Other LanguagesYou shouldn’t have to pay an up-front fee for a lower interest rate credit card offer. In advance-fee loan scams, the lender guarantees a credit card in advance for a fee before you even apply and regardless of your credit rating. These offers are illegal and often target people with credit problems.
This is exactly what happened to Kimberly Powell from Pacific, WA. The company charged her $600, but was unable to deliver the lower interest rate card it had promised. Her story was profiled in this KING 5 video. Thankfully Kimberly’s money was returned after she filed a complaint with the FTC.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number one rule for avoiding loan or credit scams is: Legitimate lenders never "guarantee" or say that you are likely to get a loan or a credit card before you apply, especially if you have bad credit, no credit, or a bankruptcy.
You can learn more about getting, maintaining, improving and protecting your credit on the FTC’s website.
-Sarah Lane-