How Section 75 protects your credit card purchases
Understand how a credit card can help protect your finances and what to do if you’ve been ripped off
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Spread the cost of larger purchases interest free
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MoneySuperMarket is a credit broker not a lender. You must be 18 or over and a UK resident. Representative 24.90% APR
Discover our best 0% credit card offers, sorted by the longest 0% period. Check your eligibility now.
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Earn up to 15% cashback automatically when you spend at a range of participating retailers with Barclaycard Cashback Rewards. This is a new benefit, available to all Barclaycard Visa credit card customers. T&Cs apply
Barclaycard
Platinum Purchase Offer
Representative example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a. your representative APR is 24.9% (variable)
Great for
But be aware that
Pay no interest for 21 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers you make in the first 60 days. Earn up to 15% cashback with selected retailers on your Credit Card purchases by registering for MBNA Smart Rewards. T&C’s Apply
MBNA
Dual 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card
Representative example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.94% (variable) p.a. your representative APR is 24.9% (variable)
Great for
But be aware that
Pay no interest for 21 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers you make in the first 60 days. Earn up to 15% cashback with selected retailers on your Credit Card purchases by registering for MBNA Smart Rewards. T&C’s Apply
MBNA
Dual 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card
Representative example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.94% (variable) p.a. your representative APR is 26.9% (variable)
Great for
But be aware that
This is a selection of our top 3 interest free cards, ordered by longest 0% period.
An interest-free credit card lets you make purchases without being charged interest for a fixed period. That's in contrast to standard credit cards that add interest every month.
They're often used to spread the cost of a larger planned purchase.
According to MoneySuperMarket data, the average credit limit for someone looking for an interest-free credit card is £2000iii.
When you open a new 0% purchase credit card, the card provider won’t apply interest for a fixed period. This could last for a few months or multiple years, making it a cheap way to borrow and spread the cost of larger purchases.
Do your best to pay off your balance within the interest-free period. If you leave it too late, your interest rate shoots up and you could end up worse off.
Before you commit to a 0% interest card, it's vital you're aware of their pros and cons. Here's our whistlestop guide...
0% interest on your spending can help you spread the cost of larger purchases
If you buy something over £100 and under £30,000, you're protected through Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act
Generally offer the option to transfer debt from high-interest credit cards
At the end of the interest-free period, your purchase card will revert to a much higher interest rate
If you exceed your credit limit you'll start paying interest
If you miss a payment, you may lose your 0% deal and could face a charge
Set up a direct debit to regularly pay the minimum monthly repayment.
Stay within your agreed credit limit, as this can also result in fees and a loss of any promotional rate.
Plan ahead so you aren't taken by surprise with a big balance and no time to clear it
If, for example, you use your full credit limit of £2,000, divide that figure by how many months are left on your promotional rate and try and pay back that each month if you can
Most interest-free credit cards are for purchases, so withdrawing cash, transferring it to a current account, or making a balance transfer will incur interest.
Consider if an alternative credit card suits your needs better, like a balance transfer card or a money transfer card.
Look for the longest interest-free period: The more time you have to pay off your balance, the larger the purchase you can make. Remember, it is only purchases that are interest-free during this introductory period.
Check the revert-to rate: Once the interest-free period comes to an end the interest rate is likely to jump up. Try to pay off the balance before the higher rate kicks in or consider transferring your remaining balance to a new card.
Look out for fees and penalties: Some cards charge for late repayments or exceeding your limit, and others have usage fees. Check you’re happy with these fees. Then consider setting up a direct debit to avoid missing a monthly payment.
In August, the Bank of England cut the base rate from 5.25% to 5%. And despite subsequently voting to leave the rate unchanged in September, more reductions are expected soon.
While credit card interest rates aren't directly tied to the base rate, they often track it to some extent. A lower base rate can encourage lenders to reduce the interest rates they charge on credit cards, making borrowing more affordable.
This is still important for 0% interest credit cards, as you will incur interest charges if you exceed your credit limit or carry a balance after the interest-free period ends
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When you apply for a 0% credit card, the lender will use your credit rating to decide whether to accept you, and what rates to offer you. Find out where you stand with our free Credit Monitor tool
A 0% purchase card gives you the option of paying for a big purchase without paying any interest. If you pay off the item within the 0% period, you are essentially borrowing the money for free. That said, if you can’t pay it off in the 0% period, you will start paying interest on the balance and it’s likely to be expensive. If you won’t clear the card within the 0% card, it might not be the best option for you. With interest rates remaining high at 5% (October 2024), now could be an ideal time to take out this type of card. Just make sure you pay attention to the small print.
If you feel that a 0% purchase credit card could be right for you, the next step is to use the MoneySuperMarket Eligibility Checker to see what cards are available – and which are most likely to approve you
We'll ask you a handful of simple questions about you and your financial circumstances, and what you need from a credit card
We'll sift through dozens of credit cards offers from across the market, and show you the cards we think will suit you best
You'll be shown a range of cards, which you'll be able to sort according to APR, features and your chances of being approved
Once the 0% period ends, the interest rate will go back to the variable interest rate. This means you’ll be charged the variable rate on your unpaid balance and future purchases.
Your credit card company should notify you when the interest-free period is coming to an end so you’re not caught off guard. It’s important to remember that once the 0% period finishes, using your credit card may be more expensive if you don’t clear your balance in full.
It’s a good idea to prepare for the 0% period ending by clearing your balance and making sure your future credit card payments are manageable.
If you miss a repayment on your 0% interest purchase credit card, you’ll likely lose your 0% interest rate – which means you’ll be put on your lender’s standard variable instead, which is usually much higher. You may also have to pay a fee or charge, depending on your lender.
It's hard to say for sure if you'll get a 0% purchase card with bad credit. Here's what you need to know...
If you’ve had problems with debt in the past, such as missed repayments, you may find it harder to get a 0% purchase credit card with ideal terms
If you have a fair credit score you may find that you’re eligible for purchase credit cards with lower limits or shorter interest-free windows
You may not be eligible for any 0% interest card if your score is too low. Luckily you can build up your credit score with a credit card for bad credit
Representative 34.9% APR
0% interest purchase credit cards are only available to people over 18 years old, with a UK bank account, permanent UK address and a regular income.
APR stands for annual percentage rate, and it represents the total cost of the loan – including the interest you’ll pay as well as any additional fees and charges.
If you want to increase your credit limit you can contact your lender and ask them to raise it, but you should only do this once you’ve used your card for a while and demonstrated that you can borrow and repay money sensibly.
Your lender may offer a credit limit increase if you’ve been with them for a long period of time, but you don’t always have to accept – you can ask them for a smaller increase, or reject it altogether.
Balance transfer credit cards:
With a balance transfer credit card you can transfer existing credit card debt to a new card with a lower introductory rate, usually with a transfer fee of 1% to 5%.
Money transfer cards:
Transfer cash directly into your bank account with a money transfer credit card. This can allow you to pay off various debts and you will often be offered low introductory rates, although these may include fees.
Rewards credit cards:
Earn points or cash back on purchases, providing value through perks rather than low interest rates; best for those who pay in full monthly.
Yes, credit card purchases over £100 and under £30,000 are protected by Section 75. This consumer protection means your credit card provider shares equal responsibility with the seller if there’s an issue with what you bought, or the company you’ve purchased from goes bust.
