CREDIT CARDS

This is the longest ever introductory 0% period offered by a credit card provider, making it the current market-leading card for purchases. Cardholders pay no interest on their spending for the first 18 months. After that the card has a representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 17.9%, so you will need to make sure you have repaid what you owe in full before the introductory period ends. The card also comes with other perks. You get 2,500 YourPoints if your application is successful. That’s enough points every year for a £10 shopping voucher to spend at M&S, Boots or amazon.co.uk, with 500 points left over to put towards your next reward. You’ll get a further 2,500 points on the anniversary of you getting the card every year after, plus you’ll earn 1 YourPoint for every £1 spent on the card. You must be a UK resident, aged 18 or over and have a minimum income of £10,000 to apply for the card.

This is the longest ever introductory 0% period offered by a credit card provider, making it the current market-leading card for purchases. Cardholders pay no interest on their spending for the first 18 months. After that the card has a representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 17.9%, so you will need to make sure you have repaid what you owe in full before the introductory period ends. The card also comes with other perks. You get 2,500 YourPoints if your application is successful. That’s enough points every year for a £10 shopping voucher to spend at M&S, Boots or amazon.co.uk, with 500 points left over to put towards your next reward. You’ll get a further 2,500 points on the anniversary of you getting the card every year after, plus you’ll earn 1 YourPoint for every £1 spent on the card. You must be a UK resident, aged 18 or over and have a minimum income of £10,000 to apply for the card.

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.

This credit card charges no interest on both balance transfers and spending for the first 15 months. After that, it has a representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 18.9% (variable) so you should try to clear your balance and pay off any new spending within the interest free period. The 0% transfer offer only applies if you make a balance transfer within the first 60 days of opening the account and you will be charged a 2.9% transfer fee. It’s important not to miss out on the 60 day window because you’ll be charged an annual percentage rate (APR) of 18.9% on any transfers made after this time. Don’t be tempted to use the card for cash withdrawals – not only will you be charged a higher APR of 27.9% but you’ll also incur a cash withdrawal fee of 2.5% (minimum £2.50). All Barclaycards offer contactless technology which means you can make purchases of £15 or less without having to key in your PIN number. Not all retailers accept contactless yet – you need to look out for the ‘wave’ sign on payment terminals (you’ll see this sign on the front of your credit card so you’ll know what to watch to for).

This credit card charges no interest on both balance transfers and spending for the first 13 months. After that, it has a representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 18.9% (variable) so you should try to clear your balance and pay off any new spending within the interest-free period. If you are transferring a balance over to this card, you must do so within 60 days from the account opening date. Bear in mind that balance transfers are subject to a 2.89% transfer fee, with a minimum charge of £3. You should avoid using this card for cash transactions or money transfers, as interest is charged at a steep 27.9% for cash advances and 22.9% for money transfers. You also have to pay a 5% cash withdrawal handling fee, with a minimum charge of £5. There is also a foreign usage loading fee of 2.99% if you use the card to take out cash or for spending while you are abroad. The card comes with a discount scheme that can save you money on Virgin holidays, Virgin Wines, Virgin experience days, Virgin balloon flights and VIE at home when you use your card to pay. There is a choice of card design so you can opt to have either a red, black, pink or silver card. You must be at least 18 years or over to apply for this card.

This card offers a 0% introductory rate on both balance transfers and purchases for a year, making it a competitive offer. There are longer interest-free balance transfer offers available if you are looking to move debts from another credit card. Balance transfers are subject to a 3% handling fee, so remember to factor in this cost before making the move. Once the interest free period comes to an end, the card has a representative APR of 16.9%, so you should try to clear any debts while you are still on the 0% introductory rate. One restriction is that only Nectar Card holders can apply for the card, but as the Nectar scheme is free to join, this is worth doing, although it is worth noting you do not receive Nectar points for spending on this card. Once you have received your Nectar Card, all you have to do is use it whilst making a purchase at Sainsbury's or one of the other Nectar Card partners and then you will be eligible to apply for the credit card. You will not be able to complete the application for this card if you do not hold a Nectar card. The card has no annual fee, and you must be aged 18 or over to apply for this card. To be eligible for this card you must not have been declined for credit in the last month and must not hold another Sainsbury's Bank credit card.

This is a good option for either balance transfers or purchases as it offers a 0% APR on both for the first 12 months, so you don't have to worry about one promotional rate ending before the other. However, if you only want to use the card only for balance transfers or purchases it is worth bearing in mind that there are longer interest-free periods for both available elsewhere. After the interest free period, the card has an APR of 17.95%. If you are making a balance transfer, a handling fee of 3% applies. Cash withdrawals are charged interest at 27.95% and so should be avoided. Balances transferred from other Bank of Scotland or Halifax cards are not eligible for the 0% balance transfer offer. You can manage your card online and you can choose from five different card colours. This card does not have an annual fee and offers an internet fraud guarantee, so you won't be held liable for any unauthorised transactions made online without your knowledge or consent. You must be a UK resident with a regular income to apply for the card.