Last chance to get 0% deal on Barclaycard Initial credit builder card

This card for people without a great credit rating has a market-leading 0% offer on purchases, but only until Friday.

Borrowers with a poor credit rating, or no rating at all, need to move quickly if they want to get their hands on the Barclaycard Initial.

The card offers five months of 0% interest on purchases, a very unusual benefit when it comes to credit builder cards. But we understand the 0% deal is being cut on Friday, so time is running out.

About the Barclaycard Initial

The Barclaycard Initial card is designed for borrowers just starting out with credit, or who want to improve their existing credit rating.

After the five-month 0% period ends, there’s a representative APR of 34.9% to take into account, so make sure you pay off your balance in full each month. However, your account will be reviewed within 12 months, and your rate may well be cut if you always pay on time and stay within your credit limit.

Borrowers start with a credit limit of up to £1,200.

The best of the rest

Credit cards with 0% interest periods on spending are generally the preserve of borrowers with good credit ratings, but at the moment you actually have two to choose from If you don’t have such a good credit rating.

As well as the Barclaycard Initial, there’s the Luma MasterCard, which comes with a three-month 0% period, followed by a representative APR of 35.9%. You get a slightly higher credit limit of up to £1,500 too.

Luma says you’re likely to be accepted if you are over 18, on the electoral roll and have past experience of managing credit, even if you’ve had County Court Judgments (CCJs) and defaults.

Beyond that there isn’t much to separate the credit builder cards on the market besides slightly different representative APRs, though the aqua Advance is worth a mention. This card starts with a representative APR of 34.95 but pay on time and you could cut your rate all the way down to 19.9% – that’s not much more than mainstream credit cards charge.

For more, read Best credit cards if you have a bad credit history

I have an average credit rating

If your credit rating isn’t quite spotless but isn’t a bit of a disaster area either, there is a middle-ground credit card.

The Barclaycard 18-month Platinum Visa offers 0% interest on purchases for three months and 0% on balance transfers for 18 months (with a 2.9% transfer fee).

For more on this card, check out Barclaycard relaunches 0% balance transfer card for average credit ratings.

Compare credit builder credit cards

More on borrowing:

The best 0% balance transfer credit cards

Best credit cards if you have a bad credit history

The best money transfer credit cards

The best 0% purchase credit cards

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