CREDIT CARDS

This card offers 15 months interest-free introductory period on purchases, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a cheap deal on new borrowing. After 15 months, the card charges a typical representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 15.9% variable, so you should make sure you clear your debt within the interest-free period to avoid paying interest. As well as offering a lengthy interest-free period on purchases, you also collect points whenever you spend using the card. You earn one point for every £1 spent at M&S, and one point for every £2 spent elsewhere. Once you have 100 M&S points, you’ll get a £1 reward voucher to spend in store. Points are converted into vouchers four times a year and are valid for 15 months. The card also entitles you to buy M&S Travel Money with no cash advance or foreign exchange fees and you can access your account 24 hours a day online or by phone. To apply for an M&S Credit Card you must be a UK resident aged 18 or over and you cannot apply for a card if you have held a credit card with M&S Money within the past 12 months.

This card offers a market leading 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, making it a great deal for those who want to use it both for spending and to transfer debts over from another card. There is a 3% handling fee to pay on balance transfers and after the introductory period is up, the card has a variable APR of 17.95% on both purchases and balance transfers. Don't use the card to withdraw cash, as you will be charged interest at a steep 27.95% on any money taken out from a cash machine. The card does not charge an annual fee. You get the choice of five different card colours when you apply. It is also worth bearing in mind that although the majority of customers will receive the 0% offer for 15 months, others will only receive 13 or 11 months at this rate, depending on their credit history. You may also be offered a higher representative APR of 21.9% variable or 23.9% variable.

The Virgin 16/6 card offers an introductory rate of 0% on balance transfers and money transfers for the first 16 months from the date the account is opened, as well as six months at 0% on purchases. This card is therefore likely to suit those who have debts they want to move from an existing card, but who also want to use it for spending too. After the introductory periods end, the Virgin 16/6 card has a representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 15.8% variable. As there are different length 0% introductory periods on balance transfers and purchases, you’ll need to make a note of when each period ends and clear your debts before then so that you don’t end up paying interest. The main advantage of this card is the fact it offers a low 1.99% balance transfer fee if your move your balances over within 60 days. Transactions made after 60 days from the account opening date will be charged the standard balance transfer fee of 2.89%. You can choose what colour you would like your card to be from either pink, red, black or silver.

Barclaycard are offering 0% on balance transfers for 22 months. There is a 2.9% handling fee when you move your balance across from another card. If you transfer a balance over £2,500 you will receive £30 cashback. A perk of the card is that it includes contactless payment technology. This means you can use it to make payments quickly when you are making a purchase of £15 or under wherever you see the ‘wave' symbol. You can also register and manage your account online so you can switch to paperless statements, set up direct debits and track your spending. You need to have an income of at least £20,000 and be aged 21 or over to apply for this card. You cannot transfer a balance from another Barclaycard.

This card enables you to collect Avios every time you spend, but it comes with a high representative APR of 19.9%. There is no interest-free introductory rate on purchases, so you should pay off any debts on the card as quickly as possible to avoid racking up steep interest charges. The card is best suited to those who fly frequently with BA and want to collect Avios using the card's reward scheme, and who clear their balance every month. Earn 1,000 Avios when you spend £500 in the first 3 months. The points can then be put towards BA flights. If you spend £20,000 on the card in a year and redeem your Avios on a BA flight, you'll receive another ticket for a companion for the same flight and cabin. However, you cannot collect Avios on cash advances. The card has no annual fee and also comes with Travel Accident Insurance up to £75,000. You should avoid using the card to make cash withdrawals, as these will be charged interest at a steep 27.9%.

This card is a great choice if you're looking for cashback, as it pays an impressive 5% for the first three months. There is no annual fee with this card. The most cashback you can claim during the introductory period is £100, so if you spend £2,000 on the card in the first three months, you will have reached the maximum. After this, if you spend £5,999.99 or less, you will earn 0.5% cashback, rising to 1% if you spend between £6,000 and £9,999. Anyone spending over £10,000 will earn 1.25% on anything they spend above that threshold. These rates are applicable until you reach the anniversary of your account opening when you will begin earning cash back at 0.5% until you pass each purchase threshold again. Be careful, however, as the card has a steep representative APR of 19.9%. This means that if you aren't in a position to clear your debts, then the interest charges could wipe out the benefit of the cashback. In order to qualify for this card you must be a UK resident with a good credit record, a bank account registered to your home address and no previous credit defaults. You must not already have a Capital One credit card and must not have applied for one in the last 6 months.