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Perpay Credit Card FAQ — your questions, honestly answered

Answers to the top questions readers ask before applying for the Perpay Credit Card — application, fees, credit limits, APR, approval odds, direct deposit, and how the card actually helps you build credit.

Application & Approval

No. Perpay uses a soft credit inquiry to make its initial decision. Soft inquiries don't appear on your credit report to lenders and don't affect your FICO or VantageScore.
Perpay does not use a hard credit score cutoff. Approval is based on your income, payroll history, and behavior on your Perpay account. Cardholders with FICO scores as low as 500 have reported approvals.
Most applicants receive an instant decision at the end of the online application. If additional verification is needed, it typically takes 1–2 business days.
At the time of this guide, the Perpay Credit Card is not offered to residents of New Hampshire, Vermont, or the U.S. Territories. Availability can change — check Perpay's official disclosures before applying.

Fees & APR

No annual fee, but a $9 monthly service fee applies — approximately $108 per year. If you carry a balance, the purchase APR runs 27.74% to 29.99% plus the current Prime Rate.
Standard credit card fees still apply — late payment, returned payment, and foreign transaction fees. However, because payments come from your paycheck automatically, late fees are extremely rare with Perpay.
Pay your statement balance in full each month before the due date. Because payments come from your paycheck, this happens automatically if your deposit amounts are set high enough to cover your monthly spending.

Credit Building

Perpay cardholders see an average FICO score increase of 36 points within the first six months of on-time payments. Individual results vary based on your existing credit profile and overall financial behavior.
Perpay automatically reviews cardholder accounts for credit line increases in as few as three months of on-time activity. No request is required — increases happen automatically when you qualify.
Yes. Perpay reports account activity every month to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — the three bureaus that virtually every future lender will check.

Direct Deposit & Payments

Yes. The card requires an ongoing recurring payroll direct deposit into your Perpay account. This mechanism replaces the security deposit typical of starter cards and enables automatic on-time payments.
You'll need to update your direct deposit with your new employer's payroll system to keep the card active. Contact Perpay support if your paycheck lapses temporarily during a job change.
Perpay is primarily built for traditional W-2 employees with regular payroll direct deposits. Self-employed applicants without a consistent recurring deposit may have trouble meeting the eligibility requirements.

Rewards, Marketplace & Perpay+

You earn 2% back on every payment made toward your card balance. Rewards post as Perpay Marketplace credits within about 10 days of your statement closing date and can be applied toward future Marketplace purchases.
Perpay+ is a credit-building add-on tied to the Marketplace — it reports your Marketplace spending limit to all three bureaus monthly. The Credit Card is a full Mastercard usable anywhere. You can enroll in one, the other, or both.
No. Perpay does not currently support authorized users or joint accounts. Only the primary cardholder can spend on the account.
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Guide

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Step-by-step walkthrough of application, direct deposit, approval, and credit-building.

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See if you qualify for a Perpay Credit Card up to $5,000.

Checking your eligibility takes a couple of minutes and won't affect your credit score. Review Perpay's official disclosures on the issuer's site before completing your application.

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