My Experience With The Comenity Woman Within Credit Card - Woman Within (2024)

An In-Depth Review of This Retail Store Card’s Features, Benefits, and Drawbacks

Have you ever considered applying for the Comenity Woman Within credit card to save money on your favorite plus-size fashions and accessories? As a longtime Woman Within shopper, I decided to take the plunge and open a store credit card specifically for my go-to retailer.

In this blog post, I’ll give you the inside scoop on what it’s like to be a Comenity Woman Within credit card holder. I’ll share details on the application process, benefits of the card, interest rates, rewards program, and more – including some of the downsides to be aware of.

Whether you’re curious about saving money on your Woman Within purchases or you want to know if this store card is worth adding to your wallet, you’ll find all the details in my comprehensive review below!

An Overview of the Woman Within Credit Card

The Woman Within Credit Card is a retail store card issued by Comenity Bank. It can only be used for purchases at Woman Within and other Ascena-owned plus size clothing retailers like Roaman’s, Jessica London, and Ellos. The main perks of the card include special financing offers, bonus reward points, and discounts for cardmembers.

When you open a Woman Within Credit Card, you’ll get a flexible credit line that starts at $100 and can go up to $2,500 based on your creditworthiness. There’s no annual fee to worry about. In terms of costs, you’ll pay deferred interest if you don’t pay the full promo purchase amount by the end of the promo period. And late fees can apply if you miss a payment.

Overall, this store-specific credit card is best for dedicated Woman Within shoppers who can maximize the perks and responsibly manage a retail card. sporadic shoppers may not find enough benefits to warrant getting the card.

Applying for the Woman Within Credit Card

The application process for the Woman Within Credit Card is quick and easy. You can apply in just a few minutes at any Woman Within store location. Simply stop by the customer service desk or register to fill out an application.

You can also apply online via theWoman Within website. The online application is just as fast – it only took me about 5 minutes to complete. All you need is some basic personal information like your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security Number.

After submitting the application, you’ll get either an immediate decision on your approval status or a notice that your application is under review. If approved, you can start using your new card right away in stores or online!

It’s worth noting that Comenity approves applicants with a wide range of credit scores. When I applied, I was approved with a credit score in the low 700s. Their website indicates you may be approved with scores as low as 580.

Benefits and Perks of the Woman Within Credit Card

As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy quite a few nice perks that make saving money on plus size fashion even easier. Here are some of the biggest benefits I’ve taken advantage of so far:

• Exclusive Discounts:Get access to cardmember-only offers, special pricing, and discounts on select items. I save at least 15% on full-price styles a few times per month.
• Bonus Reward Points:Earn bonus points on all your Woman Within purchases for money off future purchases. You get 1 point for every $1 spent. Points can be redeemed for reward certificates starting at just 100 points.
• Special Financing Offers:0% interest promotions are common – I recently financed a $150 purchase for 6 months with 0% interest. Deferred interest kicks in if not fully paid by the end of the promo period.
• Free Shipping:Standard shipping is free on all orders when you use the Woman Within Credit Card. This saves me at least $7 per order.
• Buy Now, Pay Later:Make equal monthly payments over 6 months on purchases of $100 or more with their Flex Pay installment plans. No interest, as long as it’s paid in full.
• Free Returns:Return online purchases to any Woman Within store. It’s easier than dealing with the mail.

Basically, this card saves me money on most Woman Within purchases. The discounts and special offers add up quickly, especially for a frequent shopper like me.

Interest Rates and Other Costs to Be Aware Of

The Woman Within Credit Card has variable interest rates based on your creditworthiness when you apply. Rates currently range from26.99%to29.99% APRon purchases if you don’t pay in full each month. This is quite high compared to most standard credit cards.

Here are a few other costs I’ve experienced first-hand as a cardholder:

• Deferred Interest:If you don’t pay the full promotional purchase amount by the end of the 0% interest intro period, deferred interest kicks in from the original purchase date. This can really increase the total cost, so pay close attention to expiration dates.
• Late Fees:You’ll pay a $29 fee if your minimum payment is more than 15 days late. The first late fee is waived, fortunately.
• Return Fees:Returns made via mail have a $7.99 return label fee deducted from your refund. In-store returns are free.
• Foreign Transaction Fees:Using your Woman Within Credit Card outside the U.S. will incur a 3% foreign transaction fee. Not ideal for shopping on international trips.

The takeaway is to carefully read all financing offer terms and make sure to pay on time. Set up autopay if needed to avoid late fees!

Paying Your Woman Within Credit Card Bill

Your Woman Within Credit Card statement will include the current month’s charges, minimum payment due, and the due date for your payment. The minimum payment will be the greater of $29 or the full cost of any Equal Payments Offer purchase that month.

There are a few ways to pay your credit card bill:

• Online:Pay directly on the Woman Within website through your online account portal. This is the fastest way to make a payment.
• By Phone:Call 1-866-898-4168 to pay your bill over the phone 24/7 using the automated system.
• By Mail:Send a check or money order payable to “Comenity Bank” to the payment address printed on your billing statement. Allow 7-10 days for mail delivery time.
• In Person:Take your payment to any Woman Within store location and pay at the register. Make sure to have your statement with you.

I always pay online through my account portal so I can see the updated balance immediately. But it’s nice having options in case I’m short on time one month.

How to Earn and Redeem Reward Points

One of my favorite perks of the Woman Within Credit Card is the ability to earn and redeem rewards points with every purchase. Here’s a quick rundown of how their rewards program works:

• Earning Points:You’ll get 1 reward point for every $1 spent on the card at Woman Within and affiliate brands. Points show up on your statement shortly after you make a purchase.
• Bonus Points:Keep an eye out for extra point offers on select styles or when you spend over a certain amount. This really speeds up rewards earnings!
• Redeeming Points:Once you accumulate at least 100 points, you can redeem them on the Woman Within website for $10 reward certificates. Each 100 points = $10 certificate that can be applied like cash at checkout.
• Rewards Certificates:Certificates can be used on any in-store or online purchase. No blackout dates or item exclusions. They’ll be automatically applied when you reach checkout.
• Expiration:Reward certificates expire 6 months after issuance if unused. So make sure to redeem them regularly.

With frequent shopping trips, racking up reward points for certificates is easy and adds up to great savings over time.

Special Payment Plans and Promotions

As a cardholder, you’ll have access to two special types of payment plans on qualifying purchases:

Equal Payments Offers

This payment plan breaks up a purchase of $100+ into equal monthly payments over a set promotional period like 6, 12, 18 or 24 months. No interest is charged on these types of plans as long as you make the minimum payments on time until paid off.

I recently used a 12-month equal payments plan at 0% interest when buying a $240 dress for a wedding. It made the cost more affordable at just $20 per month added to my minimum payment.

Flex Pay

Flex Pay allows you to split any purchase over $100 into 3 or 5 equal monthly payments with no interest. Payments are simply added onto your monthly minimum payment.

For example, I used Flex Pay to buy a $150 swimsuit and split the cost into 3 payments of $50 each over 3 months. It was automatically deducted from my account monthly with no additional fees or interest which is awesome.

Just be aware that missing payments could result in a penalty APR for higher interest charges in the future. So only use these plans if you can handle the payments each month until paid off.

Is the Woman Within Credit Card Secure for Online Purchases?

In this day and age, it’s natural to have security concerns when shopping online and entering credit card info. After looking into their policies and using the card on WomanWithin.com, I feel confident that the site is secure for online transactions.

Here are a few reasons why:

• Encrypted Checkout:Their checkout process is encrypted with industry-standard SSL protection to keep your data safe. Look for the “Secure Shopping: Lock Icon” before entering any info.
• Fraud Monitoring:Woman Within has advanced fraud monitoring systems in place to detect suspicious activity related to your account. If they suspect fraudulent use, they’ll contact you promptly to verify.
• Zero Liability:Their zero liability policy protects you from unauthorized charges. You won’t be held responsible for fraudulent purchases as long as you report them promptly.
• Secure Password Access:Your online account can only be accessed with your unique username and password. Never share these credentials!
• PCI Compliant:Woman Within meets payment security compliance standards which require secure handling of credit card data.

Just monitor your statements routinely and report suspicious charges immediately. But overall, I do feel safe using this card online alongside proper account security on my end.

How to Manage Your Woman Within Credit Card Account

Managing your Woman Within Credit Card is simple with their online account portal and mobile app. After activating your card, you’ll get instructions for setting up online access where you can:

• Check your current balance and available credit
• View your statement and payment due dates
• Make one-time or recurring payments
• Set up autopay for your monthly bill
• See your transaction history and reward point balance
• Redeem rewards points for certificates
• Report lost/stolen cards
• Update your account info and contact details
• Contact customer service

I try to log into my online account weekly to monitor my spending and catch any fraudulent activity quickly. You can also opt into email alerts on factors like due dates, statements and balance notifications.

The Woman Within mobile app makes it easy to manage your account on the go with many of the same features. Download it for free from the App Store or Google Play.

Can the Woman Within Credit Card Be Used Anywhere?

This is a private label card, so it can only be used for purchases within the Ascena retail group:

• Woman Within
• Roaman’s
• Jessica London
• Ellos
• JustMySize
• Lane Bryant (in stores)
• Catherines (in stores)

Purchases made outside of those brands won’t qualify for rewards points, special financing, or other card benefits. The card cannot be used anywhere besides Ascena stores and websites.

If you want a card to use for other retailers, the Woman Within Credit Card would not be the most useful option. I personally pair it with a Visa rewards card that I use for groceries, gas, dining out, etc. The two cards complement each other well!

What’s the Best Way to Redeem Rewards Points?

I get the most value out of my Woman Within reward points by redeeming them for $10 reward certificates that can be applied to both full-price and sale items. This gives me maximum flexibility.

Here are some strategic tips on the best ways to use rewards:

• Wait for big sales:The $10 certificates can be stacked on top of promo prices and percent-off discounts for extra savings. Redeem rewards during the best sales.
• Use rewards at checkout:Certificates are automatically applied to your online orders if you have any available in your account.
• Don’t let them expire:Be sure to redeem any accumulated rewards before they expire 6 months after issuance. I like to redeem mine as soon as I reach 100 points.
• Get the lower pre-discount price:If buying an item at 30% off, use rewards before the discount so it takes $10 off the original price, not the lower sale price.
• Buy higher-priced items:Get more value from your $10 certificates by using them on more expensive purchases.

Following these tips can help you maximize savings and value from the rewards program!

Does the Woman Within Credit Card Impact Your Credit?

Opening and using a new credit card account definitely has implications for your overall credit profile. The Woman Within Credit Card in particular can impact your credit in a few key ways:

• Credit inquiries:Applying for the card will result in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may cause a small temporary score drop. Too many inquiries can indicate credit hunger to lenders.
• Lowered average age of accounts:Getting a new card lowers the average age of your credit history which can negatively impact your score if you have a short history to begin with.
• Increased total available credit:Having another open card account increases your total credit access which can help your utilization ratio and in turn raise scores.
• On-time payment history:Making all your payments on time builds positive credit behaviors and proves you can responsibly manage credit extended.
• High credit utilization:Maxing out your card or carrying a large balance relative to your limit can significantly reduce your scores.

Being aware of these factors allows you to use the card responsibly to build your credit history over time. Pay on time and keep utilization low to benefit your credit score!

Closing Thoughts: Who Should (and Should Not) Get This Card

Overall, I’ve been very satisfied with my Woman Within Credit Card and feel it’s extremely beneficialifyou are currently a regular shopper at their stores and website. The discounts and rewards alone make it worthwhile for loyal customers. Plus, the deferred interest plans allow me to afford larger purchases I wouldn’t otherwise budget for.

However, I would not recommend this card if Woman Within is not one of your primary go-to clothing retailers. Since the card has no benefits or rewards for non-Ascena purchases, it’s not ideal as your only credit card.

Similarly, if you tend to carry revolving balances month to month, the high interest rates make this an expensive card to leave unpaid. It’s best suited for shoppers who pay in full routinely.

At the end of the day, evaluate your current spending and credit habits to determine if the Woman Within Credit Card is a good fit for your lifestyle and shopping needs. But as a frequent buyer myself, I can confidently say the perks are worthwhile and provide major savings!

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about this card or my experience as a Woman Within cardholder. I’m happy to share more!