CREDIT CARDS

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. Barclaycard also offer a card which offers 20 months 0% on balance transfers that charges you a lower fee of 3%, currently discounted to 2.6%, so if you think you don’t need the extra months to pay your balance off you could pay slightly less upfront. 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 offers an impressive 0% for the first 22 months, making it an excellent choice for people looking to reduce the amount of interest they are paying on existing credit card debts. Balance transfers are subject, however, to a 3.5% fee, so you must remember to factor this in before moving your money across. As well as offering 0% on balance transfers for 22 months, the card also offers 0% for the first three months on all new purchases. Make sure you pay off any debts and new spending during the 0% introductory periods, as after that the card has a representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 17.95% variable. Depending on your credit score, you may be offered a higher representative rate of 21.95% variable or 23.95% variable. Make sure you pay at least the minimum payments each month and stay within your credit limit, otherwise you may no longer get the 0% introductory rate. You must be aged 18 or over and a UK resident with an annual income of £20,000 or more to be eligible for this card. When you apply for the card, you can choose from a range of colours, including black, pink, white, red and blue.

This card charges 0% on purchase for three months, but 0% on balance transfers for 21 months, making it a very competitive option if you want to move debt from another card. However there is a 2.9% handling fee when you move your balance across from another card. Currently Barclaycard are offering new customers a partial refund of the balance transfer fee if you transfer a balance within 60 days of account opening. This reduces the fee to 2.6%. The refund will be credited to your account within 28 days from the date your balance transfer is processed. 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 charges no interest on balance transfers for a generous 20 months, but for just three months on purchases. In order to benefit from the 0% introductory rate, balance transfers must be made within the first 60 days of opening the account. Once the 0% period ends you will be charged an APR of 18.9% on any transferred balances, while purchases are charged interest at a 16.8%. The 0% for 20 months rate also applies to money transfers. This means you can move money directly to a current account as well as to other credit cards, allowing you to pay off overdrafts and small loans as well as existing credit card balances. After the introductory period is up, however, money transfers are charged interest at a steep 20.9%, and there is also a 4% handling fee. Virgin have added a new feature to your card which lets you pay for items of £15 or less without having to key in your PIN. It's all about making purchases on your Virgin Credit Card as hassle-free as possible. It’s secure – you’re in control because your card never leaves your hand. For added security you’ll occasionally be asked to enter your PIN. And just like chip & PIN transactions, you won’t be liable for any fraudulent contactless transactions made with your card. Cardholders have access to a range of discounts on other Virgin products such as 10% off at Virgin Wines, 10% off VIE at home and 5% off Virgin holidays plus no credit card fee (usually 2.5%). You can also get 30% off Virgin balloon flights plus free champagne & chocolates and one month free for new members at Virgin Active gyms provided you use your card to pay for your membership. You can choose whether you want a pink, black or red card. MBNA provides Virgin's credit cards, and you can't transfer debts from other MBNA cards. You must be over 18 to apply for the card.

This card offers 0% on balance transfers for 20 months, subject to a 3% handling fee. After the introductory period is over, the card has a representative annual percentage rate (APR) of 16.9% (variable). While the 0% introductory period is competitive at 20 months, there are cards available which enable you to defer paying interest on your debts for as long as 22 months. You may be offered a higher representative APR of 21.9% variable or 23.9% variable depending on your credit history. The card also offers 0% for the first three months on all purchases to help spread the cost of any new spending. You should not use this card to make cash withdrawals, as these will be charged interest at a steep representative APR of 27.95% variable. After six months, if you would like to increase the amount you want to borrow, the bank says it will be happy to review the amount of credit it can offer.

This card is a great option for those looking to transfer debts from another card as it offers 0% on balance transfers for 20 months. There is, however, a 2.9% balance transfer handling fee, with a minimum charge of £5. If you already hold a NatWest credit card you can still apply, although balance transfers from another NatWest or RBS credit card are not permitted. Balance transfers are limited to 95% of the credit limit so, if your new Platinum Credit Card has a limit of £2,000, you could switch up to £1,900. You must switch your balances within three months of opening your account to qualify for the 0% rate. The APR on the card once the introductory period is up is 17.9%, but NatWest Advantage Gold account customers get 1% off the APR, bringing the rate to 16.9%. The card also offers 0% on purchases for the first six months, after the introductory interest-free period is up, you will be charged an APR of 17.95% for any purchases you make. The card has no annual fee. You need to have an income of at least £10,000 and be aged 18 or over to apply for this card.

This card offers 0% on balance transfers for 20 months, making it an ideal choice for those looking to move debts across from another card. The APR on the card once the introductory period is up is 17.9%, but RBS Royalties Gold account customers get 1% off the APR, bringing the rate to 16.9%. Balance transfers are limited to 95% of your available credit limit so, if your new Platinum Credit Card has a limit of £2,000, you can only switch up to £1,900. There is a 2.9% fee when you transfer a balance, with a minimum charge of £5. You must move your balance within three months of getting the card. If you already have an RBS Credit Card you can still apply but balance transfers from other Royal Bank of Scotland Group Cards, including NatWest Cards, are not permitted. The card also offers 0% on purchases for the first six months, after the introductory interest-free period is up, you will be charged an APR of 17.95% for any purchases you make. You can use the card to get up to £750 each day from cash machines worldwide, subject to a 3% handling fee. However, you should avoid doing this wherever possible, as interest on cash withdrawals is charged at a steep 27.95%. To apply for this card you should have an annual income of at least £10,000 and be aged 18 or over.

You pay 0% on balance transfers for the first 18 months with this card, which has a representative APR of 16.9% once the introductory period is up. You should bear in mind that there is a 3% handling fee for balance transfers. The card also offers 0% on purchases for the first three months. While 16.9% is the representative APR, you could be offered a higher rate of either 20.9% or 23.9% depending on your credit history, which could make the card much less competitive. There is a choice of five card colours: black, pink, white, red or blue. You can manage your card online, and the card gives you protection against online fraud when buying items on the internet. You are more likely to be accepted for this card if you have a very good credit rating and have not defaulted on payments in the past.