FoundersCard is still offering three months free when you sign up now for a free trial with promo code VIPAWARD. Annual membership is then billed at $595 per year plus a $95 initiation fee. This might be a good way to get a taste of FoundersCard without the big up-front investment.
The Deal
- FoundersCard is offering a 3-month free trial when you sign up with promo code VIPAWARD
- Direct link to this promotion
Key Details
- Available for new members only
- Application is subject to approval
- Some benefits may not be available during the trial period
Quick Thoughts
This offer is being marketed to Award Wallet members who have “verified elite status” with at least one major program, but it appears to be open to anyone.
For those unfamiliar, FoundersCard is essentially a program that offers elite status (or sometimes elite status fast tracks), negotiated hotel discounts, etc. It has been around for years and is not a credit card. I meet people at conferences every year that love FoundersCard and swear they get a good value with it. I’ve honestly never been drawn to it as some of the elite statuses offered aren’t difficult to get through credit cards / matches. The terms indicate that some benefits may not be available during the trial period, but it does not specify which benefits aren’t available. This certainly could be worthwhile to check it out and see if things like their hotel discounts work out well for you, but be sure to set yourself a reminder for the end of your trial period so you can decide to keep or cancel.
Keep in mind that this is a membership for which you apply, so your application is subject to approval. I’m not sure what the approval process entails, but it is not instant.
When this promotion was launched back in 2019, people who decided to maintain membership beyond the three month trial period were charged $395. The small print on the landing page linked to above still mentions $395, but when going through the application process it states that the first full year membership will cost $690 – $595 for the first year and a $95 initiation fee. That makes it much less appealing than it was in previous years, but some might still be able to get good value from it. If you aren’t interested in keeping it beyond the first three months though, be sure to set a reminder to cancel the trial membership.
You can view full membership benefits here, but as noted above some benefits might not be available during the trial period.
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The founder card trial is a Nerfed version of the Membership. You can see discounts, but you can’t use good ones. Make sure you cancel before the bill you.
If someone wants to be the guinea pig please let us know if anything worthwhile is available. My post below from 5 years ago pointed to this trial being empty garbage, but hopefully that has changed.
No thanks
I had the Founders Card for a few years. If you are a business owner, there are a few benefits that *might* make the card worthwhile. But, if you are not . . . if you are just a hobbyist . . . most of the benefits you’d likely want/use are readily available via credit cards you already have or that you earned via your travels.
Separately, as Greg once noted, it *might* be that there are few meaningful benefits accessible during the free trial period. And, you *might* not be able to view what benefits are accessible until you pay.
What benefits do you value for your specific business?
While it’s been a few years, they had discounted FedEx shipping, office supplies, and a phone system. While I never used them, a discounted lease with Audi and lease in a shared office network.
[…] Founderscard free trial for 3 months (then $395/yr) […]
This sounds like something that the “Fyre Festival” people came up with!
It does sound that way in a post-Fyre world. This has existed for years before Fyre though. I’ve never been interested in signing up for it, but it’s not a fly-by-night company in the sense that it’s been around for a long time. Again, not advocating for it as I’ve never used it (and a commenter above indicates that the trial doesn’t have most of the key benefits) — but it’s not as fishy as Fyre.
Just a heads up to anyone thinking about doing this: there are horror stories of folks on reddit trying to cancel but being billed after cancellation regardless. And if that weren’t enough, Founderscard apparently fights hard against any attempts to do a charge back on your credit card, even if you cancel and have proof of cancellation.
Not to try to deter necessarily; more of a forewarning to document every single step of the way on Founderscard.
NO Caesars Rewards, NO Hilton Gold, NO Hertz President’s Circle, NO Avis status, No Sixt status, NO TripIT Pro.
I have given up looking for something worthwhile with this garbage trial.
Wow, that stinks.
Thanks for the input. What about the 6 month CLEAR membership?
Yes, same here. I signed up, only to find exactly what u state here. Useless and waste of time. Dont bother!
Thanks for much for taking the dive! I really wanted it for the Caesars Diamond upgrade. Now I don’t have to waste my time.
[…] Founderscard free trial for 3 months (then $395/yr) […]
I signed up with a card that I plan to cancel by the time three months is up.
just because you cancel the payment method doesn’t mean you cancelled the membership….unless you cancel it too, they still have an active membership and could put your bill into collections.
I signed up and I guess I’ll see what the benefits are and are not. However, the cageyness of the signup process and lack of disclosures was enough to raise questions about this company.
And, be warned: If you forget to cancel, they automatically bill you $395 and state is non-refundable.
Not good business practices. Sounds like they are they the ex execs from the Columbia House CD Club.
Trail? Hehe