If you haven’t used a credit card before, or you have bad credit, it can be difficult to get accepted for a card. But with the Marbles card, you can still get credit
The Marbles card is offered by NewDay, a financial services company founded in 2000. A significant portion of NewDay’s business comes from store cards, which can only be used at one retailer – they issue the credit cards branded by high street stores such Topshop, Debenhams and House of Fraser. But they also offer credit cards for general use too – other offerings include the Aqua and Opus credit cards.
Much like their other cards, Marbles is a card aimed at people who haven’t used a credit card in the past and therefore have no credit history, and people with a low credit score. Having little credit history or a low credit score can make it difficult to be accepted for a credit card – but if this applies to you, you’re much more likely to be approved for a Marbles card than some other options on the market.
What’s more, if you use it carefully, a Marbles card can help build up your credit score – so it’s easier to get approved for other cards in the future. .
What does the Marbles card offer?
The Marbles card is a credit builder card – ideal for people with a low credit rating or no credit history. You might find it especially useful if you find yourself going into your overdraft towards the end of the month.
Because it has no monthly or annual fees, along with 56 days of 0% interest on your purchases, you can use the Marbles card without it costing you a penny – so long as you clear your debt before the end of every month.
The Marbles card has a minimum credit limit of £250 – significantly more than many other credit builder cards on the market. This means that if you use it responsibly, you could improve your credit score more quickly. However, keep in mind that if you max out the card and fail to clear it in time, you could be left with a spiralling amount of debt.
You should also be aware that the 56-day interest-free period only applies to purchases. If you want to make a balance transfer, you’ll be charged a hefty interest rate of 39.94%, along with a 3% fee.
Marbles card features
The Marbles card also comes with a few extra features to make using it easier and more secure. These include:
- No fees: Marbles doesn’t charge a monthly or annual fee – so it’s possible to access credit without paying a penny
- MasterCard network: The Marbles card is part of the MasterCard network, meaning it’s accepted at millions of locations worldwide. You also benefit from MasterCard’s suite of security protections
- Online banking: You can use the dedicated online banking service to check your balance, track your spending, and set up SMS alerts
- Direct debit: If you choose to clear your balance with direct debit, you never need to worry about missing a payment and being charged interest
- UK-based helpline: If you’re having a problem or want to ask a question, you should be able to speak to a human in no time
Am I eligible for a Marbles credit card?
Like every credit card, the Marbles card has a few eligibility requirements – although they’re a little looser than some other providers. When you apply you’ll have your credit rating checked to see if you’re eligible – but unlike some checks, this won’t have any effect on your credit score.
Marbles do have some firm requirements though. To get accepted for a Marbles card, you need to be at least 18 years old, have an annual income of £8,400, and be a legal UK resident. You won’t be approved for a Marbles card if you’ve taken out another card offered by NewDay in the past 12 months – that’s the Aqua, Fluid and Opus cards.
There are some situations in which it might be difficult for you to be approved for a card – for instance, if you’re currently bankrupt, or if you’ve had a County Court judgement issued over a previous debt.
How long does it take to get a Marbles credit card?
Getting a credit card deal is quick and easy using MoneySuperMarket – you just answer a few short questions so we can access your credit score, and you can see all the available deals within minutes. If you’re worried about your credit score, you can check it for free with our Credit Monitor tool.
Once you find a credit card deal that meets your needs, we’ll direct you to the provider, who will ask you to make a full application – this shouldn’t take much longer. Approval is usually automatic and quite quick, and your Marbles credit card and PIN should arrive in the post in around seven to 10 days.
Sometimes an application is flagged for a manual evaluation, which can take a few days extra.
How do I apply for a Marbles credit card?
MoneySuperMarket’s comparison tool makes things simple: you give us a few details about yourself and your circumstances, and we scour our providers for the best deals available for you. All you need to do is pick the one you like the best.