Milestone Mastercard®'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.6

OVERALL RATING

4.1/5.0

Our Review »

• Greater access to credit than before - $700 credit limit
• Get a Mastercard accepted online, in store and in app
• Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
• $0 liability for unauthorized use
• Access your account online or from your mobile device 24/7

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	See terms	See terms	Fair/Good

This card requires a small annual fee for cardholders, but the annual fee and APR are lower than that of some competitors. There’s also no monthly maintenance charge. As a genuine Mastercard, it comes with fraud protection and reports to the three bureaus. This is a good choice for those with less-than-perfect credit histories.

As with any card offer, it’s wise to review the terms of the contract at the time of application. Take note of fees, interest rates, any annual membership fees, or late payment fees before you apply. You can view our full list of the best credit cards for bad credit here.

The Fingerhut credit account is popular among those with bad credit who want to build their credit histories. However, it isn’t the only (or even the best) way.

The truth is that any credit account, if handled responsibly, will report to the agencies that create your credit score and history. Consistent on-time payments and respect for the terms of your card will put positive marks on your report. After six months to a year of stellar performance, you could be considered creditworthy enough for a card with a great rate, excellent perks, and generous limits!