Which Credit Cards are the Best?
When choosing a credit card there are many factors to take into consideration. There are good cards depending on which factors are your top priority. Here is an overview of the main factors.
Interest Rate: Are you going to be able to pay off your entire credit card balance each month? If yes, then you should be more concerned with the perks or add-ons that banks offer. Interest rate will be secondary because you will not be carrying a balance. Some of the extras include cashback offers, flying mileage and points. Financial advisors suggest you never completely loose sight of the interest rate. You never know when you may lose your job or are otherwise unable to pay the balance. American Express offers several cards depending on what benefit interests you. The American Express Nectar Card gives Nectar points, the American Express British Airways Card gives BA miles and the American Express Platinum Card offers money back incentives as well as low APRs.
Interest Free Period: Look for a 0% APR for a period of time. You can find a card that allows 0% transfers from other credit cards as well as 0% APR on new purchases for a time period. The best deal out there right now for a credit card that offers 0% APR for both transfer balances and new purchases for 6 months as well as travel points with a 15.9% APR is the Morgan Stanley Buy and Fly Card. If you don’t care about the bonus points, there are two good credit card offers with 0% APR for 6 months for both transfers and purchases with a 14.9% APR. Both the Cooperative Bank Platinum Credit Card and the HSBC credit card have these offers. Both are reputable credit card companies.
The interest free period can vary greatly between card companies. You can’t beat the Halifax One Credit Card! It offers a 12 month, 0% APR on balance transfers and a low 15.9% APR., making this the best deal out there for 0% transfer cards. The Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card also offers 0% for 12 months on transfers, but has a slightly higher 17.9% APR. Again, these are both highly regarded credit card companies.
Eligibility for offers for 0% credit cards usually (but not always) depend on the credit score of the applicant. If you have a high credit rating, you're much more likely to qualify. It's worth applying, though, because usually they'll offer you a low-interest credit card even if you don't apply for the zero-interest offer.
Some of the top no interest credit cards offered in the UK include Citi Platinum Select Card, which offers 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for a period of 12 months. They offer ?0 liability on unauthorized purchases and do not charge any annual fee. The 0% card has a regular APR of 10.74%. Chase Platinum Credit Card, too, offers 0% credit cards for 12 months or for 3 months, depending on the credit history of the applicant.
Blue from American Express features a 0% introductory APR up to 15 months and charges no yearly fee. The card's regular APR is about 11.74% and applicants do not have to have an exceptional credit record in order to get this credit offer.
There is also Blue Cash from American Express, which offers 5% cash back on all qualified purchases. This offer for their 0% credit cards is for six months and they do not charge an annual fee.
With Value Miles Platinum Visa Card, (a frequent flier credit card), the card holder can earn one value mile for every dollar spent. With 24,000 miles you earn can get an airline ticket for any nearby destination. They also do not charge yearly fees and the 0% interest applies to the first 12 months.
HSBC Platinum Master Card offers 12 months of 0% APR and it benefits include unlimited purchase protection and insurance for travel accidents. Their regular APR is 10.74%.
Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card offers a ?50 gift card and for every ?1 spent on purchases in drugstores, supermarkets and gas stations can card holders get 5 reward points and 1 point for every other purchase. Of a similar type is the GM Flexible Earnings Card, which offers 0% introductory APR for a year which presents a full one-percent cash back choice, otherwise the cardholder can choose a one-percent earnings towards any new GM vehicle.
Other companies that offer 0% credit cards also include Starbucks Duetto Visa for six months and Northwest Airlines- WorldPerks Visa Platinum Card, which has a credit line up to ?7,500 and a 15,000 miles annual WorldPerks travel reduction. The Northwest card does charge an annual fee of ?55, though.
Copyright 2008 0% Credit Cards UK Guide Articles By Kate Spencer. All rights reserved
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