Name | Score | Visit | Annual Fee | Regular APR | Intro Offer | Credit Needed | Disclaimer | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8.4 | Visituniquecardservices.com | $239.4 | N/A | N/A | Bad (300–629) |
The Unique Platinum Card is an inviting choice for those with limited credit history or not-so-great credit scores. No credit check with exclusive perks? This card has your back.
There’s a plot twist, though. The so-called “deals” may not be the money-savers they claim to be. And the lack of transparency around their rewards program is like playing a game of blindfolded budgeting.
Your financial future deserves the best, so let’s dig a little deeper—
How Unique Platinum stacks up as a merchandise card.
If the rewards outweigh the hefty membership fees.
How it compares to other cards for bad credit.
Read more:
Unique Platinum Card at a Glance
Full name: Unique Platinum Merchandise Credit Account.
Best for: Those with poor credit looking for a store card.
Issuer: Unique Card Services.
Required credit score: No credit check.
What is The Unique Platinum Credit Card?
The Unique Platinum Card is a catalog card for those who have limited credit history.
With no credit checks required, this card provides an opportunity for those denied traditional credit cards.
The Unique Platinum Card offers an unsecured credit line of $1,000 without any security deposit.
This credit can be used exclusively at MyUniqueOutlet.com, the online shopping marketplace owned by Unique.
That’s right—you can only use the card at the Unique Outlet (which doesn’t give you lots of flexibility in the spending department).
That said, the marketplace covers a range of categories, from health and beauty products to electronics and office equipment.
The Unique Platinum Card also comes with a monthly membership fee of $19.95.
This is pretty steep for a merchandise card, so you’ll really have to get your money’s worth if it’s going to bring you any value.
However, by offering a credit-building opportunity and access to a range of products, the Unique Platinum Card aims to empower those with poor credit history.
And while it offers a pathway to more financial independence, it’s your spending habits that determine if the card is worth the fees and limitations.
How does Unique Platinum Card work?
Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
Activate your membership: Start by activating your membership for the Unique Platinum credit card. This involves paying a monthly membership fee of $19.95 every month.
Verify your identity: Before spending, you’ll need to unlock your $1,000 credit line to access the services. Confirm your identity and make an initial payment of $19.95 for the monthly membership fee.
Start shopping: Once your membership is activated, you gain access to the My Unique Outlet Shopping Club website at www.myuniqueoutlet.com.
Enjoy extra perks: Your membership comes with various additional perks, such as prescription discounts, grocery coupons, roadside assistance, and legal support.
Maintain your membership: To continue enjoying these benefits, just keep hold of your membership by paying the monthly fee.
To maximize your card’s potential, take advantage of the Unique Outlet platform and all the perks to enhance your membership experience.
Want to explore your options? Take a look at the Capital One Platinum card.
Unique Platinum Card: Quick Summary Review
Here’s a brief overview:
APR | N/A |
Annual fee | $239.40 |
Intro offer | N/A |
Rewards | $25 rewards each month |
Overall credit card rating | 4.2/5 |
Unique Platinum Card Fees
FEE | DETAIL |
---|---|
Annual fee | $0 |
Processing fee | N/A |
Monthly maintenance fee | $19.95 |
APR | 0% |
APR for cash advances | N/A |
Balance transfer fee | N/A |
Cash advance fee | N/A |
Foreign transaction fee | $0 |
Late fee | Up to $10.00 |
Minimum interest charge fee | N/A |
Returned payment fee | Up to $30.00 |
Over limit fee | N/A |
Additional card fee | N/A |
The most notable fee for the Unique Card is the $19.95 monthly membership fee (which adds up to a hefty $239.40 a year).
If you’re willing to cough up that kind of cash, Unique Card Services has an Auto Pay program that can make the process smoother.
Once you’ve placed an order and there’s a remaining balance on your account, Unique takes care of the payment process for you. They automatically deduct your minimum monthly payment, ensuring it’s always paid on time.
Unique Platinum Card: Pros & Cons
- Available for bad or limited credit.
- Wide range of perks.
- Monthly rewards.
- No APR fees.
- Monthly membership fees.
- No signup bonus.
- No cashback rewards.
- Limited use.
What We Like
Available for bad or limited credit
The Unique Platinum card is up for grabs for those with bad or limited credit.
And while you can’t use it to build your score, it still gives you the chance to have the spending power and extra perks that come with traditional credit cards.
The Self Visa Credit Card is also worth checking out if you have poor credit.
Wide range of perks
There’s no shortage of perks with the Unique Platinum card. As well as daily deals and giveaways, you can also get your hands on prescription, dining, and travel discounts.
You’ll also get roadside protection and legal assistance if you ever find yourself in a spot of bother.
Monthly rewards
As a member, you’ll earn 25 Reward Dollars each month. These dollars aren’t like typical cash, but you can use them to access a wide range of deals, discounts, and savings.
Think of it like a gift voucher, which Unique claims you can use in over 500,000 ways.
Take a look at our top cashback credit cards for more rewards.
No APR fees
The Unique Platinum card saves you from worrying about those added interest charges.
You won’t have to deal with any APR fees, so you can focus on managing your payments without those unnecessary interest expenses.
Things to Consider
Monthly membership fees
The Unique Platinum card boasts no interest fees and 25 Reward Dollars a month. But these benefits are quickly minimized after you pay the monthly $19.95 membership fee.
This fee can affect your overall costs and reduce the value you get from the card.
No signup bonus
Some credit cards offer enticing signup bonuses, such as cashback or reward points, as a welcome gift.
As the Unique Platinum card doesn’t have a signup bonus, you won’t receive an immediate boost to your rewards or savings when you first sign up for the card.
No cashback rewards
Cashback rewards can be a great way to earn money back on your purchases and add some extra padding to your wallet.
But the Unique Platinum card doesn’t offer cashback rewards. Instead, it provides Reward Dollars you can only redeem in certain categories.
If you’re looking for rewards, take a look at the Petal 2 Visa Credit Card.
Limited use
The Unique Platinum card can only be used to buy stuff on MyUniqueOutlet.com, their online shopping marketplace.
While this platform offers a diverse range of products, you won’t have the flexibility to use the card at other merchants.
Can’t build credit
Cards for those with bad credit rarely come with any fancy frills or exciting rewards. But they can often help you build credit so you can graduate to a better card.
Even though Unique Platinum checks your credit score, it doesn’t report your activity to the credit bureaus. So even with good credit habits, you won’t see your score climbing up with this card.
If you want to boost your credit, check out the Chime Credit Builder Card.
Unique Platinum Card: Things to Know
Where can I use my Unique Platinum card?
You can only use your Unique Platinum card at the My Unique Outlet online store.
This is a shopping club exclusively for members with a range of different products and brands.
Here are the categories you can find on the outlet:
Toys
Jewelry
Backpacks
Electronics
Home and office
Car accessories
Health and beauty
Computer accessories
Unique claims to be working towards offering the best possible value for their products.
So let’s put that to the test—
Here are their products and how they compare to one of the biggest online retailers:
PRODUCT | UNIQUE OUTLET PRICE | AMAZON PRICE |
---|---|---|
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue (3.4 oz) | $66.95 | $42.50 |
Revlon Volume Booster Hair Dryer | $24.95 | $18.34 |
LeapFrog LeapPods Max Headphones | $36.95 | $22.21 |
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Coffee Maker | $41.95 | $32.90 |
Fisher-Price Smart Pink Purse Learning Toy | $45.95 | $14.50 |
Power XL 5QT Vortex Classic Air Fryer | $123.95 | $104.96 |
Before we state the obvious—we chose these products completely at random. We also found products in the Unique catalog that weren’t available on Amazon (but there were plenty of similar alternatives to choose from).
Now let’s cut to the chase—Unique doesn’t offer the best-valued products. You can get many of these items from other retailers, such as Amazon without having to pay the $19.95 membership fee.
You’ll also have to pay delivery and shipping charges like other online retailers (though Unique keeps this information under lock and key until you get to the checkout).
Unique also gets a thumbs down for how long it takes to deliver its products. Once your order is received and verified, you can expect to wait up to 30 days. Their terms also say that some products could arrive separately due to availability and shipment delays.
Waiting a month for your products is a tall order—especially as other online retailers can deliver your products within two weeks.
But it’s not all bad news. Unique has a 0% interest policy which lets you buy and spread your payments over time without worrying about interest charges. This can be a handy option for those on a budget or who struggle to pay the upfront costs.
That said, you’re still not getting the best bang for your buck. So let’s explore Unique Platinum’s other offerings to see if it’s worth that membership fee—
Check out more merchandise cards:
How do the Unique Platinum card rewards work?
The Unique Rewards is a program just for members.
Every month, you’ll get 25 Reward Dollars into your account—which you can use for deals, discounts, and savings.
But Reward Dollars don’t convert directly into cash. In fact, it’s pretty hard to track down how much each “dollar” is worth.
Instead, they act more like gift vouchers, with the value differing depending on what you choose to purchase.
You won’t find out how many Reward Dollars you need to spend until you’re ready to make a purchase. But on the plus side, Unique Platinum claims you can use Reward Dollars in over 500,000 ways.
This includes:
Dining
Gift cards
Local shopping
Online shopping
Your Reward Dollars are also banked month over month—they never expire.
So if you earned 25 Reward Dollars this month and decide to save them for a rainy day, guess what? Next month, you’ll have $50 in Reward Dollars waiting for you.
But let’s not forget the elephant in the room—that $19.95 membership fee.
Unique doesn’t spell out how much their Reward Dollars are worth, but if they’re valued at $1 each, you’re only netting around $5 after monthly expenses.
Got fair credit? Check out the Capital One QuicksilverOne Credit Card for more rewards.
What are the Unique Platinum card benefits?
To really make the most of the membership fee, it’s wise to take full advantage of all the perks, deals, and discounts of the Unique Platinum card.
Here’s a summary of all the membership benefits:
BENEFIT | DEAL |
---|---|
Daily Gift Card Giveaway | Active customers have the chance to win a gift card every day of the week. |
Pick to Win | They release a new Pick to Win challenge every few weeks. If you pick the right answer, you’ll get a bonus reward. |
Epic Gift Card Giveaway | Active customers have the chance to win a $500 Visa gift card every season. |
Daily Deal | The Daily Deal features one of the day’s best deals. If you want to use your Reward Dollars towards it, simply click “Get this Deal.” |
Gift cards | Use your Reward Dollars to get 10% off gift cards for a range of restaurants and stores. |
Grocery coupons | Get access to a range of grocery coupons to use at your local store. |
Travel and dining | Use your Reward Dollars to unlock a variety of offers and savings on travel, hotel, and dining purchases. |
Roadside protection | Access to contracted service providers in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico to handle vehicle disablement services. |
Legal assistance | Access to one of the largest national and international sources of fully credentialed providers in the industry. |
Pharmacy plan | Get purchase prescriptions at participating pharmacies at the lowest prices. |
To find out what establishments are included, you must log into your account or contact the customer service team.
What is the Unique Platinum credit line?
Unique Platinum offers a $1,000 unsecured credit line to spend at the “My Unique Outlet,” the company’s online shopping catalog.
So what does an unsecured credit line mean?
The unique platinum credit line lets you shop for the things you love without worrying about a security deposit.
The online marketplace gives you access to a range of products, such as kids’ toys, electronics, and perfumes. But as mentioned above, they don’t always offer the best value for money.
Check out these unsecured cards:
Can you build credit with the Unique Platinum credit card?
When you apply for the Unique Platinum card, they check your credit report to gather information about your financial history.
But they don’t report your activities to the credit bureaus. So even if you’re a responsible card user, this won’t be reflected in your credit score.
Without having your credit activities reported, you miss out on the opportunity to boost your score.
If you want to improve your creditworthiness, it’s wise to explore other options, like the Chime Credit-Builder Card.
When your credit activities are reported to the major credit bureaus, lenders can see your responsible behavior. This can lead to more favorable loan terms and interest rates in the future.
Remember
Consider credit cards that provide the perks you want and contribute to strengthening your credit profile. By making informed choices, you’ll be on the right track to achieving your financial goals.
Read more:
Is the Unique Card Platinum legit?
Yes, the Unique Card Platinum is a legitimate card owned by Unique Card Services.
The company is fairly transparent, and you can easily access its Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions on the website.
However, Unique Card Services is not BBB (Better Business Bureau) accredited. And while companies aren’t obliged to get the BBB seal of approval, it means they don’t have to stick to standards and behaviors in business.
The card also loses a few legitimacy points for providing information that could be slightly misleading. Their FAQ section states, “We are continuously working to provide the best possible value for our Unique Card Services Shopping Card Membership.”
Despite their efforts, many of the products available in the Unique marketplace are more costly when compared to other online retailers.
Remember
Check user reviews and ratings and look at the terms and conditions before signing up. Taking these steps will help you make an informed decision and have peace of mind.
Unique Platinum Card Customer Reviews
Unique Platinum doesn’t have many reviews available, but there are some complaints on the BBB website. While this doesn’t paint a full picture—it’s still good to know what to watch out for.
One customer who canceled their account said, “The reason for the cancelation is that I was told I had a $1,000 credit line. But when I tried to make my very first purchase of $300, I was informed that only $250 would go against credit, and I had to pay $50 with my debit card.”
There are also many complaints about Unique Card Services taking money from individuals who have never signed up for an account.
One person said, “I am constantly being contacted by email that I have been approved for a Credit Merchandise Card from them that I never applied for nor received. I am supposed to be charged a membership fee each month by them. I have attempted to contact them to no avail.”
Another said, “I have a complaint about the money taken out of my account on 10/28/2022. I do not know what or who your company is, nor did I authorize any payments to be taken from my account. The $19.95 that you took from my account has cost me $44.00 in overdraft fees because I do not use that account.”
Unique Card Services has responded to all these complaints and promised refunds.
Remember
It’s also worth looking on social media if you want more first-hand insight into the Unique Platinum card.
How Does the Unique Platinum Card Credit Card Compare?
If you want to explore your options, here are some alternatives for those with poor or limited credit:
Unique Platinum 4.2 | Indigo® Mastercard® 3 | Surge® Mastercard 2.8 |
Annual fee $239.40 Monthly fee of $19.95. | Annual fee $75–$99 | Annual fee $75–$99 No upfront fee |
APR N/A | APR 29.99% | APR 29.99% (Variable) |
Starting limit $1,000 | Starting limit $300 | Starting limit $300–$1,000 |
If you’re keen to explore your options, there’s a few things you should keep an eye on:
When analyzing credit cards, check for extra fees, like late payment or foreign transaction fees, and look for low or no yearly fees. You should also examine the credit limit to make sure it meets your demands while taking the card’s minimum credit score restrictions into account.Brian Dechesare, Founder of Breaking Into Wall Street
Here’s the scoop on our top alternatives—
Petal 2 Visa Credit Card
The Petal 2 card is a great choice for building a solid credit history. The card doesn’t have an annual fee and offers up to 1.5% cashback on your purchases.
What sets the rewards structure is its emphasis on responsible payment behavior.
You'll start earning 1% cashback on eligible purchases right away. But if you consistently make twelve monthly payments on time, you can unlock a higher cashback rate of up to 1.5%.
Additionally, the Petal 2 card offers the opportunity to earn between 2% to 10% cashback at select merchants. This means you can enjoy even more savings when shopping at specific stores or utilizing certain services.
Indigo Platinum Mastercard
The Indigo Mastercard is a viable choice for those with less-than-ideal credit or no credit history at all. This card offers a great opportunity for credit builders, as it doesn’t require a credit check or a security deposit.
Mind you, there’s a $99 annual fee and a credit limit of only $300.
These factors could be a deal-breaker for some—especially if you’re new to credit cards or still recovering from past financial missteps.
Take a look at more credit cards for those with bad credit.
Unique Platinum Card: Useful Links
Access the Unique Platinum credit card login and application.
Learn more with the Unique Card Services Member Agreement.
Read the Unique Platinum FAQ page.
Find out more about owning a credit card at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website.
Is the Unique Platinum Card Good For Me?
While this card doesn’t make it to the top of our recommendations, here’s who it might appeal to:
Folks with limited credit history or poor credit scores.
People looking for exclusive discounts and promotional offers.
This card is a tempting choice for folks with limited credit history or not-so-great credit scores. And if you’re on the hunt for exclusive discounts and offers, this card has got you covered.
Still, we believe the drawbacks of this card outweigh the benefits.
A big selling point for the card is getting good deals at the Unique Outlet—yet many of the prices are more expensive than other online retailers.
Their reward program also lacks transparency, and you won’t know the value of your rewards until you’re ready to make a purchase.
Remember
If you’ve got poor credit, we recommend checking out these top cards instead. Many of these will help you build credit so you can graduate to a card with better rewards, offers, and cashback.