Review: We put Atlas the credit card to use here’s the verdict we found and whether or not you should avoid

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Atlas is a rewards credit card and a membership based credit builder program for people seeking to better their financial future. Like with all reviews, our verdict is, you should probably avoid Atlas unless you have room to risk disaster.

COST: $8.99 a month metal card $89 fee. Avoid getting the metal card it does not appear to be worth it.

The Lowdown

While the premise of Atlas seems promising it instead is actually a confusing headache that doesn’t necessarily make the sense that Atlas thinks it does. Here are some of the first things we noticed upon signing up.

Pros:

• Generous rewards
• No credit check required this is true they reviewed bank balance and that was it.

Cons:

• App often malfunctions trying to make payments.
• Very difficult to raise spending power despite Atlas making it sound like it’s easier than baking brownies.
• Charges fees to pay bill instantly.
• $89 annual fee for metal card (not worth it.)
• Atlas should’ve been more simplified. Next to the confusing deposit account; monthly spending limits ($1k), and the lack of phone support is almost mind-boggling.

Before we begin though because of numerous particulars, if you are in a spot where you would not be able to risk a ding on your credit this card is not for you.

1. Atlas does not appear to have phone service for customers.

2. Atlas is very confusing to understand. Atlas claims your available credit rises with payments in every instance — it in fact does not most of the time.

Editors note: Atlas claims this is how your spending power is reached. Unsecured credit – $10 + Deposit = spend power increase. This is simply not true and we put that to the test today.

We added a minimal payment of $31 to the deposit as instructed and nothing happened. This issue also occurred in the beginning and we were unable to make payments for like a week.

3 This card may pose a significant risk to those new to credit because it is not easy to understand and it is not clear the full list of ways to increase spend power. If you choose to get this card add to your deposit sparingly. Avoid adding to this card if you are using the last bit of your money thinking it will up your spend power it doesn’t.

What we noticed after the ball got rolling

1 You do get statements though by the app or email.

2. Customer support is almost exclusively email. Not really customer-support friendly.

3. Despite being told that the spend power raises when payments are made that’s just not the case.

4. You can only have two linked bank accounts at a time.

5. The rewards are the selling point if you can actually figure out how to use this card without risking a ding on your credit report.

6. This does not at all function like an ordinary credit card. Read this before you sign up in any way with Atlas so you can attempt to understand what they are selling you.

Final comments: Although Atlas means well this should’ve gone back to the drawing board. It is very difficult to raise your spending power even if you are making your payments. There are other credit building programs that are far less of a hassle.

This card functions more like a high end charge card rather than what it claims to be. Many of our editors felt that this card is not worth it and all of the trouble just to get it up and going was enough to keep many of them away themselves.