hi chaps - i have some questions ref this subject - my first post so i'm putting everything together.

1. background - I am actually looking for a good card(s) to do balance transfer on - to 0% if poss, I want to shift a balance from the wifes MBNA card, and also my own (natwest)0% card is getting to end of 0 rate, so I want to shift whatever I can somewhere - in fact anywhere else. as far as I am aware at this time I/we have good credit ref.

I'm intending to set up credit transfers ( Not direct debits) so I think I can almost guarantee not having a problem with late payments

2 so I was checking your site forum for opinions on the 0% cards after looking at some of your recommendations, & noticed that although you say that the virgin card is top for 0% there are some awful comments against it , - especially ref the rates after the 0% finishes. I'm finding it difficult to assess whether I should go for this due to some of these posts but I have a suspicion that if it you keep your nose clean, so to speak , you really shouldn't have a problem, got any thoughts on this pls...?

3. I've never had to bother before about who issues cards - mainly cos we used to get so many junk mails on credit card offers that if I wanted one i just sent the form back , or phoned, what is your opinion on applying to a provider whose card comes from the same place you already have a card - e.g - I have this duff old MINT card - which is actually an RBS account, - then again I see the Virgin card is an MBNA card.

Is there a site anywhere which will allow me to find out which of the providers are behind each of the cards...?

4, so while i was looking around your site I also found lots of comment about hanging on( or not) to old/stagnant cards as they contribute to my credit rating both in terms of how long the accounts have been open and also the limit on them.

thing is , its not that long ago I was talking to the missus about closing some of our old/unused cards - like the MINT one i mentioned - its only got a 400 quid limit on it , so its neither use nor ornament as they say.

5. if a card says it charges x rate per month, how do I convert this to the good ole APR , and vice versa.?

cheers - hope you can help clear these things up for me.