| Product Name | Balance Transfer | Purchases | Rewards | Representative APR (Variable) |
Product Reviews |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card with Extended Balance Transfer |
0%
|
0%
|
Music |
17.9%
|
Read review |
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NatWest Platinum |
0%
|
0%
|
Shopping |
17.9%
|
Read review |
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|
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|
|
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|
|
Royal Bank of Scotland Platinum |
0%
|
0%
|
Shopping |
17.9%
|
Read review |
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|
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|
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|
Halifax Balance Transfer Credit Card |
0%
|
0%
|
Rewards |
17.9%
|
Read review |
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|
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|
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Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card with Balance Transfer |
0%
|
0%
|
Music |
17.9%
|
Read review |
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|
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|
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Virgin Credit Card |
0%
|
0%
|
Travel |
16.8%
|
Read review |
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|
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|
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MBNA Credit Card |
0%
|
0%
|
No rewards |
16.9%
|
Read review |
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|
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Halifax 20 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card |
0%
|
0%
|
No rewards |
16.9%
|
Read review |
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|
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|
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Nationwide Building Society Credit Card |
0%
|
0%
|
Shopping |
15.9%
|
Read review |
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|
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|
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|
|
Bank of Scotland Plus |
0%
|
0%
|
Rewards |
16.9%
|
Read review |
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|
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|
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|
|
Barclaycard Platinum Balance Transfer Card with Low Fee |
0%
|
0%
|
Music |
18.9%
|
Read review |
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
Halifax 17 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card |
0%
|
0%
|
Rewards |
16.9%
|
Read review |
|
|
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Credit cards have long been used as a convenient way to buy things without having to pay for them up-front. Many credit cards offer an introductory interest-free period of anywhere between three and 15 months.
This means that during these periods, you need only pay back the face-value of the goods you buy, without incurring any additional interest charges. This is great if you want to spread the cost of an expensive or one-off purchase over a longer period to make it more affordable.
When these interest-free periods end, however, the interest rate on the card will rise to a higher rate of interest. If you have an outstanding balance on the card by the time the interest-free period ends, you’ll be charged interest at that higher rate.
If you are going to compare interest free credit card offers, you should be sure to find out what the interest rate will be after the interest-free period ends, and if there are any other conditions on the card, such as balance transfer fees.
The great thing about interest-free credit cards is that you avoid paying interest on your purchases for the length of the introductory interest-free period.
As long as you make the minimum repayments on the card each month, and clear the balance before the end of the interest-free period, you’ll never pay more than the value of the goods you buy.
Credit cards also offer a degree of protection on purchases too, as the card issuer would be jointly liable if the goods you bought turned out to be faulty, didn’t arrive or the merchant went bust.
Sometimes, when you apply for credit, it can go against you if you have no credit history. Responsible use of an interest free credit card can be a good way of building some credit activity so that you are left with a good credit history. And of course, as there is no interest charged, you needn’t worry about incurring interest charges on the things you buy.
You shouldn’t take on a credit card lightly as misuse of a card can have a negative impact on your credit rating and could affect your chances of getting credit in the future. You should only consider a credit card if you have the ability to pay back what you borrow.
Credit cards aren’t suitable for everyone, and are perhaps best kept for large or one-off purchases, giving you a chance to spread the cost of the purchase over a longer period of time. Compare interest free credit card deals to see which card has the longest interest-free period.
Also, the more competitive rates and offers tend to be reserved for those with the best credit scores, so if your credit score is less than perfect you might not be able to take advantage of the best deals.
A personal loan might be better for you if you want to spread the cost of a purchase over a period of years.
Debit cards are an obvious alternative way to pay, and carry less risk as they don’t have a credit facility unless you have an overdraft facility on your bank account. Debit cards do offer a degree of protection on purchases, but not as much as credit cards.
If you want the security afforded by credit cards but without the credit facility, prepaid cards might be suitable for you. Prepaid cards allow you to pre-load an amount of money onto the card from another account and then you can spend that money using the card.
This can be great for shopping online if you’re concerned about security, as only the amount pre-loaded onto the card can be spent. If someone was to get hold of the details, they would only be able to spend that amount.