Capital One Platinum Review

If you’re trying to improve your credit score, this card may help. It can sometimes be difficult to get approved for a credit card if you don’t have good credit, but you may qualify for this card even if your credit is only considered “average.”

It offers a few features that can help you build credit, such as a credit limit increase if you make your first five payments on time. This adds positive payment information to your credit report, while decreasing your credit utilization ratio if you’re carrying a balance on any of your credit cards. Both of these activities—paying on time and lowering the percentage of credit that you’re using—are some of the best ways to improve your credit score.

• No annual fee: You won’t pay any fees to keep this card from year-to-year. As long as it doesn’t tempt you into debt, keeping it open indefinitely can help increase your credit score.
• Accepts applicants with less-than-perfect credit: You only need “average” credit to be approved for this card. While FICO does not have a definition for “average” credit, it defines “fair” credit as a score between 580 and 669. 
• Helps you build credit with on-time payments: If you make your first five payments on time, Capital One may increase your credit limit. Making on-time payments and raising your credit limit may also help your credit score, as long as you keep your balance low. 

• High interest rate: This might provide enough motivation for you to pay off your balance each month, but if it doesn’t, you could end up paying a lot of money in interest. 
• No rewards, sign-up bonus, or introductory APR: Many other cards offer these features, but not this one. Instead, if you’re interested in a rewards card or one with an intro deal, use the Capital One Platinum to build up your credit, so you’re more likely to be approved for one of those other cards later. 

The Capital One Platinum card isn’t meant to be a travel card packed with perks. However, it does offer one exceptional benefit we think is worth mentioning:

Travel accident insurance: If you, your spouse, or your dependents die or become disabled while you’re in transit on a trip you paid for with your card, you’re covered up to $100,000. 

• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Extended warranties
• Lowest advertised price match 
• Roadside assistance
• Travel assistance service

Capital One is rated fifth among 11 credit card companies in a 2018 J.D. Power customer satisfaction study. It scored 803 points out of 1,000, just above the industry average of 801. 

The company does offer a couple of features that make your experience better. A unique account feature lists all monthly recurring transactions, so you can easily scope out any charges for subscriptions or services you’re no longer using and cancel them. 

CreditWise also scans the “dark web” and lets you know if your Social Security number ends up somewhere it shouldn’t.

Capital One also offers security and account alerts through Eno, its text-based assistant. You can lock your card if you lose it or if it’s stolen to immediately prevent anyone from using it until you can report it stolen. Finally, Capital One offers virtual credit card numbers you can use while shopping online, so you don’t have to share your real credit card number over the internet. 

The Capital One Platinum card doesn’t come with a lot of fees—and none of them are out of line with industry standards.