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MBNA credit card review: RSPCA

IT'S becoming increasingly popular to support your chosen charity by opting for a credit card that helps raise funds (and awareness) for your favoured cause. It's simple, easy to give and you'll be helping without even thinking about it.

The RSPCA credit card is now run with a little help from MBNA - so you can now help support their valuable work every time you spend on your RSPCA credit card.

The RSPCA will receive a substantial £20 when you first spend on your card and it doesn't stop there.

For every £100 you notch up on your credit card, the RSPCA will receive 25p - and it won't cost you anything.

Whilst clocking up £100 spends on your credit card could begin to pinch your pocket - it certainly won't hurt at the RSPCA. So, the guilt you feel when you have to buy that vital pair of shoes, the jeans to die for and the dress to make your ex weep the next time he sees you can all be cancelled out by the thought of money going to the good people at the RSPCA. Well - sort of!

But, of course a credit card's got to do something for you, too. And the RSPCA credit card doesn't fall short here.

You'll get a 12-month 0% interest free period on balance transfers (3% handling fee applies), 0% on purchases for three months and a decent 15.9% APR after your introductory 0% rates run out.

Interest Rates and Fees
		Notes..
Typical APR	15.9% APR (variable)	- The typical APR is the rate most people are offered.
Introductory Purchases	0% for 3 months	Payments will be applied towards 0% purchases before 0% balance transfers. However, once the 0% purchase period ends, payments will be applied first towards 0% balance transfers. After the introductory period purchases will be charged at the standard rate of 15.9% p.a.
Balance Transfers	0% for 12 months Includes transferring cash into a current account (4% fee)	Must be made within 90 days of account opening to qualify. Also includes credit card cheques and money transfers (but with a 4% handling fee on money transfers). Payments are applied towards 0% purchases before 0% balance transfers, but when the 0% purchase period ends payments will be applied towards 0% balance transfers before standard rate purchases. After the 0% balance transfer period ends, balance transfers are charged at the standard rate of 17.9% p.a. and money transfers and credit card cheques are charged at the standard rate of 19.9% p.a.
Balance Transfer Fee	3% (£3 minimum)	This fee applies to balance transfers and credit card cheques. Money transfers will be charged a 4% fee.
Cash Withdrawal Rate	27.9% p.a. (variable)	-
Cash Withdrawal Fee	3% (£3 minimum)	-
Annual Fee	None	-
Foreign Transaction Fee	2.99%	This fee will be charged if you make a purchase or cash withdrawal in a foreign currency.

Rewards
		Notes..
Reward #1	RSPCA Donations	MBNA will donate money to RSPCA when you take out the card and every time you use the card to make a purchase. Donations are paid by MBNA and do not cost you a penny. MBNA will donate £20 to the RSPCA when you take out the RSPCA credit card, plus an additional 25p will be donated to the RSPCA for every £100 you spend in purchases on the card.

Cardholder Services & Extras
Online Account Management		You can log in to a website and manage your MBNA RSPCA credit card account online. Optional paperless statements.
Fraud Guarantee		There is no liability or excess to pay for theft, loss or fraudulent use online or on the high street, as long as you notify MBNA as soon as your card cannot be found or you notice any unsual transactions on your account.
Fraud Monitoring		Fraud Warning System MBNA will monitor your account for any suspicious activity. They also offer a purchase disputes team and a 24/7 365 helpline.
Identity Protection		MBNA do offer a Identity Theft Protection Scheme, which is a free booklet offering advice on how to protect yourself from ID theft.
Verified by Visa		An extra layer of security when shopping online. Register and set up a password-protected identity-check when you shop online with participating online retailers.
Purchase Protection Insurance
Purchase Delivery Insurance
Comprehensive Travel Insurance
Travel Accident Insurance
Travel Inconvenience Insurance
Assistance Abroad
Emergency Card Replacement
Other Extras	- 24 hour UK based customer services - Up to 3 additional cardholders free.
Optional Extras	These are extras that you can choose, but you will have to pay for them. - Payment protection - Card protection - Identity protection alert.

Payments & Payment Details
		Notes..
Credit Limit	£1,500 assumed	Credit limit may vary from person to person.
Interest Free Period	Up to 50 days	For purchases if you pay your statement balance in full and on time every month. There is no interest free period for balance transfers, cheques, money transfers or cash advances - except for those within an interest free promotional offer.
Minimum Monthly Payment	1% (£25 minimum)	If your balance is less than £25 you must repay your balance in full. Otherwise, you must repay the greater of: - £25, OR - 1% of your statement balance before any default charges and interest, plus any default charges and interest on the statement.
Allocation of Payments	Low interest rate balances » Higher interest rate balances	Where there are two or more balances at the same promotional rate they will repaid in the following order: - The one which expires first, Then - If the expiry dates are the same - the one which started first, Then - If the expiry and start dates are the same - the one with the lowest standard rate.
Default Charges	£12	This is how much you will be charged for late payments, returned payments and if you go over your credit limit.

Card Details
		Notes..
Online Application	Yes	-
Card Type	Classic	-
Payment Company	Visa	The company who provides the payment technology and infrastructure to allow you to use this credit card. Retailers and ATM machines displaying the 'Visa' logo will accept this credit card.
Card Issuer	MBNA	The bank who issues this credit card.
Card Advertiser	MBNA RSPCA	The company who advertises and promotes this credit card.

MBNA RSPCA Credit Card User Reviews

Review Continued...

The RSPCA credit card comes with a free theft, loss and internet fraud guarantee - so if the worst does happen and your card details fall into the wrong hands, you won't be liable for any expenditure that wasn't yours.

There's no annual fee, you can apply online and once you've been accepted - you'll be able to manage your account online too - handy when you need to keep an eye on things (and better for the environment too when you think of all that paper you'll be saving).

RSPCA donations

The RSPCA credit card is a credit card aimed at helping raise funds and awareness for this noble cause. While it doesn't offer the longest 0% periods or the lowest APR, if you can pay off your balance in full each month then there's no reason why not to plump for a charity credit card.

The RSPCA benefit significantly from their relationship with MBNA to offer the RSPCA credit card. For each new card account opened, MBNA will give £20 to the RSPCA, followed by a continual donation of 25p for every £100 that's spent on an RSPCA credit card.

These donations do mount up and can provide vital support for the continued efforts of helping vulnerable animals around the UK.

Charity credit cards offer an easy and forget-free way of donating money to good causes - as long as you keep your balance repaid in full (outside of the introductory periods) you can keep your donations coming from the issuing giant MBNA instead of your own pocket.

Interest rates and introductory deals

The RSPCA credit card is first and foremost a charity credit card. This means that to benefit from carrying this card you should be someone who regularly keeps their credit card balance repaid - for the primary reason of keeping you free from footing the bill of these donations instead of letting MBNA pay.

However, there are a couple of introductory offers available which do allow some slight straying from the 'in-full' regimented monthly repayments.

The RSPCA credit card from MBNA offers 0% on balance transfers for 12 months. There is a 3% fee, but this deal can help you to clear up existing credit card balances and save money in interest charges.

The 0% purchase deal runs for 3 months - while this is significantly shorter, if you're looking at splashing out on a large purchase in the not too distant future it would allow you to spread the cost over the next few months without being charged interest.

It is important to remember though, that due to the purchase period being significantly shorter than the balance transfer offer, this card is not suitable for both introductory balance transfers and purchases because of the way payments will go towards cheaper balances first, leaving higher rate balances on your account to accrue interest.

So use the RSPCA for either it's 0% balance transfer deal or 0% purchase deal - but not for both!

Final Word

It's an easy way to give to your favourite charity, offers a decent 12 month 0% interest free period on balance transfers, or 0% on purchases for three months, and most of all will help the RSPCA.

If you're going to have a credit card - it may as well be one that not only offers you a good deal, but also helps out a charity you care about too.

Apply Online for MBNA RSPCA credit card »