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Looking to compare credit cards?Credit Card Comparison Online can help you compare, choose and apply online
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| Balance Transfer Offer | Balance Transfer Fee | Typical APR (variable) |
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Virgin | 0% for 15 months |
% | % APR |  |
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Egg | 0% until |
% | % APR | |
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Barclaycard Platinum | 0% for 14 months |
% | % APR | |
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RBS Classic | 0% for 13 months |
% | % APR | |
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Tesco Clubcard | 0% for 13 months |
% | % APR | |
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0% on balance transfers
for 15 months (2.98% fee) % APR
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0% on balance transfers
until 1 August 2009 (3% fee) % APR
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0% purchases until 1 March 2009
% APR
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Rebuild a poor credit history
% APR
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Up to 6% fuel rebate
% APR
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Weekly News Round Up
The week beginning 5 May 2008
Abbey enjoys larger slice of the mortgage market
High Street bank, Abbey, has enjoyed an increase in its share of the mortgage market over recent months, with easier access to funding making it possible for the bank to help consumers that have been turned away elsewhere.
The bank has Spanish origins, and because of this has access to funds from the European Central Bank.
Over the first quarter of this year Abbey has taken a seventeen percent share of the mortgage market.
Mortgage related benefit needs to be reformed
British banking officials state that a mortgage related benefit available to homeowners who lose their jobs needs to be reformed in order to be effective.
The scheme, called the Mortgage Income Support scheme, pays interest on the mortgage for a period if the homeowner loses their job, but cannot be claimed for nine months.
An official from the Council of Mortgage Lenders said: "It has been languishing as a Cinderella benefit for far too long. We have been asking the Government to reform it for many years, well before today's difficult market conditions emerged. But the economic downturn makes it more crucial than ever for ministers to help eligible borrowers claim this benefit so that they can avoid repossession."
Banks need to help families to avoid repossession states Darling
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, has called for banks to provide more help to families in order to help them to avoid repossession.
The chancellor said that banks need to do their bit to help curb repossession levels, which are expected to rocket this year.
The Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, has also been urging banks to provide additional assistance to homeowners who fall behind with repayments.
Mortgages could become more expensive
According to mortgage industry officials the cost of mortgages could continue to rise over the next few months, despite the £50 billion rescue plan that was recently launched by the government.
Officials state that the plan could take some time to take effect, and therefore the cost of mortgages could carry on rising over the coming months.
An official from the Council of Mortgage Lenders said: "In the short term the trend of increasing prices and products being removed from the market is not going to be reversed. As and when the banks start lending to each other, the rate for lending will go down and that means that that will start to bring the price down but it is not going to be a dramatic reversal. It is going to be a slow process at best."
Egg Credit Card Back on Track with 0% for 15 months
As the dust settles on the furore surrounding Egg's decision to close 160,000 accounts, could Egg now be settling down and getting back on track as one of the UK's best credit cards?
Re-launched this month with a lengthened balance transfer offer which sets them back in the position they were in at the end of last year before the ups and downs of the buy out took hold.
The new deal offers 0% on balance transfers for up to 15 months, putting them back alongside Virgin at the top of the credit card comparison best buy tables for balance transfers. Read the full story »
Credit Card Security: Just How Much do they Offer?
Credit card security has become an increasingly important factor when shopping online, over the telephone and even on the high street.
All credit cards offer a certain level of protection of your card details by way of Chip and Pin technologies, and of your cash by way of fraud guarantees and active fraud monitoring.
However, not all credit cards are the same, and just as there are ‘best buys’ for saving on interest charges, there are also certain cardholder services and features to look out for when comparing credit cards for security against fraud. Read the full story »
Credit card rejection levels rocketing
7 May 2008
The global credit crunch has affected the finance markets dramatically, and many lenders have tightened their lending criteria.
As a result, more credit card applications are being rejected, and lenders are currently reporting around 18,000 rejections a day.
People comparing credit cards and looking to apply for a new credit card are being urged to check that they meet the eligibility criteria of a credit card before applying, and also to make sure they meet the target audience of the card in terms of credit status. Read the full story »
Credit crunch leads to rise in credit card use
1 May 2008
Over the past six months the global credit crunch, coupled with high mortgage repayments, has led to many households struggling with their finances.
Recent research shows that more and more consumers are now turning to credit cards to provide them with a short term solution to keeping on top of their finances in what has become a very difficult financial climate. Read the full story »
More news in our credit card guide »
A. The main differences between applying for a credit card online, over the phone, or in branch is the time it takes to complete the application form and for the process to get the new credit card into your hands, and also the ease and convenience of actually applying.
Applying online is by the far the quickest and easiest option when applying for a credit card. Online applications are now becoming even quicker with electronic signing of credit agreements and instant online decisions.
Of course, however you decide to apply for a credit card the most important thing to do is make sure the card you’ve chosen is the best one for your needs by comparing the available offers first. Read the full answer »
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Q. How much will I have to pay back of my 0% purchase spend each month?
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Q. What's the best type of credit card to use abroad?
