Consumers should exercise common sense when using credit cards abroad

An industry expert has said that with the summer holidays coming up, and many Brits planning to head abroad and use their credit cards, consumers need to ensure that they use their common sense when it comes to using their credit cards whilst abroad. Read more

Decrease in online credit card payments

Recent figures have shown that there has been a decline in the level of online credit card payments, with officials from the Nationwide Building Society claiming that use of credit cards when making online transactions has been falling and demand for an alternative method of payment from consumers has been increasing. Read more

Lower income consumers can apply for many credit cards

It has recently been revealed that despite the tighter credit conditions that have come into play since the onset of the global credit crunch many consumers who are on relatively low wages are still eligible to apply for the majority of credit cards that are available on the market. Read more

Negative retails figures announced for May

Recent figures that were released with regards to retail spending have shown that whilst there were some encouraging signs of increased spending shown over the Easter period retail gains have slipped back down again for May. Read more

Many people putting their overdraft debt onto their credit cards

It has been claimed that many people are now turning to credit cards to get rid of their overdraft debt, with many putting their costly overdraft debt onto low interest or interest free credit cards in order to try and save some money on interest. Read more

Consumers advised to pay credit card debt and not save

In the current economic and financial climate, with the recession threatening the jobs of many people, it is not surprising that many people decide to put every spare penny into savings in the event that they should find themselves short of cash or experience a drop in income. Read more

Comparison sites could help find the best credit card deals

Industry experts have recently said that in the current financial climate, with many credit card companies cutting back on deals and enforcing more stringent regulations, many consumers could find that they are better off using a comparison site to find the most suitable credit card deals for their needs. Read more

Talent will be forced abroad due to 50p tax

Following the recent budget, where the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, announced that those on a certain level of income would be charged a new, higher tax rate, some industry officials have expressed concern that the new level of tax could end up forcing much of Britain’s talent abroad. Read more

Many Brits too scared to spend

It has been revealed in a recent report that many people in Britain are too scared to spend money, with a third of Brits having scared themselves into spending less. Read more

Credit crunch leaves High Streets more deserted

It has been claimed that the ongoing global financial crisis and the recession have resulted in the High Streets of Britain being left more and more deserted, as a rising number of shoppers decide to cut back on their spending. A recent report showed that an increasing number of people deserted in the High Street in March, as the effects of the difficult financial climate continued to take their toll. Read more

Consumer wasting money by failing to switch credit cards

It has been reported that many consumers in the UK are simply wasting their money and paying far more than they need to on their borrowing, simply because they haven’t taken the time or made the effort to switch their credit card to a more suitable and affordable one. Read more

Online shopping avoided by more than 50 percent of UK shoppers

Whilst the Internet has changed our lives in many ways over the years, enabling many to enjoy convenience, ease, speed, and flexibility in many situations, it has been revealed that over half of the consumers in the UK actually avoid shopping online due to concern over the risks of shopping in this way. Read more

Credit card summary boxes will be easier to understand for consumers

From June of this year credit card applicants and customers should find that the credit card summary boxes on the application forms and marketing materials of credit card providers is far easier to understand. Read more

Card fraud rife despite Chip and Pin

A few years ago the nation was introduced to Chip and Pin technology which was a new type of technology that had been designed to increase security for plastic card users and to cut down on the rising level of card fraud that was being seen across the country. Read more

Greater security could come from mobile payments compared to credit card ones

A recent report has suggested that consumers could enjoy a greater level of security through making mobile payments for transactions compared to credit card transactions. Read more

Debit card spending overtook credit card spending last year

Recently released figures have shown that UK consumers spent more on their debit cards last year than on their credit cards, indicating that many are becoming more cautious about getting into debt in the current financial climate. Read more

January sales may not end this year

Officials have stated that the January sales this year are likely to extend far beyond the traditional month, and will most likely go on for the rest of the year, giving consumers the chance to pick up bargains all around the year. Read more

Borrowers could get help from credit card firms

According to recent reports some consumers could get assistance from credit card companies if they are struggling with their credit card debt, as part of a package of proposed measures resulting from recent meetings between officials from the credit card industry and senior government officials. Concerns were raised about the situation in the credit card industry when reports showed that whilst the base rate had been plummeting over recent months credit card interest rates were still very high. Read more

Credit card increases need to be questioned

Over the past few days credit card firms have pledged to make changes to the way that they hike up interest rates on credit cards, which has come under intense fire recently. However, whilst credit card firms are trying to make changes to stop these overnight interest rate hikes, there are people that may have recently already had their credit card interest rates hiked for no apparently reason, often adding a small fortune to their repayments. Read more

High street to suffer as consumers try and save money

Although Christmas is just around the corner many High Street retailers are not getting too excited about the flurry of activity and more importantly the huge profits that will come rolling in, namely because this is something that is unlikely to happen this year. After a particularly gruelling year in terms of finances, with soaring living costs, rocketing bills, and sky high borrowing costs to deal with, many consumers are desperate to try and put some money aside, and to do this many will have to cut back on the cost of Christmas, and reduce the amount of money that they spend on presents, food, going out, clothes, and entertainment. Read more

7 percent fall expected in Christmas spending overall

According to recently released figures an overall fall of around 7 percent is expected in Christmas spending for this year, as consumers continue to try and cut back on their expenditure. The cutbacks will be made in a range of areas, such as gifts, food, clothes, entertainment, and socialising. The survey was carried out by research group Deloitte, and showed the different areas in which people were planning to cut back on their Christmas spending. Read more

Credit crunch really affecting 18-34s

According to a recent report one of the groups that is most suffering as a result of the ongoing global credit crunch is the 18034s age group, which some industry officials have referred to as the Ipod Generation. Over half of this group is thought to have debts of over £10,000, not including mortgages, and nearly a third have no form of savings whatsoever, putting them at increased risk of really feeling the pinch. Read more

August retail sales levels cause surprise

According to recent reports industry officials were pleasantly surprised recently when data showed that there had been an unexpected surge in retail sales levels for the month of August. The rise in retail sales levels was not a huge one, but many industry experts had been expecting sales levels to fall by around 0.5%, so the increase of 1.2% in high street sales came as good news. The figures came from the Office for National Statistics. Read more

Campaigners do not think price comparison sites will necessarily mean the best credit card deal

According to some officials from a consumer campaign group sing a price comparison site to try and get the best deal on a credit card will not necessarily prove effective. More and more price  comparison sites have sprung up over the past couple of years, and many people use these to try and get the best deals on credit cards as well as on other products and services such as loans, mortgages, insurance, utilities, and more. However, officials have said that these sites will not necessarily mean that you are getting the best deal. Read more

Sales figures for discount stores on the rise

Over recent years the nation’s major supermarket giants, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons, have monopolised the industry, with the smaller stores barely getting a look in. However, with the global credit crunch still biting and many households finding it harder and harder to make ends meet it looks as thought the smaller discount stores are now enjoying a taste of the big time, with sales figures for a number of discount stores having soared recently. Read more

Supermarket giants try to entice customers back

With food prices having soared out of control, in addition to the range of other hikes in bills and living costs, many people have been struggling to make ends meet when it comes to the household budget. Consumers have tried to make a range of cutbacks in order to try and make their money stretch further, and for many this has meant switching from the more expensive supermarket giants such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrison’s, and turning to discount grocery stores such as Aldi, Netto, and Lidl. Read more

Mortgage approvals reach ‘record low’ in May

The number of mortgage approvals for house purchases reached a record low last month, according to an industry body.

Figures for May show that remortgaging levels held up, accounting for a record 53 per cent of all mortgages approved, reported the British Bankers’ Association (BBA).

It also found that consumers spent more on their credit cards last month but repayment levels on credit cards were lower.

BBA statistics director David Dooks suggested mortgage activity was lower in May as a result of tighter lending criteria and economic pressures on households.

He added: “Only remortgaging business is holding up, where people need or want to take advantage of deals with other lenders.”

Separate research released last week by the housing charity Shelter suggests that more than four million households used credit cards to help meet rent or mortgage costs in the past 12 months.

It also found that over two million households are spending in excess of half their income on rent or mortgage payments.

Graduates urged to prioritise costly debt

Graduates may have to put up with student loans but credit card debt should be paid off as quickly as possible, an expert has urged.

Richard Brown, chief executive officer of financial information website Moneynet.co.uk, remarked that university leavers have a considerable period in which to repay their student loan and should prioritise the repayment of more expensive debt first.

He explained that student debt is “a fact of life unfortunately, whereas carrying big wads of debt on a high interest credit card isn’t”.

Mr Brown made his comments after his organisation published advice to students, urging them to stop “fretting” over the amount they owe through normal student debt and to concentrate first on paying off their most expensive borrowing.

Recently published figures compiled by Credit Action showed that at the end of April, total levels of personal debt in the UK stood at £1,436 billion, an increase of £110 billion compared to 12 months previously.

Lenders urged to tighten checks

Although consumers need to take responsibility for their borrowing, lenders must tighten their credit checking measures, an expert has urged.

Simeon Linstead, head of personal finance at price comparison website uSwitch.com, made his comments following research which showed 84 per cent of people who successfully applied for credit cards over the last 12 months did not have to provide proof of income.

This means 4.8 million people did not have to prove the details they gave in their forms, while 14 per cent of successful applicants claim they were not asked about their income and outgoings at all.

Mr Linstead remarked: “It is too early to say if the amendments to the Banking Code are resolving these problems but there is clearly an urgent need for watertight measures to be put in place to ensure that the banks are lending responsibly.”

At the end of March, various amendments were made to the Banking Code, designed to ensure new commitments to responsible lending are made by credit providers.

Store cards reduce their APR’s – just

Following new regulations made by the Competition Commission, retailers have had to reduce the annual percentage rates (APRs) on their store cards to below 25 per cent, however, many have continued to hover just below this rate, it has been reported.

According to Fool.co.uk, a number of store cards offer only just below 25 per cent APR, including Jaeger’s card (24.9 per cent), Russell and Bromley (23.9 per cent) and Marks and Spencer (23.9 per cent).

The research found that some companies even increased their rates after the new rules came in, such as Marks and Spencer which hiked its rate by four per cent.

Ed Bowsher, savings expert at Fool.co.uk, said: “Store card-holders should be aware of the high interest rates which come hand in hand with introductory offers - and should remember that these cards are designed to make you spend, rather than help you save money.”

According to Halifax, the average balance on a credit card at the end of the month stands at £1,859.

We won’t have cheap credit for ‘a number of years to come’

According to a financial analyst, Brits will not be seeing the days of cheap credit “for a number of years to come”.

Darren Cook, a spokesperson for Moneyfacts.co.uk, said that some experts have predicted the Bank of England base rate will increase another three times before the end of the year.

“These uncertainties, paired with the house price adjustments and many households finding themselves in negative equity, [means] lenders are prudently hedging themselves on pricing due to fears of a massive increase in the probability of default,” Mr Cook commented.

In related news, Experian recently advised consumers looking to secure a loan to check their credit report first.

By doing so, consumer education manager at the organisation James Jones said that consumers give themselves a better chance of their loan application being accepted as they can make sure that the information on their report is correct before it is checked by a lender.

Equifax: Be ‘cautious’ about ID fraud

Consumers should be more wary of people trying to steal their identity details, an expert at Equifax has advised.

Neil Munroe, external affairs director at Equifax, said that an individual’s personal credit profile could be worth “several times more” than their maximum limit on their credit card.

According to CIFAS, the total number of fraud cases the organisation received by the end of the first quarter of 2008 was 52,286, which represented an increase of ten per cent compared with the same period in 2007.

The number of occurrences which involved a fraudster impersonating someone in order to takeover their bank account were up by 146 per cent.

Mr Monroe commented that the authorities should also make an effort to combat the issue: “There is a list of precautions that individuals should take but it’s not just an individual’s fight, it is a combined fight and the government need to be doing more around it and so do companies.”

‘Unsurprising’ that credit crunch has hit the middle classes

Given that credit has been easily available in recent years, it is “unsurprising” that many people have been lulled into a false sense of security and are now waking up to financial difficulties, an expert at Transact has said.

Jamie Elliott, coordinator at the network committed to promoting financial inclusion, agreed that the economic downturn is hitting the middle classes and “an increasing number of people are finding that their sums no longer add up”.

He pointed out that credit has been widely obtainable in the past few years, with lenders offering 100 per cent mortgages, as well as attractive terms on loans and credit cards.

This comes just after the organisation reported that it is seeing a growing number of middle class people turn to it for financial help.

Mr Elliott commented that their difficulties are “compounded by big increases in food costs and energy costs”.

Younger people ‘nonchalant’ about their cards

Younger people seem to be less concerned about keeping their credit cards safe from fraudsters, a new report has suggested.

Two thirds of those aged under 50 said they had reported a credit card stolen compared to 78 per cent of people aged 50 years old or over, according to research by Saga.

Furthermore, a “massive” 88 per cent people aged between 18 and 34 years old said that they did not raise an eyebrow if someone took their credit card out of their sight when they were making a payment.

This is in contrast to 65 per cent of over 55 year olds saying they would not kick up a fuss in the same situation.

Andrew Goodsell, chief executive of Saga, commented: “Our study shows a worrying trend that men and younger people are generally less concerned about ID fraud than their older counterparts, and are not taking the steps to prevent fraudulent activity.”

This comes just after recent warnings from Apacs for people to make sure they keep their PINs safe.

New credit cards can ‘ease the pinch’

The global credit crunch may be prompting both consumers and lender to tighten their belts, but a number of new credit cards have recently been launched which could help ‘ease the pinch’, it has been reported.

According to the online resource Thrifty Scot, a number of credit card companies have brought out new products which could benefit consumers.

The website highlighted the Halifax all in one product, the Saga credit card, the American Express card and Abbey’s Zero credit option.

However, the news provider also pointed out that an industry official remarked Abbey’s card is not necessarily the best option around:

“Around 80 per cent of credit cards offer a lower standard APR on purchases compared to Abbey’s Zero card…its standard balance transfer rate of 18.9 per cent is among the highest go-to rates on the market.”

Meanwhile, recent research by Fairinvestment.co.uk revealed that 21 per cent of people surveyed say zero per cent balance transfer is the most important feature of a credit card.

Interest rates ‘may drop to 4% in 2009′

Although recent predictions suggested that the Bank of England interest rate would remain unchanged, an expert has said that it could drop to four per cent in 2009.

Howard Archer, chief European and UK economist for Global Insight, said that the Bank of England will almost certainly keep interest rates at five per cent this Thursday.

Mr Archer predicted that rates are unlikely to drop before August at the earliest, however he also said that they may drop next year.

“We still believe that interest rates could eventually fall as low as four per cent in 2009, but it will be a gradual process,” he commented.

However, he also said: “The bank will want clear evidence that wage moderation is continuing and that reduced demand is undermining companies’ pricing power.”

In related news, net credit card lending rose by £100 million in April, although this was still below the increase in March, according to the bank.

Axa: Teenagers blow budgets in experiment

More than two-thirds of teenagers taking part in an experiment set up by the AXA Financial Task Force blew the budgets they were given for a week’s worth of household spending.

Given a budget of £248.40 each, 70 per cent of the 15 to 17-year-olds went over this amount and one child spent more than twice their budget, racking up a bill of £597.73 in seven days.

Axa is concerned that Britain’s young people are unable to cope with their finances and may find themselves in financial difficulty if they continue to overspend once they hit 18-years-old and can apply for credit cards and loans.

Research conducted by Axa shows 44 per cent of 15 to 17-year-olds are planning to get a credit card when they become adults and nearly one in five are thinking about getting a bank loan.

These concerns were raised soon after PricewaterhouseCoopers reported that in the first months of this year, 25,264 people went bankrupt or entered into an individual voluntary arrangement in England and Wales.

Many UK workers at ‘financial tipping point’

New research commissioned by Callcredit has revealed that 40 per cent of people in the UK would not be able to live off their savings for more than a month, rising to 53 per cent among people aged between 25 and 34-years-old.

One in four people have been forced to reduce their savings or stopped saving altogether because of the financial pressures they are facing due to the credit crunch.

Head of the credit reference agency Owen Roberts said: “Many of the UK’s workforce are at what could be described as a financial tipping point where just one unexpected unfortunate incident could have dire financial consequences.”

Mr Roberts advised people who are struggling financially to take an “active role” in sorting out their debts by reviewing their credit reports and bank statements to get a clear idea of how much they owe.

Credit Action recently warned people not to become too reliant on paying their essential household bills with credit cards.

Holidaymakers incur charges by using plastic abroad

Holidaymakers are being warned that using debit and credit cards abroad could prove costly due to the charges implemented by providers.

Moneyfacts claims that the majority of travellers opt to use their plastic overseas as travellers cheques are seen as old fashioned, but added that these individuals need to be aware of hidden charges.

The site claims that some credit card providers charge up to three per cent for both purchases and cash transactions when using the card in a foreign country.

“This charge is applied each time the card is used and can soon mount up to a significant amount,” states a spokesperson for the site.

Methods for minimising the effects of these costs include taking out cash in larger lump sums to avoid a number of payments.

“Customers could find their balance much lower than expected when they get home if they are not careful”, concluded the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, in related news, the Association of Independent Tour Operators recently stated that do-it-yourself holidays are often a false economy as booking in this manner can mean that people are not covered by insurance.

Check your credit profile to stamp out fraud, urges expert

With a recent report finding that account fraud is on the up, a financial expert has urged consumers to regularly check their credit profiles to help stamp out the crime.

David Kuo, head of personal finance at Fool.co.uk, said that current financial conditions are pushing people to extreme lengths to get hold of credit, but that consumers can protect themselves by checking their credit profiles to make sure that fraudulent activity is not taking place.

According to research by the UK’s fraud prevention service CIFAS, the number of instances of facility takeover, or account takeover, increased by 146 per cent in the first three months of 2008 when compared with the same period last year.

“If you are a consumer and you haven’t recently checked your credit reference, go and have a look at it just to make sure there is not anyone out there making fraudulent applications on your behalf,” Mr Kuo advised.

People using credit to ‘patch holes in their budgets’

With financial conditions worsening under the current credit crunch, people are increasingly turning to credit to make up any shortfalls in their budgets, Fool.co.uk has said.

David Kuo, head of personal finance at Fool.co.uk, also said that credit fraud is likely to increase as people struggle to cover their living expenses.

People are increasingly seeing their personal finances being stretched as they face bigger outgoings due to rising household expenses. At the same time, salaries have not risen fast enough to cover the increased costs, Mr Kuo said.

Capital Economics recently reported that average earnings growth is set to remain at just under four per cent a year while food inflation is expected to stay at six per cent over the coming months.

“Initially it just starts with [people] saving a little less money…the next step is [people] start raiding [their] savings in order to try and cover [their] outgoings. The third step is [people] have to use credit in order to try and patch up any holes in [their] budget,” commented Mr Kuo.

Alliance & Leicester launches new bond

Alliance & Leicester International has announced the launch of a new one-year fixed-rate bond, which the firm claims will meet the needs of its customers. Read more

Don’t rely on credit for household bills, says expert

People should refrain from using credit, loans and overdrafts to pay their household bills, the money education charity Credit Action has said.

Although people have been increasingly using these facilities in the past year, the organisation says that it is not a long-term solution.

Capital Economics recently reported that the share of household income spent on food, bills and other unavoidable costs has risen to 31 per cent from 25 per cent over the past six years.

“It could well be that people who need to find that little bit of extra money to get them to the end of the month or pay the gas bill may revert to credit to do that,” commented Chris Tapp, director of Credit Action.

However, he said that people should be careful of becoming overly reliant on credit since resorting to these measures for long time periods could result them having in serious financial difficulties.

2.5 million accounts hit as banks tighten finances

New research has revealed that over 2.5 million credit card customers were either charged a fee, had their credit limits reduced or their accounts closed as banks tried to recover money lost through debts and penalty fees.

Of the customers affected by the new moves, only 16 per cent missed more than one monthly repayment or went over their credit limit in the past year, the study by uSwitch.com has found.

Simeon Linstead, head of personal finance at the company, said that banks should not close accounts, reduce credit limits or adopt annual or monthly fees without giving their customers a reason for doing so.

“We’re not against credit cards providers curbing consumers’ spending if their debts are genuinely getting out of hand,” commented Mr Linstead.

However, he added that credit card companies that “make changes to customers’ accounts must be completely open about how and why they have selected those customers.”

Controversial bank charges are set to be investigated by the Office of Fair Trading.

People urged to fight unfair credit records

Credit card users are being urged by the Consumer Action Group to fight what they see as unfair bank charges, particularly if they have caused their credit ratings to suffer.

The organisation says people get “black marks” on their credit records if they go overdrawn and can even have their reputation destroyed if the bank defaults them in an extreme situation.

In this case, people are affected for a minimum of six years for defaults as little as £5. They may have difficulty in getting credit or have to pay a higher rate and may not be able to buy a home.

The Office of Fair Trading recently won the right to investigate whether banks are making excessive overdraft charges.

Marc Gander, founder of the Consumer Action Group, says if banks have unfairly charged their customers, it is not just the refunds they should be liable for but also the associated problems, such as a bad credit record.

Don’t leave financial problems to get worse, says expert

People concerned about their financial situation should not simply leave the problem to get worse, warns a personal finance writer.

Cliff D’Arcy has said that tackling financial problems early will help people stay on top of their debts.

According to research by Monilink, 22 per cent of people have built up too much debt and are finding the repayments from month to month a strain.

Mr D’Arcy advises people to get in touch with their bank and credit card companies if they are facing financial problems as they may be able to freeze the interest or relax payments to allow customers to try to balance their budgets.

Another option for people who are worried about their debts is to contact a free debt counselling charity, such as the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) or seek advice from a personal finance website.

Commenting on the help such organisations can offer, Mr D’Arcy said: “They have some very good advice written in plain English that will help you to deal with debt.”

Change your lifestyle to get good credit report, advises expert

People who have had their credit card applications turned down should re-evaluate their lifestyles and have a close look at their finances, Fool.co.uk has said.

David Kuo, head of personal finance at Fool.co.uk, said that people are often refused credit because they have too much debt compared to their income or because they have previously defaulted on credit card or other payments.

Earlier this month, MoneyExpert.com reported that 18,000 credit card applications are being refused every day and one in 14 people (seven per cent of the population) have had a credit card application rejected in the last six months – a total of 3.24 million applications.

According to a new survey by Citizens Advice, record numbers of people are seeking help with financial difficulties and many are struggling to pay their essential household bills.

“People need to re-evaluate their own lifestyles at the moment, have a look at their own finances and if someone turns you down for a credit card then ask yourself: ‘Why?’ The answer is in your credit report,” says Mr Kuo.

“Bling-itis” pushing Brits towards bankruptcy, says expert

A personal finance expert has warned that young Brits are overspending to compete with their friends on items such as clothes, cosmetics and gadgets, leading many of them into financial difficulty, says personal finance writer Cliff D’Arcy.

Research conducted by the UK’s mobile banking network Monilink has shown that more than 25 per cent of people aged between 16 and 34 years old are spending to compete with others and one in five young people are now struggling to pay off their credit card debt.

The research has coined the phrase “Bling-itis” to explain “young people’s obsession with buying flashy goods for the sake of keeping up appearances,” says Mr D’Arcy.

According to the survey, 21 per cent of young people prefer to spend their money on “personal treats” rather than saving it.

Mr D’Arcy warned that buying luxury goods to “look good and feel good” can lead to debt.

Two-thirds of those surveyed say they are still trying to pay off credit card debts that they built up two years ago.

“Shop around online” for discounts, advises expert

A personal finance writer has advised consumers to avoid spontaneous shopping trips and impulse buys, instead saying people should “try and shop around online” to find the best discounts on a range of products.

With more people finding themselves in financial difficulty as a result of the global credit crunch, Cliff D’Arcy says they should use the internet to find bargains and “get more bang for [their] bucks”.

The comments follow research from Monolink, which found that British consumers aged between 16 to 34 years old are struggling to pay off their credit card debts as they try to keep up with their friends and lead a fashionable lifestyle.

According to the survey, 14 per cent of respondents have bought clothes on a credit card which they are still trying to clear and 13 per cent have bought a car when they still have debt on their credit card.

Shopping online can result in discounts of between 30 and 50 per cent, says Mr D’Arcy.

BRC: Credit crunch leading to “cash comeback”

More people are using cash to pay for their purchases amid growing consumer concerns about how much money they are spending, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has claimed.

The global credit crunch is causing consumers to be more cautious with their money, says BRC spokesperson Richard Dodd.

New figures from the organisation show that cash is now used for 60 per cent of all transactions, an increase of 54 per cent from 2007.

Cash now represents 34 per cent of all money spent in the retail sector, compared with 32 per cent a year ago.

Recent research from uSwitch shows that on average, credit card holders owe £1,812.

With ten per cent of all cardholders paying the minimum on their cards, the company estimates 3.5 million people will spend close to the next 30 years clearing their credit cards.

“People’s enthusiasm for using cards is slipping. That’s because people are not only reluctant to borrow, they are also reluctant to use cards,” concluded Mr Dodd.

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