Longest 0% period on a balance transfer credit card now 33 months

Barclaycard has broken the record for the longest introductory interest-free period again as it seeks to maintain top spot in the best buy tables.

The battle to offer the balance transfer credit card with the longest 0% introductory period shows no signs of ending.

Within 12 hours of Halifax increasing the 0% period on its Balance Transfer card from 31 months to a joint market-leading 32, Barclaycard responded with changes of its own.

It increased the 0% period on its longest Platinum card to 33 months from 32, and increased the period on its second-longest Platinum card from 31 months to 32.

Barclaycard is determined to be known for offering the longest 0% periods and has continually broken records for interest-free introductory periods to maintain its supremacy.

Longest 0% periods

So what do these cards look like in terms of the competition? Here are the best buys right now.

Credit card	0% period on balance transfers	Balance transfer fee	Cost of transferring £2,000 balance	Representative APR
Barclaycard 33-Month Platinum Visa	33 months	2.99%	£59.80	18.9%
Barclaycard 32-Month Platinum Visa	32 months	2.89%	£57.80	18.9%
Halifax Balance Transfer MasterCard	32 months	3%	£60	18.9%
MBNA 31-Month Platinum	31 months	2.89%	£57.80	18.9%
Tesco Clubcard Credit Card for Balance Transfers	30 months	2.9%	£58	18.9%
HSBC Credit Card*	30 months	3.3%	£66	18.9%

*HSBC current account customers only

Compare the credit cards with the longest 0% period

Cheaper cards

However, all of these cards with the longest 0% periods have balance transfer fees (a percentage of your debt you have to pay to make a transfer) of 2.89%-3.3%.

You can actually pay just a fee of just 0.5% by opting for a 0% card with a shorter interest-free period. Here are the cheapest cards right now.

Credit card	0% period on balance transfers	Balance transfer fee	Cost of transferring £2,000 balance	Representative APR
Sainsbury's Bank Nectar Low Balance Transfer Fee MasterCard	12 months	0.5%	£10	18.9%
Fluid Low Fee Card	12 months	0.5%	£10	18.9%
Tesco Clubcard Credit Card with Low Balance Transfer fee	12 months	0.65%	£13	18.9%
Post Office Platinum MasterCard	18 months	0.7%	£14	17.8%
Halifax 24-Month Low Balance Transfer Fee	24 months	1.5%	£30	18.9%
Lloyds Platinum 24-Month MasterCard	24 months	1.5%	£30	17.9%
Bank of Scotland Platinum 24-Month MasterCard	24 months	1.5%	£30	17.9%

Compare the 0% credit cards with the lowest balance transfer fee

Get it right first time

However, before you decide which card to go for make sure you work out how much of your debt you can afford to pay off each month. There’s no point going for a shorter 0% period only to find you haven’t paid off your debts at the end of it. That is, after all, the whole point of using a 0% balance transfer card.

You should also make sure you make at least the minimum repayment each month or your 0% period will almost certainly be withdrawn and you’ll get a black mark on your credit report.

Compare 0% balance transfer credit cards

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