Best credit cards rated: Top for cashback, rewards and clearing debt
- Best credit cards rated: Top for cashback, rewards and clearing debton June 23, 2022 at 10:20 am
This is Money has scoured the market and picked out the best credit card deals to help you make the most of your money – whatever you plan to pay for on plastic.
- Best balance transfer credit cards to help you clear your debtson June 23, 2022 at 8:04 am
As Britain becomes further entangled in the cost of living crisis and braces for even higher inflation, those with credit card debts could be feeling the strain.
- Millions more Britons locked out of credit from mainstream lenderson June 23, 2022 at 6:00 am
Access to affordable credit can be important for people’s financial stability but one in five say they feel locked out of the financial system.
- Klarna will show up on your credit file from today – but does it affect your credit score?on June 1, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Buy now, pay later giant will report purchases paid on time, late payments and unpaid purchases to Experian and TransUnion.
- Credit card borrowing hit 16-year high in April, BofE data showson May 31, 2022 at 1:21 pm
Britons borrowed £1.4billion on credit cards, overdrafts, personal loans and car finance – the third consecutive month where borrowing topped £1billion.
- Virgin Money launches monthly prize draw worth one million pointson May 30, 2022 at 9:49 am
Virgin Money has launched a new prize draw offering its current account customers the chance to win one million points to spend with rewards club Virgin Red.
- Why did Experian send 24 emails and offer me 39 separate credit cards?on May 18, 2022 at 8:30 am
For the past two months Experian has flooded my inbox with no fewer than 24 tempting credit card and personal loan deals. Four arrived in one week.
- Credit card borrowing rises at fastest pace since 2006, BoE sayson May 4, 2022 at 1:28 pm
The BoE data shows credit card borrowing jumped by 10.6% in the last year, as the cost of living squeeze hits millions of households.
- Spending abroad: Best debit cards, credit cards and foreign exchangeon April 28, 2022 at 11:53 am
Many Britons will likely be hoping to put the last two years of lockdowns and tedious travel restrictions behind them by holidaying abroad in 2022.
- Avios, Amex or Virgin: What’s the best reward scheme?on April 26, 2022 at 8:09 am
Britons are being squeezed by the cost of living crisis and many will be looking for smart ways to make their money go further.
- Buy now, pay later outpaces ‘traditional’ debts such as mortgages or car loanson April 11, 2022 at 8:12 am
Among under-35s, as many as one in four believe they can’t get into debt using buy now, pay later when shopping online.
- Barclays to begin charging to replace debit cardson April 6, 2022 at 10:14 am
From August, the first replacement card will be free but any more will cost customers £5 if they misplace one or need to update their details.
- Credit card debt rose £1.5bn in February in biggest monthly rise for 30 YEARSon March 29, 2022 at 1:08 pm
New credit card borrowing in February was up 9.4% in a year while the size of the typical mortgage increased 10.4%, according to latest Bank of England data.
- How families are feeding themselves using buy now, pay later lenderson March 23, 2022 at 10:53 am
Like many online shoppers, Student Synthia Gazi (pictured) was first tempted to use buy now, pay later services to buy clothes.
- Balance transfer credit cards to help you clear debt more cheaplyon March 18, 2022 at 8:52 am
As long as borrowers stick by conditions they can use these to clear debts with no interest, instead of typical credit card rates of 25 to 30 per cent interest.
- ‘It was BNPL or starve’ – one in 12 use Buy Now, Pay Later to pay for food and everyday essentialson March 12, 2022 at 9:02 am
The charity found that young adults, those in debt and those on Universal Credit were twice as likely to use BNPL for essentials than the general public.
- Best credit cards: Barclaycard offers new generous Avios dealon February 28, 2022 at 2:22 pm
Barclaycard has partnered with Avios to launch two new credit cards, giving new and existing customers the opportunity to collect points for every £1 spent.
- The financial adviser who spent her way to a debt of £30,000on February 23, 2022 at 3:18 pm
Despite being a qualified financial advisor, Catherine Morgan (pictured) spiralled into debt after developing an addiction to clothes shopping.
- Are credit cards being replaced by buy now, pay later?on February 18, 2022 at 8:56 am
Younger people are increasingly ditching credit cards in favour of buy now, pay later schemes a new study has found.
- Britons more likely to buy now, pay later for a washing machine than clotheson February 11, 2022 at 9:01 am
More than a third said they wouldn’t use BNPL providers – which include the likes of Klarna, Afterpay and Clearpay – at all, according to a YouGov poll.
- How can young adults get themselves out of debt?on January 23, 2022 at 3:39 pm
The number of 16-24-year-olds contacting the FOS for debt help has risen sharply. We explain how to get your finances back on track.
- Buy now, pay later used by 42% of Gen Z in Britain last yearon January 18, 2022 at 9:23 am
Nearly half of 16-to-24 year-olds in Britain used BNPL services last year to help spread the cost of expensive fashion items and snazzy tech gear, new research suggests.
- Amazon launches buy now, pay later in Britain after partnering with Barclayson January 14, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Britons now have the option of buy now pay later when shopping on Amazon’s website, following a partnership between the retail giant and Barclays Bank.
- Avios points: New offers from Amex and BA 2022on January 7, 2022 at 12:27 pm
The promotions will be running until 28 February, meaning anyone wanting to make the most of them will need to act fairly rapidly.
- How to get out debt in 2022: Eight steps to helpon January 1, 2022 at 11:30 am
Last year has been one of the most financially challenging. To help those who have found themselves in debt, This is Money speaks to the experts for advice on how to get out of the red.
- Why now is a good time to credit card balance transfer to clear debton December 20, 2021 at 11:46 am
For those who use credit cards to manage their debts, balance transfer cards are a way to cut down on costly interest payments by putting everything in one place.
- Is buy now pay later as risky as credit card borrowing?on December 20, 2021 at 11:07 am
Almost eight million Britons currently have significant outstanding balances with buy now pay later (BNPL) providers, averaging £538 each, according to new research.
- Klarna browser add-on puts buy now pay later across all online storeson December 13, 2021 at 9:04 am
Klarna has brought its BNPL app features to computer-based shoppers, and will also alert them to coupons and cashback offers.
- Credit card rates snowball at Christmas as cost-of-living crisis biteson December 8, 2021 at 2:22 pm
Spenders are on the cusp of the biggest squeeze for a decade as soaring energy and fuel prices send inflation sky rocketing.
- Where can Visa credit card holders go when Amazon stops accepting their payment next year?on November 23, 2021 at 5:06 pm
Amazon’s decision to no longer accept payments from UK-registered Visa credit cards from next year will undoubtedly cause concern among many UK shoppers.
- Calculator: Credit card repayment reality checkon November 23, 2021 at 4:50 pm
See how long it will take you to clear your credit card balance if you only make minimum repayments (it’s scarey stuff)
- Contactless card limit raised to £100 but many stores won’t allow iton October 19, 2021 at 10:01 pm
When reporter AMELIA MURRAY (pictured) went to try out her new spending power in London, she was met with bemusement and suspicion.
- Set your own contactless spending limit ahead of new £100 capon October 13, 2021 at 8:40 am
The new contactless limit is being increased from £45 and customers will be able to make up to five transactions, worth up to £300, without being asked to enter their Pin.
- American Express gold card: Now offering 30,000 bonus pointson October 1, 2021 at 7:30 am
New American Express customers could earn £264 in Nectar points or £150 in Amazon vouchers if they spend a certain amount after joining.
- Monzo unveils new buy now, pay later product called Flexon September 17, 2021 at 6:55 am
The online banking service will be offering its customers credit limits of up to £3,000 and will allow them to spread the cost of purchases over three, six or 12 months.
- Could Amazon be about to launch a buy now pay later service in Britain?on September 3, 2021 at 9:25 am
Amazon customers in the UK may soon be able to split the cost of their purchases into smaller monthly payments as it launches the service to some in the US.
- August bank holiday was busiest spending period since Christmas 2019on September 1, 2021 at 1:25 pm
The biggest upsurge in spending was in entertainment, leisure as well as food and drink as people celebrated the long weekend by going out to pubs, restaurants, festivals and zoos.
- Lloyds Bank launches new cashback credit card: Is it any good?on August 5, 2021 at 8:05 am
Lloyds Bank has launched a new credit card enabling its customers to earn cashback every time they spend.
- A credit crunch is on the cards as shoppers hit the high street againon August 4, 2021 at 9:24 am
Now shoppers are back out on the High Street in their droves and in May, consumers borrowed more money than they paid off for the first time since August 2020, according to the Bank of England.
- Provident tells former customers to use ethical lenders as watchdog raps compensation schemeon July 14, 2021 at 2:02 pm
Around 280,000 customers of its closed doorstep lending arm will receive emails directing them towards the UK’s 250 credit unions, and a group of nearly 50 affordable credit providers.
- Increasing number of Britons turning to Buy now, pay later schemeson July 5, 2021 at 3:44 pm
An increasing number of Britons used buy now, pay later schemes during the pandemic as people turned to online shopping during the lockdowns.
- How to get out of debt and your overdrafton July 2, 2021 at 6:46 am
Around 14% of higher-rate and additional rate taxpayers fall ‘into the red’ for at least half the month compared to just 9% of basic-rate taxpayers, data from Hargreaves Lansdown claims.
- M&S Club Rewards credit card: Is it any good?on June 18, 2021 at 6:59 am
M&S Bank has launched a new rewards credit card offering its customers enhanced rewards and a range of shopping vouchers among other benefits.
- Amigo Loans asks 4,000 borrowers why they voted against proposed rescue schemeon June 11, 2021 at 2:06 pm
Borrowers of beleaguered subprime lender Amigo Loans have hit back after it sent them a survey asking them why they voted against its rescue plan.
- HALF of 16-24s don’t know that a missed payment can damage their credit scoreon June 10, 2021 at 7:55 am
Young borrowers are unknowingly putting their financial futures at risk, with many unaware about the damaging implications of missing loan or credit card repayments.
- Best credit cards deals for purchases, holidays and clearing debtson June 3, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Although availability of interest-free deals and cards is low by historical standards, it has bounced back in recent months and there are now plenty of decent options, even if they aren’t as generous.
- British Airways to double the space on flights for Avios flyers in Julyon June 3, 2021 at 6:35 am
British Airways has handed families and holidaymakers ‘great news’ in the form of more than 250,000 extra seats for travellers booking flights using Avios points from the end of July.
- Barclaycard customer gets old credit limit back after winning appealon May 21, 2021 at 6:55 am
Long-standing Barclaycard customer Mark Gough was told his credit card limit would be cut by £12,000, even though his income hadn’t changed. However, the bank changed its mind after he complained.
- Should you really fly now and pay later? Here’s what you need to knowon May 14, 2021 at 6:44 am
As buy now, pay later services like Klarna continue to grow in popularity, an increasing number of travel-focused services have cropped up.
- Government Debt Relief Order changes could help thousands more ‘freeze’ what they oweon May 10, 2021 at 4:21 pm
Some 13,000 more people with problem debt could be allowed to ‘freeze’ their payments from next month under proposals published today by the Government.
- American Express offers Gold cardmembers £10 back with Deliveroo every monthon May 8, 2021 at 7:59 am
Amex may have caught the eye of shoppers and takeaway fans this week after announcing one of its credit cards is now offering cashback when used for Deliveroo.
- American Express to cut cashback on its credit cards by as much as 50%on May 7, 2021 at 11:41 am
Amex’s market-leading cashback credit cards are getting a little less generous, with the provider slashing how much customers earn by as much as 50 per cent in some cases.
- Government launches ‘Breathing Space’ debt respite scheme: Will it work?on May 4, 2021 at 8:00 am
Britons with mounting debts will be able to ask for them to be put on hold for two months from today, after proposals two years in the making came into effect.
- Barclaycard customers facing credit limit cuts handed more confusionon May 1, 2021 at 6:50 am
Barclaycard customers who have had their credit limits cut by as much as 95 per cent have faced yet more confusion, after wrongly being told new limits were based on their average balances.
- Personal loan rates on £10,000 hit record lows despite the pandemicon May 1, 2021 at 6:49 am
Those looking to borrow to fund home improvements might not be able to take advantage of an interest-free advance from Conservative Party HQ, but they can benefit from a recent fall in loan rates.
- The British buy now, pay later firms: AppToPay, Butter and Curveon April 27, 2021 at 8:37 am
Although a small percentage of the online credit market, the buy now, pay later sector has been booming, and everyone wants a slice of it, however controversial it has proven to be.
- 52% of young buy now, pay later borrowers sign up unknowinglyon April 23, 2021 at 7:50 am
Checkout credit providers have been accused of making it too easy for young people to get into financial trouble, after research found they often didn’t realise they were taking on debt.
- My Barclaycard limit is back to where it was when I earned £80-a-weekon April 22, 2021 at 8:27 am
I have felt Barclaycard’s customer service disaster personally. My credit limit has been cut from £8,500 to £1,000 for no discernible reason.
- The pandemic is killing plastic: Barclaycard caps are the final strawon April 21, 2021 at 8:14 am
Credit card provider Barclaycard is facing a mass exodus of loyal customers after suddenly slashing the credit limits of more than 100,000 customers by as much as 99 per cent.
- Barclaycard under pressure to reverse credit limit cuts for steady customerson April 21, 2021 at 7:51 am
Barclaycard customers have called on the provider to change its mind over its heavy-handed cutting of credit limits of cardholders whose financial circumstances have improved over the last year
- Barclaycard tries to defend slashing credit card limits of loyal customerson April 19, 2021 at 4:33 pm
One longstanding Barclaycard customer saw his limit cut from £11,000 to £300, while another’s was slashed from £8,500 to £1,000 without any checks on their finances.
- Klarna clampdown: Regulation of buy now, pay later credit firms due within weekson April 17, 2021 at 6:40 am
Plans to regulate Britain’s booming buy now, pay later industry will be released within weeks, This is Money understands, after a review found it posed ‘a significant potential consumer harm’.
- Barclaycard cuts customers’ spending limits by more than 85%on April 15, 2021 at 9:39 am
Credit card limits are tailored to individuals. Those with larger incomes and good repayment histories can usually borrow more; but limits can be cut if you fall behind on repayments.
- RateSetter hands back £384m to 45,000 investors after Metro Bank takeoveron April 14, 2021 at 8:57 am
45,000 investors in the now-defunct peer-to-peer lender RateSetter have had their accounts closed and their money returned after it was taken over by Metro Bank last August.
- I’m sure PayPal never told me I could take a payment holidayon April 13, 2021 at 6:26 am
Hady Ahmad, 40, an oil industry engineer from West London, saw his income dry up towards the end of last February as the price of oil fell and travel restrictions were imposed due to the pandemic.
- Buy now pay later small print can take up to an hour to readon April 7, 2021 at 7:55 am
Klarna, which has more than 12 million UK customers, has the longest terms and conditions at 13,637 words and would take 57 minutes to read. The average word count is 8,673.
- Why will it take a year for HSBC to sort out my Section 75 claim?on April 2, 2021 at 8:11 am
Roy made a claim for a cancelled New York trip in August 2020 with HSBC. However, he has been told he might not get a pay out until 2022.
- Has Klarna killed the store credit card? Just 5 retailer-branded cards now existon April 2, 2021 at 7:16 am
Busted retailers and booming buy now, pay later payment methods has served to all but kill off the shop-branded credit card, new data suggests.
- Amigo Loans scheme to safeguard its survival approved by High Courton March 31, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Britain’s largest guarantor lender Amigo Loans has been given the green light by the High Court to proceed with a scheme designed to cap the cost of compensation for mis-sold loans.
- Visa to join Mastercard in hiking interchange fees for UK shopperson March 17, 2021 at 3:28 pm
Regulators have been urged to crack down on ‘profiteering’ by Britain’s two largest card providers after Visa appeared to be joining Mastercard in massively hiking interchange fees this year.
- John Lewis and M&S launch buy now, pay later schemeson March 12, 2021 at 10:45 am
John Lewis has launched a regulated online payment method in partnership with French bank BNP Paribas that will let customers borrow up to £35,000 to fund home improvements and pay it back over a year
- Balance transfer credit cards: Interest-free deals continue to increaseon March 8, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Barclaycard, MBNA, Sainsbury’s Bank and Virgin Money have all increased the length of their 0% balance transfer and purchase terms since January.
- No-interest loan pilot from Treasury for hard-up borrowerson March 5, 2021 at 9:10 am
The no-interest loan scheme was first unveiled by former Chancellor Philip Hammond in the 2018 Budget to help those below the poverty line access credit. But funding has only just been proposed.
- Loan gripes soar as families struggle to afford repayments in pandemicon March 3, 2021 at 8:57 am
Guarantor loans, which are typically taken out with the backing of a family member, were the most complained about finance product between October and December last year.
- Ombudsman complaints: Guarantor loans replace PPIon March 3, 2021 at 8:47 am
Thousands of Britons are complaining to the Financial Ombudsman Service about being mis-sold unaffordable guarantor loans, new figures reveal.
- Buy now pay later schemes are fastest-growing online payment methodon February 24, 2021 at 9:07 am
The schemes are expected to account for 10 per cent of UK online spending by 2024, the research predicts. The global report was compiled by payment processing technology provider Worldpay.
- Can credit unions really solve Britain’s high cost credit shortage?on February 23, 2021 at 11:20 am
With high profile backers including Michael Sheen and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, credit unions have long been applauded for their co-operative membership model.
- Virgin launches new rewards deal, but is it worth signing up for?on February 22, 2021 at 11:40 am
The Virgin Red scheme encourages people to visit its website or download the phone app – and buy goods and services offered by a number of online shops.
- The internet debt sharks preying on the financial victims of Covidon February 10, 2021 at 10:43 am
Insidious firms seeking to profit on people’s misery are using internet adverts to divert those struggling with money away from free help and advice and promising them easy ways to write of their debts.
- Buy now, pay later: Don’t let shoppers sign up by default, MPs sayon February 6, 2021 at 8:33 am
Labour MP Stella Creasy and Tory MP Paul Maynard called for retailers to take further action after a review of buy now, pay later found it needed to be regulated ‘as a matter of urgency’.
- IVA market is broken says the FCA: Here’s whyon February 3, 2021 at 4:24 pm
Millions of Britons in need of debt advice due to the coronavirus pandemic could be pushed into unsuitable debt solutions by companies seeking to profit from commission, regulators have warned.
- Klarna clampdown begins as buy-now-pay-later industry will be regulatedon February 3, 2021 at 1:31 pm
The Financial Conduct Authority has announced plans to regulate the buy-now-pay-later industry after purchases nearly quadrupled last year to £2.7bn as online shopping soared in lockdown.
- Buy now pay later regulations: What will they mean for consumers?on February 2, 2021 at 1:00 pm
Borrowers of Britain’s booming £2.7bn buy now, pay later industry will soon be able to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service after it was announced lenders would be regulated.
- 21m people may take out loan this year once lockdown endson January 31, 2021 at 2:49 pm
A survey by AA Financial Services indicates that 40 per cent of adults are planning to borrow – with a new car, a holiday (travel restrictions permitting) and home improvements top of their purchase lists.
- Advertising regulator bans ‘misleading’ debt adverts from impersonatorson January 27, 2021 at 3:16 pm
The websites ‘writeoffmydebt’ and ‘stepdebtsupport’ were criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority after a series of complaints.
- American Express’ Nectar card is now one of the best ways of earning Avios pointson January 26, 2021 at 8:36 am
American Express’ Nectar credit card is now one of the most generous ways of earning Avios points from everyday spending, with customers able to earn 1.25 Avios for every £1 they spend.
- Nectar points from Sainsbury’s shopping can be turned into Avioson January 21, 2021 at 11:36 am
Sainsbury’s shoppers will be able to swap their groceries for getaways under a new tie-up announced between the supermarket’s Nectar scheme and British Airways.
- Last day for Tesco Clubcard points to be converted into Avios air mileson January 18, 2021 at 12:54 pm
Tesco Clubcard customers who wish to convert their points into Avios air miles have until midnight on Monday to do so before they can only swap them for Virgin Points.
- Jaja customers hit with £12 penalty charge after computer glitchon January 17, 2021 at 12:43 pm
The company, which last year took over the credit card business of Bank of Ireland in a £530million deal, says that a ‘small minority’ of customers were affected by the computer glitch.
- Balance transfer credit cards: Some banks boost interest-free dealson January 11, 2021 at 9:36 am
Sainsbury’s Bank now offers the best 0% deal on the market, offering 29 months interest-free, after reopening its doors to non-Nectar customers last October.
- How to get out of debt in 2021: Seven tips for a brighter financial futureon January 2, 2021 at 7:47 am
The first step is to prioritise what you owe and not bury your head in the sand. We speak to the experts who give their advice for getting out of debt after a turbulent year.
- Britain paid off £15.6bn in debt in just 7 months amid the coronavirus pandemicon December 29, 2020 at 9:05 am
In a year in which the world has never been sicker, Britain’s personal finances might end 2020 in a healthier state than they’ve ever been in before.
- Cardholders of Jaja complain of long wait times and horrendous serviceon December 22, 2020 at 9:49 am
Daniel Robinson has seen £500 of his money lost by the credit card start-up, after he had not had any previous problems with the Post Office in the six years he had been with them.
- Celebrity social media pushing ‘buy now, pay later’ crediton December 16, 2020 at 9:26 am
Glamourous social media stars like Claire Menary (pictured), who attract thousands of aspiring followers are now under investigation over fears that they promoted ‘buy now, pay later’ credit.
- Barclays hit with £26m fine over poor treatment of indebted borrowerson December 15, 2020 at 1:12 pm
The FCA said business and personal customers who fell into arrears on their borrowing between April 2014 and December 2018 were not properly contacted by Barclays..
- Mastercard could be forced to pay every UK adult £300 eachon December 15, 2020 at 11:37 am
Mastercard is one step closer to having to pay out as much as £14bn in total to more than 46m UK adults after it lost a landmark Supreme Court case.
- Campaigners want more regulation of pay later services like Klarnaon December 8, 2020 at 9:08 am
Delayed payment providers have been asked to revamp their marketing by next March to ensure users are not being misled.
- How should Tesco Clubcard shoppers use their points from January?on December 4, 2020 at 7:43 am
Frequent flyers should be aware that some of the most well-known airline loyalty schemes have had several shake-ups recently, with British Airways and Tesco Clubcard set to part ways.
- Credit card holders face late fees because of little-known small-printon December 2, 2020 at 9:14 am
Thousands of borrowers have received refunds in recent months after holidays, concerts and shows were cancelled due to Covid. Many believe this refund will count as their payment for that month.
- Best balance transfer cards: TSB has longest term of 29 monthson November 17, 2020 at 1:51 pm
Credit card providers are stealthily slicing 0% balance transfer windows leaving borrowers facing shorter time periods in which to repay their debts.
- Creation credit card: Fraud problem locked me from my accounton November 13, 2020 at 12:31 pm
Peter Wilson, 69, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, had his IHG Rewards Creation credit card replaced in May after he noticed thousands of pounds of payments to Apple on his account.
- More borrowers turn to sub-prime credit cards thanks to pandemicon November 11, 2020 at 3:57 pm
The number of new ‘sub-prime’ borrowers taking out credit cards increased by 143% between August and September, according to Equifax, more than twice the jump in overall card openings.
- Netflix and Spotify subscriptions could now boost your credit scoreon November 9, 2020 at 4:57 pm
Council tax payments and subscriptions to Amazon Prime, Netflix and Spotify could boost Britons’ credit scores from today under a new feature launched by one of the big three credit reference agencies.
- Credit card chaos after 500,000 accounts are taken over by Jajaon November 4, 2020 at 10:06 am
Post Office, Bank of Ireland and AA customers were bought by Jaja when it took over the Bank of Ireland’s credit cards. But since the transfer customers have reported a plethora of issues.
- Borrowers face ‘lender lottery’ as 323,000 payment freezes end soonon October 22, 2020 at 8:25 am
Hundreds of thousands of people still on breaks from their mortgages and unsecured debts face a potential ‘lender lottery’ from next month as blanket protections are removed.
- Data protection watchdog to investigate Klarna over marketing emailson October 14, 2020 at 3:33 pm
The Information Commissioners’ Office said it was ‘making enquiries’ into the Swedish firm after receiving more than 90 complaints from people who received its weekly deals email.
- Move your debts to a balance transfer card before they disappearon October 14, 2020 at 7:40 am
There are just 66 balance transfer cards currently on the market, compared with 94 last year, according to finance analysts Defaqto. The cards allow customers to shift their credit card debts to a new card.
- Xbox fans left disappointed by Klarna, Smyths Toys and GAME erroron October 7, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Thousands of gamers who had hard credit checks run on them and were told a direct debit to pay for the console had been set up were emailed telling them their application had actually been unsuccessful
- Xbox buyers left in the dark after Klarna, GAME and Smyths blunderon September 30, 2020 at 3:08 pm
Consumers last week were subjected to hard credit checks and had direct debits set up to pay for the new console over two years, but were unable to actually purchase it after retailers ran out of stock.
- Britain borrows more in August amid worries over worsening household financeson September 29, 2020 at 12:31 pm
Britons borrowed more on credit cards, loans and overdrafts last month compared to July and saved less, official figures revealed, amid concerns household finances are increasingly under strain.
- Xbox buyers face Klarna drama with Smyths Toys and GAMEon September 24, 2020 at 12:39 pm
Thousands of shoppers who tried to pre-order the latest Microsoft Xbox were left fearing for the state of their credit scores after a bungle between high street retailers and the ‘buy now, pay later’ service Klarna.
- Why is Google making thousands of pounds from unauthorised debt adverts?on September 15, 2020 at 7:32 am
Google is still making thousands from unregulated firms posing as legitimate charities, nearly a year on from introducing new guidelines which it said would help end the practice.
- Credit card availability bounces back for those with higher credit scoreson September 15, 2020 at 7:32 am
Figures from the credit rating agency Experian found half of consumers who searched for a credit card last month were shown at least one they were guaranteed to get, up from 24% in July.
- Credit card and loan borrowing is predicted to fall by a record amounton August 14, 2020 at 8:03 am
Experts said Britain’s borrowing habits ‘will have changed permanently’ as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
- Coronavirus: Borrowers paid off £2,000 of debt each in lockdownon August 12, 2020 at 2:53 pm
The credit reference agency said the amount people owed in non-mortgage borrowing fell from £11,615 to £9,681 between the 23 March lockdown and 8 June.
- American Express offers £5 cashback if you spend £10 in local shopson August 3, 2020 at 10:31 am
To tempt shoppers back to high streets, credit card giant American Express has launched a reward deal for customers who spend money in local stores and restaurants.
- How to get a £20 meal for £5 using Rishi Sunak’s dining out schemeon August 2, 2020 at 3:56 pm
Diners looking to take advantage of the Government’s 50% discount scheme from Monday should know they can get an additional £5 off at certain shops, provided they use their credit card.
- Barclays and Santander say 677k borrowers took payment holidayson July 30, 2020 at 10:08 am
Hundreds of thousands of customers of Barclays and Santander have taken payment holidays, as official figures found consumers had cleared billions of pounds of debt over the last few months.
- A third of shoppers don’t feel delayed payments count as debton July 23, 2020 at 6:48 am
Due to the rise of buy now, pay later schemes, more people are purchasing items without paying for them at the time, despite this technically putting many into debt.
- Under-fire Klarna launches campaign telling shoppers to spend lesson July 14, 2020 at 6:40 am
The Swedish company, one of Europe’s most successful start-ups with 8.6million UK users, has been on the back foot over the last few months amid claims it encourages more than they can afford.
- Could a Netflix subscription one day help you get a mortgage?on July 9, 2020 at 6:33 am
The market research company Kantar estimated in May a fifth of all UK households had signed up to a TV streaming service like Amazon Prime, Netflix or the newly launched Disney+ since lockdown.
- Cheaper ways to borrow as banks bring back expensive overdraft rateson July 7, 2020 at 10:02 am
While people struggling financially will be able to ask for support and still take advantage of a £500 interest-free overdraft until October, many borrowers are in for a shock as banks hike the cost of overdrafts.
- Lower rates for careful Zopa credit card userson July 5, 2020 at 10:56 am
In a challenge to the big banks, peer-to-peer lender Zopa plans to launch its first credit card later this year.
- Credit card and loan payment holidays extended for three more monthson June 19, 2020 at 9:32 am
Hard-up credit card and personal loan borrowers will be able to put their payments on hold for another three months, the FCA has confirmed.
- Credit card rates hit record high as banks squeeze poorer borrowerson June 16, 2020 at 1:31 pm
Credit card rates hit a record high this month despite a record low base rate as providers hiked the cost of borrowing for those with poor credit histories or turned down by mainstream banks.
- Britain faces £6.1bn personal debt tsunami, StepChange warnson June 9, 2020 at 8:24 am
The Government should hand out £5bn in grants to those hardest hit financially so they can repay their debts and pay bills, StepChange says.
- Credit card payment holidays could be extended until Septemberon June 8, 2020 at 12:59 pm
Credit card and loan borrowers may be able to put their payments on hold until the end of September, under plans reportedly being considered by banks and regulators.
- Regulators blacklist nine unauthorised debt advice companies since Aprilon June 6, 2020 at 7:17 am
Unscrupulous advertisers are mimicking the names of legitimate debt charities, research has revealed, raising fears that vulnerable people looking for help are at risk of bad advice.
- Coronavirus UK: Consumer debt falls a record £7.4bn in Aprilon June 4, 2020 at 12:05 pm
Britain’s £221billion consumer debt pile shrank by nearly £7.5billion in April, the largest fall ever recorded by the Bank of England, as households took repayment holidays and cut their spending.
- FCA launches investigation into guarantor lender Amigo Loanson June 2, 2020 at 3:17 pm
Amigo has seen an increase in new complaints made about it to the Financial Ombudsman Service over the last few years
- Mobile app Bits says it can boost your credit score for a monthly feeon May 28, 2020 at 12:08 pm
The app is intended to build up your Experian credit score using a monthly fee closer to a subscription service than a credit card. In fact, it doesn’t even give you a card to buy things.
- Credit card crunch continues as interest-free terms hit a record lowon May 28, 2020 at 8:24 am
The number of interest-free credit card deals has fallen to a record low for the second successive month, as banks continue to slash the availability of unsecured debt.
- Should I take BA refund in the form of Avios points?on May 26, 2020 at 9:39 am
The airline said the actual rate of Avios that you get for the price of your flight is roughly double what you would normally get if you bought Avios using cash.
- Should you convert Virgin Atlantic air miles into wine?on May 19, 2020 at 8:56 am
Although Virgin Atlantic looks a little more secure, with the prospect of cancelled holidays for a while to come, some may be wondering if there are alternative uses for their thousands of air miles.
- Mastercard faces Supreme Court over £14bn damages claimon May 13, 2020 at 4:19 pm
Former financial ombudsman Walter Merricks is taking Mastercard to court, claiming unlawful fees it charged shops between 1992 and 2008 resulted in consumers paying more.
- Virgin Money u-turns on decision to suspend credit cardson May 8, 2020 at 3:25 pm
Virgin Money apologised and reversed its decision, saying that everyone who had their card suspended will be able to use them to make purchases again from Saturday 9 May.
- Should you take a credit card payment holiday during coronavirus pandemic?on May 8, 2020 at 7:28 am
While borrowers make no payments for three months, card providers often still charge interest on balances during payment holidays, meaning borrowers continue to rack up interest
- Virgin Money customers’ credit cards suspended during lockdownon May 7, 2020 at 2:16 pm
Customers of Virgin Money rounded on the bank after it suspended their credit cards, despite many of them not struggling with their repayments and clearing their balance in full.
- Amex credit card customers given more time to spend for bonus pointson May 1, 2020 at 12:31 pm
Newcomers to American Express now have more time to rack up points bonuses for their credit card spending, with the card provider doubling the length of some of its welcome offers.
- Britain’s £69bn credit card debt pile falls year-on-year for the first time everon May 1, 2020 at 11:14 am
Households paid back a whopping £3.8bn more than they borrowed in March, the biggest figure on record, as households shunned their credit cards in the face of the coronavirus crisis.
- Amex charged me a foreign exchange fee on my holiday refundon May 1, 2020 at 8:57 am
Banks and credit card providers may levy fees on refunds as well as purchases, meaning a double whammy of charges on trips hit by coronavirus.
- 240,000 Santander customers ask for credit card and mortgage holidayson April 29, 2020 at 10:18 am
The UK arm of Santander revealed its pre-tax profit fell 58 per cent to £114million in the first three months of 2020.
- Banks hit by 20,000 PPI complaints every day before deadlineon April 27, 2020 at 2:02 pm
The Financial Conduct Authority said many were encouraged by the publicity blitz it launched in the summer of 2019 to warn consumers that they had limited time left to make a complaint.
- Who is behind this Snapchat advert offering to write off debt?on April 24, 2020 at 10:09 am
Next to a picture on social media app Snapchat of Ryan Reynolds teasing news about upcoming superhero film Deadpool 3, is a ‘sponsored’ post with its own teaser: that you can write off debt.
- Credit card approvals will fall and interest-free terms will shrinkon April 20, 2020 at 11:51 am
The Bank of England’s latest credit conditions survey revealed lenders believe the availability of household unsecured credit will decrease between April and June amid coronavirus.
- Balance transfer mix-up left my £3,500 bill on both credit cardson April 16, 2020 at 6:37 am
Neil Seagrave, 35, from Dorset, tried to transfer his credit card balance to HSBC at the start of March before his zero-interest term with Sainsbury’s Bank expired, but this was not resolved until April.
- Top interest-free credit card deals begin to disappear as providers cut dealson April 15, 2020 at 1:20 pm
Barclaycard, Sainsbury’s Bank and Tesco Bank have cut interest-free deals over the last month, some of which are the best around, as lenders evaluate their offers amid the coronavirus outbreak.
- What will today’s new FCA debt measures mean for you?on April 9, 2020 at 3:10 pm
The FCA today brought in measures which offer consumers struggling with their finances bigger fee-free overdrafts and the ability to freeze credit and loan repayments for three months.
- GEORGE NIXON: Could handing out more debt make our finances even worse?on April 7, 2020 at 6:38 am
The UK economy is built on spending, often fuelled by debt – credit cards, personal loans, car finance. We don’t want to shrink it, only keep it manageable; and keep the Jenga tower from falling.
- What do the FCA credit card and overdraft proposals mean for consumers?on April 3, 2020 at 6:44 am
The FCA this morning proposed banks should offer customers in financial difficulty an interest-free overdraft up to £500, and let them put credit card and loan repayments on hold for three months.