There's never been a better time to get a credit card


Updated on 10 January 2012 | 4 Comments

I can't remember a time when there were so many great credit cards on the market. Make sure you don't miss out and snap up a great bit of plastic while they're available.

It's rash to take on too much debt in tough time, but there's no doubt that there's some fantastic credit cards available at the moment. If you use the cards carefully, now is the best time ever to take out a credit card.

0% new purchases cards 

If you want to spread out the cost of a big purchase, 0% new purchase credit cards can be very useful. 

If you took out a Halifax All in One MasterCard and made a big purchase on the same day, you wouldn’t have to pay any interest on the resulting debt for 15 months!

And Halifax isn’t the only card you could use. You could get 15-month 0% periods with both the Tesco Clubcard MasterCard and the Marks & Spencer Credit Card

We've extolled the virtues of 0% new purchases cards many times before, but what’s different now is the quality and range of cards that are available. A few years ago, we used to get excited about cards that offered 12-month interest-free periods, but now there are now three cards with 15-month periods. 

In fact, I can’t ever remember seeing a no-fee 0% purchases card with a 0% period lasting longer than 15 months. I was worried that my memory might be faulty on this point, so I asked our friends at Moneyfacts to have a look in their database. They have no record of a longer 0% period either. 

So I’m in no doubt - now is the best time ever to get a 0% new purchases card. 

Cashback cards 

It’s a similar story when you look at cashback credit cards. There have been plenty of good cashback cards available in the past, but it’s unusual to see three strong competitive cards on offer at the same time. 

If you want to get a chunky introductory offer, go for the Capital One World MasterCard. You’ll get 5% cashback on all your spending for the first 99 days you have the card. 

Heavy drivers should look at the Santander 123 card as it will give you 3% cashback on your petrol purchases. 

Big spenders should consider the American Express Platinum Cashback Card which pays 2.5% cashback for the first three months you have the card, then 1.25% thereafter. What’s more, the cashback rate goes back up to 2.5% for a month every year – as long as you spend at least £10,000 a year. So this card is a great option for affluent folk.

You do have to pay an annual fee for the Santander and Amex cards, but I still think they’re great cards and I struggle to remember a time when there was such a strong range of cashback cards available. 

0% balance transfer cards 

I’m also very impressed by some of the balance transfer cards you can get at the moment. Look at these beauties: 

Top 0% balance transfer cards 

Card

0% balance transfer period

Balance transfer fee

‘Revert to’ interest rate

Barclaycard 24 month Platinum Visa

24 months

3.2% fee

17.9% APR

HSBC Visa

23 months

3.3% fee

17.9% APR

Barclaycard 22 month Platinum Visa

22 months

2.9% fee

17.5% APR

Halifax MasterCard

22 months

3.5% fee

17.9% APR

Barclaycard Low Fee Platinum Visa

16 months

1.6% (after a rebate)

18.9% APR

As with purchase cards, the length of the 0% periods for balance transfers is exceptionally long. I can’t ever remember seeing a 0% balance transfer card with a longer 0% period than 24 months. 

The only downside is that all these cards charge fees when you make the transfer. Back in the early noughties you could easily get a 0% balance transfer card with no fee. So you might argue that this isn’t the best time ever to get a balance transfer card. 

There’s something in that view, but let’s not forget that the Barclaycard Low Fee Platinum Visa only charges a 1.6% fee and offers a 16-month 0% period. Back in the days of no-fee cards, the interest-free periods tended to be much shorter, so I think you can make a strong case that now is the best time ever to take out a 0% balance transfer card. 

And when you look at the credit card market as a whole, I’m in no doubt. There’s never been a better range of credit cards on offer. 

Two caveats 

Before I finish, I should add two caveats.

Credit cards can, of course, be very dangerous. If you spend more than you can afford, your debt can spiral out of control and then you’ll be in a right mess. The golden rule is that you should always pay off your credit card bill in full every month. 

The only exception to that rule is if you have a 0% purchases card. If you pay off the debt in full at the end of the first month, you’ve pretty much rendered the whole exercise pointless! With a 0% purchases card, it’s best to make monthly payments into a savings account – then you’ll definitely be able to pay off the debt at the end of the 0% period. 

The other important caveat is that not all applicants will get these cards. Credit card providers are likely to cherry pick the applicants with the best credit records. 

That’s a shame, but the reality remains that there is a fantastic range of cards available at the moment. I think it’s the best time ever to get a credit card

More:  Earn cashback from your credit card | You can beat Barclaycard’s 24-month 0% card

Comments


Be the first to comment

Do you want to comment on this article? You need to be signed in for this feature

Copyright © lovemoney.com All rights reserved.

 

loveMONEY.com Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with Firm Reference Number (FRN): 479153.

loveMONEY.com is a company registered in England & Wales (Company Number: 7406028) with its registered address at First Floor Ridgeland House, 15 Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1DY, United Kingdom. loveMONEY.com Limited operates under the trading name of loveMONEY.com Financial Services Limited. We operate as a credit broker for consumer credit and do not lend directly. Our company maintains relationships with various affiliates and lenders, which we may promote within our editorial content in emails and on featured partner pages through affiliate links. Please note, that we may receive commission payments from some of the product and service providers featured on our website. In line with Consumer Duty regulations, we assess our partners to ensure they offer fair value, are transparent, and cater to the needs of all customers, including vulnerable groups. We continuously review our practices to ensure compliance with these standards. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy and currency of our editorial content, users should independently verify information with their chosen product or service provider. This can be done by reviewing the product landing page information and the terms and conditions associated with the product. If you are uncertain whether a product is suitable, we strongly recommend seeking advice from a regulated independent financial advisor before applying for the products.