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The Credit Thing card review 2023
Aiming to revolutionise the credit industry with a virtual card, The Credit Thing card is launching in the UK.
Offering instant credit to “everyone”, The Credit Thing is the latest challenger card to hit the UK market. But how does it plan to shake up the industry? With its shake to pay feature, perhaps?
- No account fees
- Fee for a physical card
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Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 27.9% APR (variable).
£200
Minimum credit limit
27.9%
Representative APR
£0
Account fee
Details
| Network | Mastercard |
|---|---|
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfers | The provider will tell you the rate if you ask to make a balance transfer. |
| Balance transfer fee | The provider will tell you the fee if you ask to make a balance transfer. |
| Purchases | 2.33% to 4.99% monthly interest rate |
| Money transfers | 2.33% to 4.99% monthly interest rate |
| Minimum credit limit | £200 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status: £1,500 |
| Potential costs | ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | ★★★★★ |
| Extras | ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder rating | ★★★★★ |
Review by
Emily Herring
emily.herring@finder.comEmily Herring is a Publishing Executive at Finder specialising in credit-based products including credit cards and business and personal loans. Emily has a Masters in Creative Writing & Publishing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Media.
Expert review
There are tonnes of credit card options available in the UK, so when a new challenger bank enters the market, it has to have the infrastructure in place to survive. In respect to this, The Credit Thing looks like a promising option for digital natives who might not have the cleanest credit history or any history at all.
With the aim to offer credit to virtually everyone, as long as you pass the credit checks (check your credit score and report here), you could use your The Credit Thing card almost instantly.
It’s an interesting touch that The Credit Thing will allow people access to an account and its features without being eligible for credit, especially when digital bank giants like Monzo or Starling run the scene.
But ultimately, unless you are ready to fully commit yourself to a purely virtual credit card, will you really want to shell out a fee to get yourself a physical card? After all, what happens if your phone dies? Realistically, this is likely to be the way the card industry goes now (free virtual cards, and a fee for physical cards). But many will be reluctant to abandon physical cards just yet.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No account fee
- Instant credit available
- No foreign transaction fee
- Can improve credit rating with sensible use
Cons
- Fee for a physical card
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
Who is The Credit Thing?
The Credit Thing is a UK-based firm offering instant credit via a virtual card to anyone who “values innovation, convenience and transparency” or might be “bored of the same big banks”.
Founded in 2021 by Misha Rogalskiy, The Credit Thing was previously known as Ukrainian fintech monobank, Koto Card.
What is The Credit Thing credit card?
Well, The Credit Thing credit card is not actually a credit card. The Credit Thing card is a virtual Mastercard debit card that works very similar to a credit card and can be used anywhere you see the Mastercard logo.
Like a credit card, The Credit Thing will give you a suitable credit limit alongside a credit agreement. However, here’s the catch, if you are not eligible for credit yet, you could still open an account with The Credit Thing but instead of using credit to pay, you use your own money.
How does The Credit Thing card work?
You can use your card like any other credit card, anywhere you see a Mastercard logo (even abroad). You can use your card in-store via Apple Pay or Google Pay, or you can request a physical plastic card for a fee of £5.
Features
- Virtual card. The virtual card is available on The Credit Thing app or can be added to your Google or Apple wallet.
Using the card through the app? If you want to use your card to pay for something online, your virtual card will show your long card number, expiry date and security code. If you want to find out your account number and sort code, you just simply tap on the card to flip it and voila! - Shake to pay. Opted to take part in The Credit Thing’s referral scheme? Another interesting feature of this credit card is that you can enjoy the innovative payment option of shaking your phone to pay someone who also has The Credit Thing credit card. But, like all fun new tech, there is a caveat, you will have to be standing next to each other or within close proximity.
- App. With The Credit Thing app, you can schedule your payments and set up reminders, use your instant virtual card and track your spend.
- Human customer service. Although The Credit Thing thrives on technology and virtual tools, it has taken the industry back to offering a human-led customer service experience. The Credit Thing customer service team is available from 7am to 10pm Monday to Friday via WhatsApp, iMessage and email.
- Foreign spending. You can use your card abroad with no extra fees from The Credit Thing, but you still will have to pay the Mastercard exchange rate.
How to apply for The Credit Thing credit card?
You can apply for The Credit Thing on its website or by downloading the app (available on Android and iOS). Once you have applied, The Credit Thing will run a soft credit check to see if you are eligible for credit. This will not impact your credit score.
If you are approved, you will be given a credit limit. If you are not eligible for credit, you may still have the option to use The Credit Thing by paying for purchases with your own money.
How to make repayments?
You can make repayments through the app or by setting up an automatic direct debit.
The Credit Thing app has a feature to automatically send you reminders when your repayments are due. You can also track your spending using The Credit Thing’s charts.
Verdict
As far as challenger cards go, The Credit Thing could be an interesting option for those people who have physical cards collecting dust in their wallets. Offering the opportunity to build or rebuild a positive credit report and the option of monitoring your spending, if used correctly, this card could be an asset to your spending. Oh and not to mention the intriguing “shake to pay” feature. But if you’re not someone who enjoys paying for everything with your phone, do you really want to shell out a fiver for a physical card?
How does it compare with other credit builders?
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
Frequently asked questions
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