When you take out a credit card from a selected provider, you’ll be eligible for SuperSaveClub rewards. At the moment, not all providers are part of our rewards programme. When you search for a credit card with us, you’ll be able to see which providers are part of the programme, as the cards that come with a SuperSaveClub reward will be highlighted in your results. 

The providers who are currently signed up to SuperSaveClub are: 

• Aqua 

• BIP 

• Capital One 

• Fluid

• Halifax 

• HSBC

• John Lewis Finance 

• Lloyds 

• Marbles 

• MBNA 

• Natwest Bank 

• Ocean Finance

• Post Office 

• Santander 

• Vanquis

• Yonder 

• Zable 

• Zopa

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and it represents how much it’ll cost to borrow money on a particular credit card. It’s calculated by taking into account: 

• Your interest rate 

• Additional fees and charges. 

However, you might see the term ‘representative APR’ on adverts for credit cards – this means that the interest rate quoted only has to be offered to at least 51% of successful applicants, so it may not be the actual rate you get when you apply. 

When deciding which credit card to apply for, first consider what you want to use the credit card for – cards come with different features that are useful for different purposes.

If you have a large purchase coming up, you might want to spread the cost with a 0% purchase card, if you fly a lot you might want an airmiles card, and if you want to transfer a balance to avoid interest payments, a balance transfer card could be ideal.

By comparing with us you’ll be able to see a list of credit cards, so you can browse at will and choose which one suits you best.

You’ll get a cooling off period of two weeks from when you receive your card, and you’ll have 30 days to pay off your balance. You can cancel by contacting your bank or building society, either by post, phone, online, or in-branch.

However, if you want to cancel your card after the cooling off period, your account balance generally must be zero.

If you miss a repayment on your credit card balance, you likely have to pay a penalty fee. What’s more, if you have any type of promotional offer with your card, such as an interest-free deal, this may be cancelled, and a missed payment may have a negative effect on your credit score.

Lenders will not be able to see if you have been accepted or not, although each application you make will leave a mark on your credit report. However, with MoneySuperMarket, only a soft credit check will be used, which will have no impact on your credit score.

Unlike many loans and mortgages, you generally won’t be charged for making early repayments on your credit card – which means it’s a good way to get ahead of your balance.

You can’t get joint credit cards in the same way as bank accounts and mortgages, but you can add additional users to your own credit cards. However, you should remember that it’s still the primary cardholder’s responsibility to pay off the balance. 

You can cancel your credit card by contacting your lender, by phone, email, online, post, or in person if they have a local branch. 

In most cases your provider will set your credit limit after you’ve been accepted. So you will not be able to ‘apply’ or request a certain spending limit. Your credit limit will be based on your income, financial circumstances and your credit score as well as the individual policy of the card provider. Card issuers will want to be satisfied that the limit is affordable for you. You’ll be told what it is once your application is approved and your account is open. 

Whether you're approved or not will depend on your personal circumstances. There's no universal standard applied by lenders. But factors that will influence your eligibility include: Your income, age (you must be over 18 in most cases), your financial history and your credit score.

You can overpay on your credit card and that happens when you pay back more than you owe on your balance. When you do this, you’ve cleared your balance, but you’ve gone a step further and your card issuer now owes you money.

Yes, you can have multiple credit cards but keep in mind that if you’re struggling with one credit card it’s best not to get any more. 

Personal loans offer a fixed amount with set repayment terms and predictable monthly payments, making them a reliable alternative for managing expenses and avoiding high interest rates. However, you won't be able to enjoy 0% periods like you can with certain credit cards.

For most people, it won't matter too much whether you choose a Mastercard or Visa, as both are accepted worldwide and there are very few differences between the two. Both Visa and Mastercard come with their own exclusive benefits, but it’s the perks offered by the bank issuing your card – such as cashback, loyalty points or air miles – that are more enticing and therefore should carry more weight in your decision.

Most providers will only need you to be over 18 to open a bank account, but some banks might have additional requirements for certain types of accounts. This could mean a minimum credit score, especially if the account comes with perks or benefits.

If you want to close your account, you’ll normally be able to do this by contacting your bank either by phone or post, or by meeting face to face and letting them know.

Many banks will let you add another name to your account – you’ll normally both have to go into a branch and show ID to do this, as well as fill out some forms.

However, some accounts might only be limited to one account holder, and others could say the additional person needs to be a certain age. They may even need to make a payment into the account to be added – read more with our guide to joint bank accounts.

If your bank goes out of business your money is safe up to a threshold of £120,000 due to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which gives you government protection when you bank. It includes digital and challenger banks, building societies and credit unions.

There are no rules on how many you can have. You can have multiple bank accounts – provided your bank or building society lets you. But some have eligibility criteria, such as a minimum amount you must pay into the account each month, for example.

It can be beneficial to have an additional current account with a partner or housemate if, for example, you need to share payment of rent, mortgage and other bills. You could also open a second current account to earn higher interest on some savings, and still want to keep another account for day-to-day spending.

Be aware that if you use an overdraft on more than one current account this could negatively impact your credit score and affect your ability to get loans and credit. Your credit score could also dip if you apply for a lot of new current accounts in a short space of time.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme will protect up to £120,000. As long as your current account is held within a UK-authorised bank, building society or credit union then your money will be covered by the FSCS. If you hold a joint bank account, then up to £240,000 will be protected.

You can get a bank account even if you’ve had debt problems in the past or if you have a low credit score.  

Basic bank accountsoffer most of the functionality of a standard account, but typically you won’t have access to an overdraft.  

A current account is for daily use, such as paying bills and shopping, and doesn’t earn interest. A savings account helps you save money and earns interest, but often has limits on how often you can use it.

Online and mobile banking offers easy access to your money anytime, anywhere. You can pay bills, transfer funds, and check your balance quickly. Mobile banking apps provide convenience, letting you manage your account on the go, receive instant notifications, and ensure secure transactions.

SuperSaveClub is our rewards club exclusively for MoneySuperMarket customers – you can find out more about SuperSaveClub here.

When you take out a loan from a selected lender, you’ll be eligible for SuperSaveClub rewards. At the moment, not all lenders are part of our rewards programme. When you search for a loan with us, you’ll be able to see which lenders are part of the programme, as the loans that come with a SuperSaveClub reward will be highlighted in your results. 

The lenders who are currently signed up to SuperSaveClub are: 

• 118 118 Money 

• Abound

• Admiral 

• Asda 

• Bamboo 

• Bank of Scotland car finance

• Be Savvi

• Churchill 

• Everyday Loans 

• Finio

• Fluro 

• Halifax car finance

• Halifax loans

• Hastings Direct 

• John Lewis Finance 

• Lendable 

• Lloyds bank car finance

• MBNA

• MCF 

• Monzo

• Novuna (SSC only) 

• Oakbrook

• Plata 

• Reevo 

• Santander

• Shawbrook

• Zopa 

When applying for a loan orcar finance deal, you’ll need to provide personal details such as your name, contact details and address. You’ll also have to let the lender know your employment status and your income. You will also be asked what you need the loan for and how much you’re looking to borrow. You should expect to be asked about any debts and assets you have as well as if you’re a homeowner. 

The length of your loan can vary depending on the type of loan you take out and the provider you choose, but it could be anywhere between a year and ten years. Taking out a loan for a longer period of time may reduce your monthly payments, but you may end up paying more for the loan due to interest payments.

Different lenders and different types of loans will have varying requirements, but in general whether or not you qualify will depend on your personal details and your credit history. However you can always compare loans on MoneySuperMarket – all you need to do is answer a few questions about the loan you want to take out and you’ll be given a tailored list, which you can sort by interest rates and the likelihood of your application being accepted.

You can generally apply for loans by contacting the provider you choose – either by calling through the phone, sending an application form through the post, applying online, or dropping in to their branch (if they have one) to apply in person.

For many loans you’ll need a good credit history to be accepted, but some providers also offer loans designed for people with poor or no credit. For example, you can get guarantor loans where someone else will commit to make your repayments if you can’t.

A soft-search or soft-application is a way of finding out where you stand in terms of getting a loan without leaving a mark on your credit report. It’s a useful way of finding a loan you’ll be eligible for without harming your chances of being accepted.

Missing repayments can mean you might be fined by your lender, and it could also end any low or zero interest incentives you have. It may even lead to a hike in the interest rate you’ll make future repayments at.

APR, or your Annual Percentage Rate, is the interest rate at which you pay back money you’ve borrowed. It takes into account the actual interest rate you pay, plus any other fees or charges involved in the deal, to give you a more complete picture of what you loan will cost.

When you see a rate advertised as the representative APR, this means the lender is required to offer this rate to at least 51% of applicants – however it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to receive this interest rate yourself.

Representative 16.5% APR

Maximum APR 99%

A repayment holiday is when you don’t have to make any loan repayments for a certain period of time that you’ve agreed with your lender. They’re generally good for when you’ve had a temporary change of circumstances, such as unemployment, maternity, or unexpected expenditures.

You’ll normally be able to pay off all or part of your loan early, though some lenders may have an early payment charge.

When the interest rate increases, this can make it more expensive to borrow. When it comes to the loan you’ve taken out, if you’re on a variable interest rate then your APR will reflect your lender’s rate.  

So, in short, if interest rates rise and you’re on a variable interest rate with your loan, your APR may go up. However, if you’ve taken out a fixed rate loan then the APR won’t rise when interest rates do. 

Savings accounts are a good place to keep your cash safe and secure – even if interest rates aren’t particularly high. The longer you can lock your money away, in general, the higher the rate you’ll earn on your money. Just aim to save regularly and you could be surprised at how your money mounts up.

You may be able to find higher interest rates on deposits – for example in some high interest current accounts – but there are typically maximum limits on the money you can earn interest on.

Investing in equities offers the potential to earn higher returns than a savings account – but with stock market investing your initial capital will be at risk (the value of your investment can go up and down), which is not the case in a savings account.

While there is no limit to how much you can save, be aware if you have savings worth more than £120,000 you should not hold them all with the same savings provider. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) will cover you up to £120,000 (for FCA regulated firms) should your savings provider run into difficulties. This limit was increased in December 2025. This is the maximum amount covered per person per banking group. 

If you’re just looking to deposit your money somewhere safe, you could keep your savings in your regular current account. 

If you want to put money away so it can grow, you might also consider investing in stocks and shares ISA rather than keeping it in a savings account. But bear in mind that investing carries higher risk, as there is a chance you could lose money on your investment. 

All UK-regulated savings accounts and cash ISAs offered by banks, building societies and credit unions are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

This means if your bank collapses and you lose your money, you can claim back up to £120,000 per person, per financial institution. 

Different types of saving accounts can come with different deposit limits. Tax-free ISAs have a maximum amount of money you can deposit into your account each year, for example, and this can change annually. For other types of savings account, the maximum deposit allowed may vary depending on the provider and the type of account. All UK savers have an amount of savings interest they can earn each tax year free of tax. This is known as the personal savings allowance. 

The short answer is no. Although it's worth noting that to take advantage of incentivised savings account offers that some banks offer, you'll typically need to undergo a credit check. And that in the event that you apply for multiple bank accounts in a short period, this can have a negative impact on your credit score.

When the Bank of England hikes the base rate, the usual knock-on effect is that banks and building societies increase interest rates on savings accounts.

However, in practice some high-street banks are often slow to pass on the sizeable increases in the base rate to their customers.

As of September 2026 the base rate stands at 3.75%, but some high street banks are still paying as little as 2%-3% on some instant-access savings accounts.

For that reason, to get the best return on your savings it's vital you take the time to compare what's on offer and consider challenger banks and savings-account providers, such as Paragon and Aldermore, who often pay much more than high-street brands.

It’s usually straightforward to open a savings account online. Once you have compared accounts and made your choice, just click through to the provider and follow the sign-up process.

You are likely to have to meet simple criteria, such as uploading ID to prove you are a UK resident and aged 16 or over, for some accounts. There might also be a minimum deposit you need to save to get started.

AER stands for annual equivalent rate and represents the return you can expect on your savings. AER differs across savings accounts, so it's important to shop around for an attractive interest rate.

A kWh stands for kilowatt - hour and it's the unit used to measure energy use. One kWh represents using 1,000 watts of power over one hour.

For example, 1 kWh will power a 40 watt light bulb for 25 hours.

Further reading:Which household appliances use the most energy?

According to Ofgem, tenants who are pay energy bills directly have the right to switch their energy supplier. Your landlord or letting agent cannot prevent you from changing your energy supplier.

Be sure to check your tenancy agreement first for any agreements concerning 'default' suppliers. Landlords or letting agents must make you aware of any tie-ins.

• If you were not made aware of existing tie-ins to the current energy supplier, you can switch without incurring any exit fees.

• If you were made aware of existing tie-ins, you may need to pay an exit fee to switch to a new supplier, so weigh up if the cost of switching exceeds the savings from a cheaper energy tariff first.

Take meter readings before you switch to ensure you don't overpay, and notify your landlord or letting agent of the switch. Remember, they cannot prevent you from changing supplier.

If your landlord pays the bills, or they're named as the account holder, get in touch with them first to ask for permission.

Best is subjective, but smaller firms are routinely topping customer service satisfaction scores from Ofgem - in Q1 of 2024 (the most recent figures available at the time of writing):

• 74% of domestic energy consumers were satisfied or very satisfied with their service from small suppliers.

• This figure drops as low as 63% for medium-sized suppliers.

The cheapest supplier for you depends on where you live, plus how much energy you use. So, what might be the cheapest for someone else, won’t necessarily be the cheapest for you.

That’s why it’s important to run an energy comparison – telling us some key details about where you live and your energy habits allow us to find the cheapest deals for you.

Every single energy supplier in the UK is regulated by Ofgem, the industry regulator. This means that the smaller, lesser-known companies must follow exactly the same rules as the bigger, more established ones. 

If a company goes bust, you’ll be covered by Ofgem. They’ll ensure your supply isn’t cut off, and protect any credit balances you may have. 

Ofgem will also appoint a new supplier to take over your tariff.

When you’re choosing a new energy deal, think about whether to go for dual fuel (where you get both your gas and electricity from the same company) or separate tariffs (where you get gas from one company, and electricity from another). It’s worth checking both options, as the combined price of separate tariffs can sometimes be less than a dual fuel offer.

Think about whether you’d like to go for a fixed deal or a variable deal. Fixed deals can be a bit more expensive at the beginning, but you’ll know that your bills won’t suddenly jump during the fixed term.

The way you pay your bills can also affect the price – you can often get a discount for paying by direct debit, and for managing your account online, with no paper communications.

Fixed-rate tariffs offer the security of knowing that the price you pay per unit of energy will be fixed for the duration of your plan. This is usually for one or two years. 

That means that as you’re on this plan your rate will be set in stone and won’t go up even if your supplier announces it is rising prices. You may, however, be charged an exit fee in some cases if you cancel or switch early.

Variable-rate tariffs work differently. When you’re on this type of tariff, the price you pay per unit of energy could go up or down, depending on how your supplier reacts to price fluctuations in the wholesale energy market. 

As you may have learned from experience, it’s pretty unusual for suppliers to cut prices. It’s much more common for them to hike their rates.  

That depends on how long you’ve owed the money to your current supplier. If you’ve owed money for 28 days or less, you’re free to switch. In this instance, the money you owe will be added to final bill from the supplier that you’re leaving. 

But if you’ve been in debt for more than 28 days, the situation is different. In this case, you generally won’t be able to switch until you’ve paid the sum owing.  

The exceptions are if culpability for the debt lies with the supplier you’d like to leave. For instance, if they billed you incorrectly. 

The rules are also different if you’re on a pre-payment meter. In these circumstances, you’ll only be prevented from switching if your debt to your current supplier exceeds £500.  

If your address is changing, you may want to close your account or ask if you can transfer your service to your new property. 

Whichever you choose to do, you’ll get in touch with your supplier at least two days before you move to inform them and give them your new address. That’s so they’ll know where to send your final bill. 

It’s also a good idea to take meter readings and give these to your existing supplier, so you’ve got records in case there’s a dispute with billing. 

When you move in to the new property, once again you’ll need to take readings and settle your final bill when. And most importantly, you should find out which energy company supplies your new address. 

For more help, read our fully comprehensive one-stop guide to moving home and switching energy supplier.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine drove gas prices to record rises and continue to affect wholesale gas prices in Europe and Asia.

While energy prices have come down since record highs, they remain more expensive than before the energy crisis.

Source: IEA (2022), Evolution of key regional natural gas prices, June 2021-October 2022, IEA, Paris
Licence: CC BY 4.0

Typically, you access broadband from a router. This provides both a wireless (Wi-Fi) and a wired connection (via ethernet cables) to connect to the internet.

Broadband is delivered into your home or business through a few different methods, each with its own benefits and drawbacks:

• ADSL stands forasymmetric digital subscriber line, also known asstandard broadband. It provides an internet connection through the same line as your home phone.

• FTTC (sometimes called 'part-fibre') is basic fibre broadband, available in most UK homes and is how you're most likely connected to the internet. It uses fibre optic cables to connect to your local street cabinet and copper cables to connect the cabinet to your premises. With FTTC, you can expect download speeds anywhere from 30 to 250Mbps, which is enough for most households.

• Cable broadband (co-axial) is similar to fibre, but uses co-axial cables to connect your home or business to the local street cabinet. Currently,only Virgin Media use this type of broadband connection.

• Full fibre broadband connects your home to the internet using nothing but fibre optic cables, meaning it doesn't rely on slower copper or coaxial cabling. Setup can take a little longer but the benefits are huge. Full fibre, on average, has better upload speeds, download speeds, and latency compared against copper-based technologies and Virgin Media's coaxial cabling.

• Beyond fixed broadband, mobile broadband connections are becoming more commonplace and can deliver speeds rivalling fibre. With mobile broadband, there's typically no engineer visit as you're using the same kind of internet signal found in your phone.

To find out when your broadband contract ends, you can:

• Check your latest bill

• Log into your account

• Or contact your provider

Ofcom rules dictate that broadband providers must notify you between 10 and 40 days before your contract comes to an end by text, email, and letter. They must outline:

• When your contract ends

• The price you've been paying and what you'll pay when your contract is up

• Any notice periods for leaving

• Your provider's best deals, including those available to new customers

• Details of any other contracts if you've bundled your services, such as phone or TV, including commitment periods for those contracts which may be separate to your broadband agreement.

If your broadband contract is ending soon, start comparing new broadband deals to switch or haggle with your existing broadband provider.

At the end of your contract, your service will continue on a monthly rolling basis, but your monthly bill will typically increase as you're reverted to your network's out-of-contract pricing.

You can either choose to remain with your current provider, or switch to a better deal without having to pay any early exit fees. With One Touch Switch, changing broadband providers is easier and means:

• you're less likely to lose service

• your new provider handles the cancellation

Ask yourself if you’ve been happy with the speeds, customer service and overall experience. If the answer is no, it’s well worth shopping around for a better deal.

If you don’t want to switch, you can call your current provider to haggle for a better deal.

According to The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), advertisers making speed claims "should be able to demonstrate that the speed quoted is achievable for at least 50% of the relevant customer base at peak time (defined by Ofcom as between 8 and 10pm)

However, even though a broadband package may be advertised as a certain speed, it’s common that it won’t always reach that. Many factors can affect your broadband speed, such as your location and the amount of network traffic in your area.

Many providers have minimum speed guarantees. If your speeds are still below the guaranteed minimum after 30 days and your provider hasn’t been able to improve that, you have the right to leave your contract without paying early exit fees.

Whether you're a small or larger business, there are plenty of business broadband and landline deals to choose from. Services can vary from provider to provider, but getting business broadband is pretty straightforward. The first step is to type in your postcode on our business broadband checker to find what's available at your address.

If you require an engineer visit or equipment, this often carries a setup cost.

You can compare broadband contracts with no upfront cost, but note that sometimes, a deal with slightly higher upfront costs might also come with a lower monthly charge, so you’ll actually pay less overall. It’s important to weigh up any upfront costs with the monthly cost.

To see the lowest-cost deals, sort your results by ‘total first-year cost’.