| UK
Credit Cards -- Credit Card Applications for Residents of the United Kingdom |
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| Category
and Featured Credit Card |
INTRO
% PURCHASES |
STANDARD
% PURCHASES |
INTRO
% BAL TRANS |
STANDARD
% BAL TRANS |
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N/A | typical
rate 15.9% APR (variable) |
0%
p.a. for12 months (2% handling fee applies) |
See
card terms |
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N/A | typical
rate 6.9% APR (variable) |
N/A | typical
rate 6.94% APR (variable) |
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N/A | typical
rate 14.9% APR (variable) |
N/A | Cashback Scheme: 2% CB for first 3 mths, then up to 1% |
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Credit Card Late Fees Assailed by MPs.
The Office of Fair Trading say that excessive late fees, based upon questionable
accounting practices, may breach anti-competition laws-- and have written
Parliament about it. John McFall, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee,
has held meetings with major card issuers about their rates. Committee
members also criticised card companies for sending unsolicited credit
card cheques to vulnerable cardholders.
The OFT began
meeting with major UK credit card issuers in October to discuss the late
payment fees. Fees typically vary from £25 (at HBoS and MBNA), to
£15 at Nationwide. The Select Committee also has been meeting with
providers. Read the whole article from business.telegraph.
Consumer Watchdog Which? Pours
Petrol on the Fire with Study Claiming Exhorbitant Late Fees for UK Credit
Cards.
The consumer advocate Which?,
formerly The Consumers' Association, say their recent study reveals that
"The credit card industry is using dubious sales practices and unjustifiably
high charges to wring every last penny from its customers." They
specifically cite late fees set higher than required to recover the cost
of dealing with late payments.
This claim is in line with the OFT's charge (above). Which? found that
one in four UK consumers suryveyed reported being charged late fees, which
are typically £20 to £25, at least once during the previous
12 months.
Make certain that you allow plenty of time when you post your payment
in the Royal Mail. Even if the mail is late-- due to no fault of your
own-- your payment is still late according to the terms and conditions
of the credit card provider. Once again, carefully read your contract
and its terms. Not only will a late payment cost you a one-time late fee--
onerous enough in itself-- but it may trigger a clause that automatically
defaults your present interest rate to a higher one!
The Office of Fair Trading Continues
Its Efforts to Lower Credit Card Rates.
The OFT are now targetting Visa as well as MasterCard in an anti-competition
enquiry. The OFT allege that both card providers have restrictive, anti-competition
agreements with the banks that process credit card transactions. The OFT
say that both card providers had better get it right or face sanctions.
Your home
is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or other
loan secured on it.