Credit Card Articles and News
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• Card companies should provide examples, says debt expert
  Banks and card companies should give customers examples of what they are paying on their credit card bills, according to a representative of one debt counselling service.James Falla, director of Thomas Charles, supported the idea of market regulators asking companies to "clearly print" the examples for card holders to avoid confusion on items such as interest rates.Mr Falla explained: "Particularly with cards that do have high interest rates, they should
• Card holders with credit problems often overlook interest rate
  Many of those who develop credit problems are overlooking the interest rates on the cards which they sign up for, according to one debt counselling service.Thomas Charles & Co has highlighted the lack of knowledge that some card holders demonstrate about the product they are using.The firm's director, James Falla, said that there are some Brits who don't even know what they are paying in interest on they are paying
• 'Panic buying a no-no'
  Panic buying on credit at Christmas is one of the bad decisions that Brits can take, risking leaving them with a financial hangover in the New Year, according to one credit reference agency.Callcredit has also advised shopping around but not overspending on bargain specials.Using all the same passwords and pin numbers online is also a bad idea, says the group, as lax attitude could leave one open to becoming an
• Store card holders paying the penalty
  Store cards are costing the British consumer nearly £900 million more in interest than credit cards, according to new research.A study by uSwitch has determined that using store cards stacks up an additional £892 million of interest in total and have an average APR of 26 per cent, compared to credit cards' 16 per cent.Also, figures show that the amount spent on store cards has now reached £2.17 billion.Mike Naylor,
• Repaying your credit card
  Many people have become reliant on credit cards over recent years, and this is partly due to the convenience and ease that credit cards offer. However, credit cards have become more and more popular over the years, with many cards offering a wide range of benefits, ranging from interest free credit to rewards and discounts. Credit cards can be very useful and beneficial if used and repaid responsibly, but it
• Is a personal loan better than a credit card?
  There are many different types of finance available these days to consumers in the UK, and amongst the most popular forms of finance available are credit cards and personal loans. Essentially both of these forms of finance provide you with the same thing, which is access to money. However, there are some key differences that will determine which is the most suitable for your needs and your circumstances. With regards
• 'Shop around for best cards'
  It is now "more important than ever" to shop around when choosing a credit card, according to one independent financial advisor.Cathy Neal, the senior researcher of Which?, has recommended that consumers keep a close eye on how their card stacks up against others.She said: "We're still feeling the fallout of the credit crisis, and I think we're still going to be feeling the repercussions into 2008. "So it's more important
• Credit card predictions for 2008
  The annual report on the credit card market produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers contains some useful pointers as to what may happen in the world of plastic in 2008. To sum it up in a few words, it looks like things could be getting a whole lot tougher for credit card users. No growth in the credit card market We’ve been borrowing more and more over the last few years, with total
• Barclaycard trials mobile phone payment system
  After conducting a successful internal pilot, Barclaycard will now proceed with a trial of the new mobile phone 'touch-and-go' system, the firm has announced.Customers taking part in the experiment will be able to pay for items costing under £10 with a touch of their mobile phones on a payment terminal.A total of 225 individuals will be given mobiles with the ability to make contactless payments, while 275 will receive a
• About prepaid credit cards
  Most of us know that there are many different credit cards available these days, and many people can’t imagine life without their credit cards, reflecting how reliant the nation has become on these pieces of plastic. However, although credit cards have always been associated with ease, convenience, and flexibility, they have also become known for getting people into serious levels of debt and contributing hugely to the ever-growing debt mountain
• New Black Card is business travelers' tool
  A new credit card has been launched, offering a priority pass into over 500 lounges in international airports around the world.The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is aiming to lure customers into registering for the so-called 'Black Card' with the offer of a three month complimentary trial.Another benefit which looks set to attract those who travel overseas frequently is the inclusion of worldwide travel insurance "for all the family".Also a
• Billions spent on credit cards in Xmas shopping spree
  A large proportion of the money already spent by Brits on Christmas has been funded by credit cards, it has been revealed.Research from Sainsbury's Cards has found that an estimated 26 per cent of items bought in preparation for the festive period were paid for with plastic.This translates to £1.66 billion of the £6.29 billion total that people in the UK have spent preparing themselves for Yuletide.Donald MacLeod, head of
• RBS launches Tap and Go for mobiles
  The Royal Bank of Scotland has developed a method of using the 'Tap and Go' system with a mobile phone and plans to trial the technology in public next year.Tap and Go mobile payments will work in the same way as they do when using a card, using Maestro Paypass.Users are able to touch their mobile phones on a contactless payment terminal to process their transaction.Paul Geddes, chief executive, consumer
• APACS: Use secure code for cards used online
  APACS, the UK trade association for payments and for those institutions that deliver payment services to customers, has recommended that those card-holders who purchase goods online acquire a secure code in order to combat ID fraud.The code can be acquired for any Visa or Mastercard and ensures that any transaction is protected by a password which acts as an extra security measure.APACS spokesman Mark Bowerman advised: "If you haven't [already],
• What you should look for in a credit card
  The world of credit cards has become increasingly competitive over recent years, and many people rely on their credit cards for anything from day to day spending to emergencies or one off, larger purchases. There are many different credit cards on the market these days, with cards to suit all needs and circumstances. However, no matter what sort of card you are looking for there are certain things that you
• Credit card cheques are "money-spinner"
  Credit card cheques have been labelled as a "money-spinner" by one independent financial advisor, which has highlighted the lack of consumer knowledge on the costs related to their use.uSwitch has published figures which show that of the 326 million credit card cheques issued last year, 313 million were sent without being requested.According to calculations, credit card cheques are costing consumers £298 million more in interest and charges than a standard