Many banks and card companies to be sympathetic over postal delays

Over recent weeks the UK has been hit by a number of postal strikes, which has disrupted many services.

A number of banks and credit card companies in the UK have stated that they intend to be sympathetic with customers who may have suffered as a result of the postal strikes in terms of payments coming in late because of the postal delays. Although banks have suffered a fair amount of bad press lately some of the leading banks and credit card companies stated that they would take the postal strikes into account when it came to customers’ accounts.

The postal strikes were set to go on for two week in total, and this means that those paying by cheque will find that their payments may be delayed, which could result in their bank accounts exceeding the overdraft limit or their credit cards going over the credit limit due to late payment. Banks and credit card companies are urging consumers that experience this problem to contact them, stating that they will ensure that they are sympathetic when it comes to the removal of charges that were applied as a result of late payment because of postal delays.

One Barclaycard official stated: ‘We will take an understanding approach and if anyone does incur a fee they should come and talk to us.’ Lloyds TSB, Halifax, and HSBC have also stated that they will treat each case sympathetically, and that customers that have experienced postal problems that have affected their accounts should contact them as early as possible. Other banks have added that customers may want to look at alternative methods of payment whilst the postal strikes are underway.

Consumers are warned that trying to dupe the banks into thinking that payment is late because of postal strikes will not be easy. One bank spokesperson stated: ‘We will treat every customer individually and do our best to be sympathetic. But if someone is always in the red, the postal strike will probably be just another excuse and will be seen accordingly.’

Tom Smith
17th September 2007

Tags: delays, red, payments, cards, interest

Credit card balance transfer fees rise

The cost of transferring balances across credit cards has been steadily rising in the past year, research from MoneyExpert.com has found.

Since being forced by the Office of Fair Trading to cut their charges, credit card providers have raised transfer fees from on average half a per cent to 2.67 per cent.

This tactic has been seen by some as a strategy to earn back some of the money the credit card providers lost when they were forced to cut their charges.

Sean Gardner, chief executive of MoneyExpert.com, said: “What goes down must go up seems to be the experience in the credit card industry.

“Card firms have lost out since they were forced to cut so-called default charges so now customers are losing out as balance transfer fees increase.”

However, though balance transfers are increasing, consumers should still be on the look out for better rates and be willing to switch, Mr Gardner said.

Meanwhile, the overall amount of personal debt in the UK now exceeds one trillion pounds, according to the debt organisation Credit Action.

Tags: default, Credit Action, credit, chief executive, year, amount, action, past year

New car loans figures from Halifax

New research from Halifax has shown that January and August are the most popular months for applying for a car loan.

According to Halifax Unsecured Personal Loans, the most popular age group for taking out such a loan – forming around half of total applicants – was the 30-49 group.

The figures also show that 67 per cent of loan applications were made by men

Neil Chandler, head of Halifax Unsecured Personal Loans, said: “Purchasing a new car takes a lot of time and thought as it is a big financial commitment.

“It is important to choose a finance deal which suits you best, leaving you free to sit back and enjoy your new car.”

More generally, the new report says that there are currently around 31 million vehicles on Britain’s roads, with 2.3 million purchased last year.

The research was undertaken by Halifax Unsecured Personal Loans in anticipation of the new 57 licence plates, which are to hit British forecourts next month.

Tags: loan applications, credit, new 57 licence, report, new car loans, group, car loan.According

Are cheque payments becoming a thing of the past?

There was a time when paying for something by cheque was the norm for most people, but with the soaring popularity of credit and debit cards in the UK it seems as though cheque transactions are becoming a primitive payment method that will soon be left trailing.

This is being reflected by the number of retailers that are now turning away cheque transactions, and the latest to jump on the bandwagon of saying no to cheques is Sainsbury’s.

The supermarket giant has announced that as from the 1st August this year it will no longer be accepting cheque payments from customers. Although this does reduce the range of methods that customers can use to make payment for goods, the vast majority of customers tend to use debit cards, credit cards, or cash anyway. The no cheque rule will be applied in all 800 of the supermarket chain’s stores.

According to officials from the supermarket chain it makes sense to stop accepting cheques because so few people use them and because processing them can be time consuming. A number of other high profile retailers have also decided that they will stop accepting cheque payments, and this includes WH Smith, Morrisons, Boots, Asda, and Shell. Again, the main reasons seem to be lack of use by customers and time consumption for the companies in question.

With more and more retailers stopping cheque payments it is likely that an increasing number of transactions will now be made using credit and debit cards, which could see the number of card transactions made each year in the UK rocket even further.

Speaking about cheque use one Sainsbury’s spokesperson stated: “Like other retailers they are being used less and less by our customers.”

Tom Smith
27th August 2007

Tags: purchases, cheque, payments, credit, debit, dated

Many people permanently in the red with overdrafts

A recent report has highlighted that by the 20th of each month many Brits find themselves running out of cash and having to rely on their overdrafts to see them through the rest of the month until payday.

In some cases, once payday comes around, Brits are able to slide back into the black for several weeks. However, there are also many Brits that will go straight back into the red, even after their salary has been paid in, because their accounts are permanently overdrawn.

Around two million consumers in the UK are always in the red, unable to pull themselves out of their overdraft debt and therefore having to rely heavily on their overdraft facility. In the past year, according to research, around ten million people in the UK have used their overdraft on at least one occasion. Rising interest rates and repayments may have contributed to this figure, with more and more people having to dip into their overdrafts in order to stay afloat due to rising repayments.

One industry professional stated: ‘It’s no surprise so many people are permanently in the red – with interest rates having risen five times in the past year consumers are not doubt feeling the squeeze. People often dipping into their overdraft need to watch the Effective Annual Rate as some can be punitive and they may find they are better off spending on a 0% credit card in the future.’

Those aged 55 years and over were found to be the best at staying out of the red, with an impressive 64% in this age group managing to stay in the black. This compared to 40% of 18-24 year olds. In the 45-54 age group 5% were permanently in the red.

Tom Smith
31st July 2007

Tags: accounts, bank, purchases, current, debt, card, credit, red

For Career Development Loans, past credit score is key

Good or bad credit in the past provides a “good indication” of future credit prospects, according to the Co-operative Bank.

In an interview about Career Development Loans – a bank loan designed to help pay for vocational learning – spokesperson Andy Hammerton said that if an applicant for the loan had “a very, very poor credit history” then the bank “wouldn’t accept them just because it’s a career development loan, they still have to be credit scored. We have to be a responsible lender.”

Mr Hammerton also said that just because an applicant was taking a course – which might be said to make higher future earnings more likely – does not mean that they will not be a credit risk.

“Just because they’re taking a course doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be a sound credit risk in the future. They need to have a reasonable credit record.”

Career Development Loans, which offer anything from £300 to £8,000 to fund learning for up to two years, are currently offered by Barclays, the Co-operative Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Tags: Royal Bank of Scotland, hammerton, personal finance, earnings, Career Development Loans, credit risk."Just, bad credit, credit

Financial etiquette ‘needs tightening’

British consumers need to tighten up their financial etiquette, according to a new survey carried out by CreditExpert.co.uk.

A survey of 1,500 adults shows that over two-fifths of Britons would lend as much money as possible to a friend in financial difficulties.

CreditExpert’s research shows that Londoners display the greatest generosity to their friends, with nearly half (47 per cent) indicating that they would help out a friend in need.

When buying drinks at social occasions, almost half of people also say they would buy an entire group a round of drinks.

Dating Britons also appear reluctant for someone else to take care of a dinner bill, with four-fifths contending that the person who invited the date should pick up the bill.

Jim Hodgkins, managing director of Credit Expert.co.uk, said: “We’re regularly faced with financial etiquette dilemmas and as well as being important from a social standpoint, they’re also significant financially.”

He added: “It’s all well and good buying drinks for everyone at the bar – but it doesn’t always pay to be generous. If you’re running up debts that you can’t pay off, you could be damaging your credit rating.”

Tags: group, good, date, buying drinks, credit

How To Build Up a Good Credit Rating

It is evidently not a good thing to have a bad credit rating. For example, it can limit your borrowing options. The sorts of thing that contributes to a poor credit rating are county court judgments, defaults on payments and bankcruptcy orders. In the case of circumstances such as these, the only way to get credit (loans, mortgages) is through the sub-prime market. Here the borrower is charged high rates of interest to reflect the apparent risk to the lender.

There are two main credit reference agencies who compile credit histories on individuals. These are Equifax and Experian. They take their information from sources such as the electoral roll, county court judgments and the payment of past debts. When anyone takes out a new form of credit it will leave a record which these credit agencies also draw upon. But it is not the credit agencies who make the decision about whether to offer credit to would-be borrowers. It is the lender who makes that decision, based on the information provided by the credit agencies and their own lending criteria.

Under the Data Protection Act, if a lender refuses you credit, it must tell you why. Under the Act, if scoring was used to help the lender decide not to give you credit, then you are entitled to ask for you application to be reviewed. Even it this doesn’t help you to get credit this time, you will be able to see your rating and where it might need improvement. Or it can highlight errors that may be on your record (and they do happen) and you can try to get them rectified.

If you do have a poor credit rating, it is a good thing to work to make it better. Although bankcruptcy remains on a rating for up to six years, a year of good credit practice should return a rating to a healthy state.

To begin with, you should ensure that you pay off your creditors on time. If you do have to miss a payment, tell the creditor and make sure that you make the payment the following month.

Even simple things like making sure you are on the electoral role and completing credit application forms correctly will help to improve your rating. Agencies allow people to explain why they may have had a poor credit performance, and a ‘notice of correction’ can be attached to their report explaining, for example, whey they missed payments.

It is worth buying access to your credit history from one of the agencies to make sure that everything is in order. As an example, if you have had a county court judgment, but have since paid the debt, make sure the payment is recorded on the file. If you have had a bankcruptcy order annulled, make sure a copy of the annulment or order of discharge is sent to credit agencies.

Another way of boosting your rating is to take out a store card and pay off the balance regularly and on time. The rating can be improved quickly by opening a variety of accounts, but make sure you do pay off the debt each month. You can also ask someone you know well (family or friend) with good credit history to co-sign for a small loan or credit card. This also helps your own rating.

It is a bad idea to keep applying for credit if you have already been refused by another lender. A lot of searches on history does not work in your favour. The tip is to ask the lender if you fir the profile of people they give credit to.

Having no credit record can be as bad as having a poor credit record. So if you have no credit record, start to build one up – a good one.

More Information:

• Credit Building Tactics
• Bad Credit-Credit Cards

Tom Smith
19th June 2007

Tags: credit, bad, direct, adverse, debit

Debt considered acceptable because of student loans

According to a recent report the popularity of student loans has made debt in the UK seem even more acceptable.

According to the financial education charity Credit Action student loans have become such a norm that being in debt has become something of a fact of life. And according to officials from Credit Action these student loans have nothing to do with a need for money, but more to do with the easy access to student loans.

One official from Credit Action described student loans as ‘government endorsed debt on a massive scale’. Of course, students can find themselves in need of financial aid at some point during their education, but the easy access to student loans has resulted in many students just taking out loans for the sake of it rather than through real need, placing them on a downward debt spiral that could lead to problems later in life.

According to Chris Tapp from Credit Action there is not enough caution exercised with student loans, and the easy access to this type of finance has made debt appear to be acceptable even for the younger generation. With consumers levels in the UK at sky high levels this has raised concern amongst some charities and campaign groups, as those in their late teens and early twenties begin a debt ridden life before they have even completed their education.

According to Mr Tapp student loans enable students to live lifestyles that are beyond their means – something that they then become used to, and something that many have to continue funding through further finance, as their initial jobs after leaving college or university is unlikely to be a high paying one.

Tom Smith
17th June 2007

Tags: cheap, Loans, cash, action, money

Credit Card Deals In Different Categories

Looking for a credit card?
What deal are you looking for?
Here are the best three deals in certain categories, depending upon what you are looking for.

These are some of the best balance transfer credit card rates currently available.

Mint Credit card
This has a free interest balance transfer until 1 August 2008, and a 2.5% transfer fee. There is zero percent on purchases until 1 January 2008, and another six months at zero percent for balance transfers made in October 2008. The interest free period works out at 54 days. The APR on purchases is 14.9%. The transfer or handling fee is one of the lowest at 2.5% and over a year at zero percent on balance transfers. That’s a good period, and with zero percent on purchases till January you have a long period of free money – just be careful to tie things up before you go onto regular interest rates.

Capital One Platinum card
This has a 3% handling fee and zero percent interest on balance transfer until 1 July 2008. The APR on purchases works out to 15.9% and the interest free period is 54 days at maximum. The card also comes with three months worth of free credit on purchases. This has a shorter period than the Mint and a shorter period for both the balance at zero percent and for purchases.

Barclaycard Premium
The zero percent interest on balance transfers lasts until 1 July 2008 with a 2.9% fee. The interest free period works out at 56 days maximum. The APR on purchases is 14.9%. The card comes with various insurance protection deals and three months of free interest on purchases. This has a similar period to the Capital One Platinum but a slightly lower handling fee.
Of the three Mint looks the best.

What about the best life of balance rates? These are rates for borrowers who are fed up of continually transferring their balances.

M&S &More card
The life of balance interest rate is 4.9%, and there are no fees. The APR on purchases works out at 19.9% with a maximum interest free period of 59 days. The card also has zero interest on purchases until 31 January 2008 and &More reward points on purchases. The zero percent interest on purchase makes this attractive.

Citibank Platinum Mastercard
The life of balance interest rate is 4.9%, and there is a fee of 2.5%, which is capped at £75. The APR on purchases works out at 16.9%. The card also has 0.5% cash back on all purchases and comes with Identity Theft protection. The cap at £75 only kicks in if you have a balance greater than £3000, but the cash back could make this seem tempting. Apply now

Sainsbury’s Bank Platinum card
This has life of balance interest rate of 5.9% no transfer fee. The APR on purchases works out to 15.9. The card comes with ten months free credit on purchases. The free credit on purchase make this card look a good bet, as the ten months will take you further than the M&S option. M&S’s reward points might swing it for you.

Now onto those cards with the best APR rates on the market? This is for steady card owners who don’t want to switch, but want a good interest rate.

Barclaycard Simplicity
This has an APR of just 6.8%. There is no balance transfer available. The maximum interest free period is 56 days. The card comes with various insurance products, but these may of limited use to you. The low APR may be the key.

Egg Money
The APR is 7.9%, with no balance transfer available. The maximum interest free period is 50 days. The card has one percent cashback on all purchases. The APR is attractively low, and the cashback may make this a good bet for you.

Intelligent Finance Flat Rate
This has an APR of 8.9%, with no balance transfer available. The interest free period is up to 59 days, and the card comes with no extras. Compared to Barclaycard’s Simplicity and Egg’s card this has no frills and a higher APR, so the other look to give a better deal.

Finally here are the top three card for cashback deals. Here card holders earn cashback on their spending.

American Express Platinum card
The cashback offer is 3% for the first three months, followed by 1.5% on balances over £10,000. The APR on purchases works out at 14.9%. There is no balance transfer offer and the interest free period is 56 days. The card has online fraud and purchase protection benefits. If you’re after a cashback deal, then three percent is the best you can get, but you’ll need to have no need of a balance transfer. The other benefits are probably of limited value. Apply now

Egg Money
The card has one percent cashback on all purchases. Selected dealers have a higher cashback rate, e.g. electrical goods from Dixons.co.uk earn 5% cashback. The APR is 7.9%, with no balance transfer available. The maximum interest free period is 50 days. The card has one percent cashback on all purchases. If you think you’ll be buying a lot of electrical goods from Dixons, then this card will probably come out as better than the American Express option. But overall the Amex card has a wider appeal.

CitiBank Online Platinum card
The cashback offer is 0.5% up to £3,000 per month. The APR works out at 16.9%. There is a balance transfer offer of 4.9% for the life of the balance. The interest free period is 56 days, and there are no additional benefits. This is third best on cashback – by quite a way. Apply now

It is best for you to understand your requirements and look at your outstanding balance and future spending before you choose yourself a card. Getting a particular card for your specific requirements can work for a set period.

Tom Smith
13th June 2007

Tags: current, cards, transfers, cash, offers, credit, deals

HSBC may be confusing customers over withdrawal fees abroad

With the summertime fast approaching many people in the UK are getting ready to jet off abroad to enjoy a relaxing holiday, and most will go armed with their debit cards in case they need to withdraw any cash when they get to their destination.

For consumers who have a packaged current account with HSBC the news appeared to be good, as HSBC has been boasting that these customers can enjoy using their debit cards at cash machines abroad without facing any withdrawal fees. However, although this makes it appear that the transaction will be totally free of any charges this is not actually the case.

HSBC do waiver the withdrawal fee for customers that have a packaged current account, which is basically a premium account that offers a range of benefits but costs the customer fourteen pounds a month. Being able to make fee free cash withdrawals at cash points abroad with a debit card is one of the benefits offered to these account holders. However, what many consumers fail to realize is that a loading fee of 2.75 percent is added to the foreign currency exchange rate.

According to campaigns and advertisements from HSBC: ‘Withdrawals from Cirrus/Maestro ATMs worldwide, free from HSBC transaction fees’ and ‘Cash withdrawals from ATMs worldwide are free from HSBC charges’.

However, viewers that look at the foot of the advertisement will see the small print relating to the loading fee, which means that these transactions will not be free of charge because of the increased foreign currency exchange rate.

An official from HSBC stated: ‘The 2.75% loading is not a fee. It’s part of how we calculate our exchange rate. We don’t believe we have misled our customers.’

However, Nationwide, which is one bank that does not charge any loading fee or additional charges is looking into the claims made by HSBC.

Tom Smith
12th June 2007

Tags: credit, abroad, charges, cost, hsbc

Happy birthday debit card

This beginning of June marks the twentieth anniversary of the debit card in the UK.

It is difficult to imagine how the nation managed without the debit card, but until 1987 this is exactly what we did. At the beginning of June 1987 Barclays launched its Connect Card, revolutionizing the way that consumers accessed their cash. Soon bank customers everywhere were able to access their money instantly and easily, as well as being able to make purchases quickly and conveniently.

Within a year of the launch of the Barclays Connect Card, a million debit cards had been circulated in the UK, and this has steadily grown over the years with nearly seventy million debit cards now in circulation, two decades after the initial launch. According to APACS around 143 purchases per second are now made through the use of a debit card in the UK, with people paying for everything from holidays and electrical to petrol and groceries with their plastic.

Debit cards are more popular than credit cards in the UK, and 85 percent of consumers in the UK have a debit card compared to 66 percent of consumers that own a credit card. Nearly seven billion transactions each year are carried out on debit cards.

A spokesman from Barclays stated: “The massive change when debit cards were introduced was that people were able to leave their chequebooks at home. It gave people the convenience to access their current accounts anywhere in the world. It was a massive convenience for the retailer as well.”

He added: “Without payments moving to an electronic platform, internet retailing could not have taken off. The ability to make a payment accurately without having to send off a cheque has created this online channel for retailers.”

Tom Smith
12th June 200

Tags: shopping, cards, credit, bills, payments

Expect annual fees on your credit card

The next decade is likely to herald a new era for credit cards, where users are charged simply for having them.

Financial research company Defaqto predicts that annual charges will become the norm in the next ten years as credit card companies and banks look to rebuild their profits following the capping of penalty fees.

The likes of Lloyds TSB and Barclaycard have already or are considering introducing charges of this sort and it seems that more firms will follow suit.

“Reports that Barclaycard is considering an annual fee is not a surprise and my expectation in the years ahead is that there will be a gradual move towards annual fees in the credit card market,” said David Black, head of banking at Defaqto.

“However this will herald a significant contraction in market size as people who clear their outstanding credit card balances on a monthly basis will, as they start facing annual fees, jettison credit cards in favour of using debit cards instead.”

If, as Defaqto predicts, fewer people use credit cards, it may be that those who do hold one will be hit even harder by annual fees as the providers charge more to cover the losses.

However, a mass exodus from credit card use may also work in the public’s favour as competition hots up and more favourable deals are introduced.

Tags: losses, profits, head of banking, move towards, banks, jettison credit cards, significant contraction

Handbags a goldmine for fraudsters

British women may be more susceptible to credit card fraud because they carry too much information in their handbags.

That is according to credit reference agency Equifax which says that handbags are a potential goldmine for thieves.

As well as holding all of a person’s debit and credit cards, the average handbag often also contains payslips, cheque books and National Insurance numbers.

The firm has found that 22 per cent of British women hold their National Insurance number in their handbag, while 32 per cent also keep old receipts.

“Information is our greatest asset these days,” said Neil Munroe of Equifax.

“And, according to our survey, women are carrying around enough information for a fraudster to apply for loans, mortgages, credit cards and bank accounts in their name.

“As our survey revealed anything from payslips, driving licences and mobile phones can be found in a handbag and this is all it takes to commit ID fraud,” he added.

In addition to potential fraud, many women leave themselves open to other crimes, with four in five admitting to carrying their house keys alongside proof of address in their bags.

Tags: business, National Insurance, cheque, national insurance number, credit card fraud, reference, potential goldmine, credit

Are You Paying For Your Cash Back Credit Card?

The offer seems to be too good to be true.  Spend money on your credit card and your provider will give you cash back on the card as part of your credit card loyalty program.  The more you spend, the more cash back you become entitled to. This all sounds well and good, but if you’re not careful you may very well find out that it is you who are paying for the cash back bonus you’re getting, not your UK credit card provider.

In order for your cash back reward program to work in your favor you need to be a disciplined credit card user.  This does not mean that you should not use your credit card, or only use it in certain circumstances.  In fact, you really should be using the card as often and as much as you can if you want to take the full benefit of the loyalty program.  What it does mean, however, is that you need to make sure that you clear your credit card balance at the end of each credit card statement billing date.  If you fail to clear your credit card balance on the statement due date, and you carry-over your credit card balance to the next month, then you start to become the person paying for your cash back rewards, not your credit card provider.

The reason why it is so important that you do not carry over a credit card balance to the next payment statement date is because you need to avoid incurring any interest or fees if you want to benefit from the cash back loyalty program.  As soon as you lose this, any benefit you would have got from your cash back credit card loyalty program will be cancelled out by the interest and fees you need to pay for carrying over a balance on the card.  Indeed, you may well find that the interest and fees you pay each month for carrying over the balance on your credit card will exceed any cash back you would be entitled to.  Unfortunately, this aspect of cash back credit cards is something that UK credit card providers are relying on in order to fund the cash back they’re offering you in the first place.

Consequently, if you are the type of UK credit card user who pays off their credit card statement balance at the end of each billing cycle, then having a cash back credit card loyalty program can prove to be very lucrative for you.  However, if like 60% or so of the other users of UK credit cards you are a borrower on your credit card, then it is very likely that you should look for some form of alternative loyalty program or, more importantly, a credit card that offers you a lower monthly interest rate than your current card provider offers, as, in the long run, this is very likely going to save you more money.

If you are in any doubt as to whether or not a UK cash back credit card is for you, be honest with yourself and ask yourself whether or not you have the discipline to pay off your credit card statement each month.  If the answer to this question is yes, then this card is working for you.  If the answer is no, you are paying for your credit card cash back loyalty program offer – and then some.

Richard Smith
13th May 2007

More Information:

• Cash Back or Rewards – What’s Your Preference?
• Available Types Of Credit Cards
• Credit Card Charges

External Links:

• More cash back credit card offers from CardGuide.co.uk
• Cash Back or Rewards – You Choose
  Not sure which would be the best for your spending levels? This article discusses the advantages and limitations of bothtype of credit card offers

Tags: cash, credit, fees, rate, costs, cards, apr, back, interest, charges

Annual fee imposed by Morgan Stanley

Customers using the Black cash back credit card with Morgan Stanley have been hit with a £20 annual fee. The Black credit card is offered to customers that have been turned down for the platinum card with Morgan Stanley, although it is not actively marketed by the company.

The cash back levels on the Black card are 1% for the first £2000 worth of purchases in the year, and 0.5% thereafter. However, the cost of the annual fee means that those spending less that £2000 on their cards will effectively have their benefits offset, which means that the card is not really providing any reward at all, despite being a cash back card.

According to officials from Morgan Stanley not all customers using the Black cash back credit card will be charged the annual fee.

One Morgan Stanley spokesperson stated: ‘We have received the spending patterns and repayment history of customers and as a result we have imposed the fee for a number of customers.’

However, some cardholders are annoyed by the charge, and feel that it is unjustified and unwarranted.

One Black cardholder stated: ‘I spend around £300 a month on the card and clear the balance by direct debit at the end of each month. I’ve never missed a payment and I suppose I’m one of those customers that doesn’t actually make the credit card company any money. I liked the cashback aspect of the card, but this fee doesn’t make it worthwhile now.’

The annual charges are due to come into force in June of this year, and consumers that want to avoid having to pay an annual fee should start looking for an alternative credit card before this time. As with many other card companies, it is thought that this annual fee could be a way for the card company to recoup some of the revenue losses that resulted from financial regulators placing a ceiling limit on penalty charged last year.

Tags: charges, cards, back, cash, earn, morgan, annual, credit

Consumer group wants investigation into calculation of credit card interest

The UK consumer group, Which?, has demanded an investigation into how credit card companies calculate the interest to be paid on cards, claiming that many companies are using a wide range of methods to calculate interest, which is not only netting them more money but is also causing mass confusion for credit card users.

According to the watchdog, these credit card companies are using around a dozen different methods in order to calculate interest on credit card repayments, and the confusion that this is causing is resulting in the companies making even more money from their customers.

Which? officials have gone on to say that the way that these credit card companies are calculating the interest to be charged means that comparing APRs on credit cards to find the best deal is ineffective. Which? states that credit card companies that make up for ninety percent of the credit card market are using around a dozen different ways to work out the interest. This includes the top twenty providers of credit cards. According to Which? there are now a number of factors that are used by these companies in order to determine how the interest will be calculated on a particular account.

One official from Which? stated: “People believe that APRs are a dependable way of comparing credit cards, but our research shows that APR cannot to be relied upon for true credit card comparisons.”

However, APACS officials state that using just one way to work out interest would also affect consumers, as the process used may not suit every consumer.

One APACS official stated: “There are a huge variety of cards on the market and some people prefer to have a lower APR but pay earlier, others might like a slightly higher APR but only want to pay interest on the amount left outstanding.”

Tom Smith
28th April 2007

Tags: rates, compound, credit, interest, calculate

Costs are recouped on credit card penalty ceiling limits

In 2006 financial regulators in the UK reviewed the penalty charges that were being imposed on the accounts of credit card holders that made late payments or went over the agreed credit limit on the card, even if only by a few pounds.

In many cases these charges were set at around thirty pounds – sometimes more depending on the card issuer or credit card company. As a result of the review, financial regulators in the UK enforced a new rule that meant that banks and credit card companies in the UK could not charge more than twelve pounds in this sort of situation – a move that cost many card issuers and companies a fortune in lost revenue.

However, it seems that many banks are now trying to recoup the revenue that has been lost through the ceiling limits placed on these cards by finding other ways to try and get money out of card holders. They are doing this by pushing up the cost of making transactions through cash machines, charging customers huge amounts of interest for the privilege of using their card to withdraw cash from machines.

A spokesperson from the price comparison website Uswitch stated:  ‘Consumers could be forgiven for thinking that they are being treated as the banking industry’s personal ATM. It’s easy to see why the major banks continue to announce record profits, which this year alone totalled in excess of £40bn, when the welfare of their customers continues to take a backseat to shareholders.’

According to Uswitch the amount of interest charged for cash withdrawals has rocketed recently, going from around twenty percent in 2005 to over twenty seven percent. Card issuers have also reduced interest free periods on credit cards.

Tom Smith
25th April 2007

• Credit Card Charges

Tags: issuers, penalty, charges, credit, cards

Credit card customers urged to check statements

UK payments association Apacs has urged credit card customers to check their statements carefully, as many people are currently guilty of not doing so.

According to research by the group, nearly half of all credit card users do not check their product statements thoroughly.

A surprising four per cent of respondents to the survey said that they never look at their credit card statements.

To help people make sense of communications from their provider, Apacs has created an advice guide explaining everything about the features and terms included in statements and giving hints on how to understand various details and terminology.

Sandra Quinn, director of communications at Apacs, said: “Although people are getting better at checking their statements, our research suggests that there is still a lot of work to be done.

“Armed with this advice guide we believe consumers will be better equipped to get the most from their credit card statement.”

The association’s study reveals that Yorkshire and Humberside is the worst region for ignoring credit card updates, with nine per cent of people admitting to never checking their statements.

Tags: worst region, Association, credit, economics, Banking, apacs, credit card statement

Online loans ‘fuelling credit refusals’

The number of people being refused credit for a personal loan has surged to 1.4 million – with the use of online loan sites fuelling the total, according to a new report.

Research by an independent financial comparison website found that the number of applications being turned down for personal loans could be boosted by the availability of online loan deals, which rely on electronic forms to check credit ratings.

The site found that, of the 89 possible personal loans available on the market, 31 could be accessed online.

And experts have moved to point out to people seeking a personal loan that while an instant deal online can be attractive, it can also provide an instant rejection – something that will affect future credit ratings.

Sean Gardner, chief executive of the site behind the research, warned: “Loan providers are getting tough so applicants shouldn’t assume that, just because the loan is available online, acceptance is automatic.

“The same rigorous rules apply however you request credit and if you’re rejected too often it’ll be your credit rating that suffers.”

Ways of getting round this include using an online credit profiling tool, which could give an indication of whether a loan offer could be accepted, without the risk of being rejected.

Tags: credit rating, personal loan, electronic forms, finance, use, chief executive, credit, rejection

Easter credit card warning for travelling Britons

Consumers planning on making a trip abroad over the Easter period are being encouraged to avoid the “unnecessary” charges that may be imposed upon them when making debit and credit card transactions.

Research carried out by Nationwide shows that the 15 million Britons who travelled abroad over the Easter period last year wasted nearly £16 million in charges imposed upon them by financial providers.

Jeremy Wood, divisional director at Nationwide, said: “People who are planning to go abroad this Easter should be aware of the hidden charges that most card providers impose which are both costly and unnecessary.”

“Anyone using a Nationwide debit or credit card will not be charged any foreign usage fees on purchases and will therefore have extra money to enjoy while on holiday,” he added.

With over 24 million Visa outlets around the globe, Nationwide also claims consumers will have no trouble accessing cash when they go abroad

Tags: Visa, GBP, Nationwide debit, credit, credit card transactions.Research, period, MasterCard

Bailiffs may be given greater powers

Bailiffs may be given the power to break into your home for as little as an unpaid credit card bill.

At present only certain bailiffs are allowed to do this but the tribunals, courts and enforcement bill is set to get its second reading in the house of commons today (March 5th).

If it becomes law, all bailiffs will be able to enter your home to collect a debt but fears are growing that this may lead to an increase in cases of bailiffs abusing their powers.

Citizens Advice is pushing for an independent regulator to be included in the bill, ensuring that bailiffs are acting within the rules.

The organisation also wants to see safeguards brought in that will guarantee bailiffs are only forcibly entering a property as a last resort.

“This Bill should have been the perfect opportunity to modernise the law and end abuse once and for all,” said chief executive at Citizens Advice David Harker.

“Instead it gives bailiffs greater powers without any proper regulation – a recipe for abuse on an unprecedented scale.

“It is a scandal and a disgrace that six years after the government made a commitment to bring in independent regulation, the misery and abuse continues. It has to stop,” he added.

Research by Citizens Advice shows that 64 per cent of bailiffs were guilty of harassment and intimidation in England and Wales since October 2006.

It also found that 40 per cent had misrepresented their powers, while 42 per cent charged debtors excessive fees.

Tags: credit, safeguards, government, england, Citizens Advice, card, Reuters, power

Credit card borrowing falls

The amount of money we borrow on credit cards fell in January, with industry experts saying this shows we are all managing our finances better.

Figures from the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BBA) show that borrowing on credit cards fell by £0.5 billion in the first month of 2007.

This is despite increases elsewhere across the board, with mortgage lending rising by £5.6 billion and total UK lending to the private sector growing by £21.9 billion.

A lack of borrowing on credit cards is being seen as a positive sign that personal finances are being better managed by the majority of the population.

“We can see that the January sales did not encourage borrowing on credit cards,” said David Dooks, director of statistics at BBA.

“As in the second half of last year, card borrowing is contracting and, with weaker retail sales being reported, this reflects the consumer’s current attitude to spending and their commitments.”

The BBA has also revealed that levels of unsecured personal lending were unchanged in January.

Figures for mortgage lending were in line with the monthly average increases for the last six months, with Mr Dooks saying that the rise was expected.

“Mortgage lending continued to be buoyant, as we expected following the high volumes of approvals in the final quarter of last year,” he added.

Tags: january sales, second half, rise, January, retail sales, positive sign, credit, Credit Cards

Post Office wants end to aggressive PPI tactics

The Post Office is calling for aggressive payment protection insurance (PPI) sales tactics to be stamped out.

It follows the news that credit card company Capital One has agreed to pay a fine of £175,000 following an investigation by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The firm was lambasted for its poor sales and administration in regards to PPI and the Post Office has welcomed the FSA’s decision to issue a fine.

However, it also calls upon the industry as a whole to improve its standards or risk losing the trust of customers.

“If we want customers to trust our industry, these aggressive sales tactics must cease to allow for a more transparent and fairer marketplace,” said Claire Oldstein, head of communications at the Post Office.

“The Post Office has long been calling for an open market for PPI sales, where providers are honest with customers that other, cheaper standalone products are available.”

Ms Oldstein also pointed out that few customers know a great deal about PPI, with many unaware that they even have it.

In addition, aggressive sales tactics are leading to many people feeling as though they have no choice but to take out a PPI policy when they get a loan or credit card, even though this is most certainly not the case.

PPI is a voluntary insurance which is designed to protect borrowers should they be unable to work and cannot afford the repayments on their loan.

Many borrowers find that it gives them peace of mind, but it is recommended that you shop around for the best deal and do not feel as though you must take the policy offered by your lender.

Tags: mortgage, fsa, PPI policy, administration, credit, post office, capital one, authority

Barclaycard vies for Valentine’s spending

Barclaycard has come over all loved-up and given all their credit card customers ten per cent cash back on all purchases made at Thorntons, H Samuel and Interflora until Valentine’s Day.

The credit card company is aiming to tap the profit potential of the holiday, which saw an estimated £115 million spent by UK lovebirds on gifts last year.

“We’ve teamed up with three of the country’s leading retailers of Valentine’s gifts to give our customers this great offer,” said UK managing director, Amer Sajed. “With up to £50 cash-back available, our customers can spread a lot more love for less.”

The cash-back will accrue on purchases made in store, over the phone or online and will automatically be credited to the cardholder’s account.

Such is the commercialisation of the former fertility festival that the holiday has become the second-highest card sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas and it has been tagged by some (possibly single) US commentators as a “Hallmark holiday”.

Tags: Amer, credit, UK managing director, love, account

Card spending increases

New figures show that we spent a record amount of money on our cards over the Christmas period.

The UK payments association Apacs says that plastic card spending reached £31 billion during December, representing 250 transactions per second.

In all, 669 million plastic card transactions were made, signalling a six per cent increase on the same period in 2005 and highlighting how we are becoming increasingly reliant on card payments.

Despite the positive figures, Apacs has revealed that the vast majority of transactions (63 per cent) involved debit cards, while we spent less on our credit cards.

“The trend that we have seen over recent years of cards replacing cash and cheques on the high street continued this Christmas,” said Sandra Quinn from Apacs.

“Our figures show that cardholders are becoming more responsible in the way that they borrow and are clearly focusing on repayments, with the majority of spending being done by debit rather than credit cards.”

Credit card transactions fell from 205 million in December 2005, to 197 million in 2006.

In total, the amount of money spent on credit cards was just £11.4 billion in 2006, down from the £11.5 billion recorded in 2005.

Tags: plastic card transactions, Technology, credit, Payment systems, new figures, cheques, card spending, december

Credit card market lacks competition

There is a lack of competition in the debit and credit card market, meaning consumers are getting a bad deal.

That is according to a new report published by the European Commission (EC) and it backs claims previously made by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

For some time now, the BRC has been arguing that there is a lack of competition and that fees charged for transactions are an unjustifiable tax.

The BRC has revealed that the fees we pay are fuelling excess bank profits and figures from the EC report show that credit card issuers are making profits of 40 per cent.

Calls are now coming for the Office of Fair Trading to recognise the findings of the EC report in its current case against Mastercard and Visa’s fee arrangements.

“This report is a welcome indication that the commission agrees with us that banks are abusing their position,” said Kevin Hawkins from the BRC.

“The report sends a clear signal to member states, including the UK, that consumers and retailers have been bearing the costs of that abuse.

“We’ve long argued that high charges are an unjustifiable tax on consumers leading to excessive profits for the banks,” he added.

Customers looking to get a credit card should shop around and try to find the best deal to suit their personal needs.

Tags: kevin hawkins, credit, United Kingdom, MasterCard, tax, BRC, Credit card, fee

Helpful hints for Christmas recovery

Consumers are being offered advice on how to overcome the financial difficulties that we all inevitably experience during January.

Which? says there are a few simple steps which can be taken to avoid allowing a debt molehill to turn into a mountain.

One piece of advice is to buy things on a credit card which charges zero per cent on new purchases, but ensure the balance is paid back before standard interest rates kick in.

Which? also says it may be a good idea to transfer debt from one credit card to another, taking advantage of a new interest-free period, but the firm urges caution when moving money in this way.

“Many of us will have overspent over the festive period, or be planning large purchases in the January sales, so it’s a good time to sort out our finances,” said Malcolm Coles, editor at which.co.uk.

“It’s really important to shop around to make sure that you get the best deal on credit.

“For those who already owe money it’s very easy to transfer existing card balances to a credit card with a lower interest rate, but consumers should check the terms and look out for transfer fees to make sure that they know how much it will really cost them,” he added.

Which? also advises consumers that they should only ever secure a loan against their home as a last resort.

Tags: consumers, finance, interest rate, credit, Credit card, simple steps

The Pros And Cons Of Payment Protection Insurance

Lenders are always eager to convince borrowers to protect their repayments for loans, credit cards, store cards, mortgages and other financial products. And they have a point. People in the UK are saving less and borrowing more, with a high rate of debt. Read more

Tags: ppi, cover, office, Insurance, claimsoft, Mortgages, policy

Choose credit cards over store cards this Christmas

If you are planning to spread the cost of Christmas and the New Year there are a number of options available to you. For many people, particularly those lured into shops when the January sales come around, the temptation to take out a store card is irresistible, with retail employees throwing what sounds like offers in to encourage the consumers to apply for the store card. However, consumers should think carefully about whether a store card is worth it before making a commitment and spending money on such cards.

A store card can only be used in one shop or a certain chain of stores, and is therefore of no use to you if you want to pay for other items in other shops and stores. Store cards also typically have very high interest rates, so even though you might be offered a small discount on your purchases for using the store card you will more than make up for this in terms of the interest that you will pay for the privilege of using the card. With stores cards you don’t get special offers such as interest free periods, so you will be stuck with paying interest on any balance that you have on the card.

A more sensible solution for those planning to splurge out in the January sales is to get hold of a good credit card in plenty of time – one that offers an interest free period on purchases giving you time to repay the balance without having to pay interest. Even if you end up with a credit card that does not offer an interest free period, or where the interest free period expires before the balance has been repaid, you will still pay a lower interest rate than most store cards charge, and you have the added advantage of being able to use the card in other stores.

There are some advantages to taking out a store card, such as discounts on certain lines and products, but in order to really benefit from this type of deal you need to be the type of consumer that pays off the full balance on the store card each month, thus avoiding the extortionate interest charges that will otherwise be incurred. 

Tags: cost, charge, interest, store, cards, purchases, sales, rates, credit

Put credit card fraud into perspective

As Christmas approaches many consumers in the UK have started to worry about the risk of Internet fraud, and although buying gifts and other related items online has become hugely popular over the years many are still worried about the possibility of becoming the victims of credit card fraud. This worry is further reinforced through the various warnings that always come out at around this time of year, warning consumers to beware of credit card fraudsters.

However, some new advice has now been issued by a company that works to protect both retailers and consumers from this type of crime. The 3rd Man has advised consumers not to listen to ‘scaremongers’, and has urged retailers to put this type of criminal activity into perspective. The 3rd Man wants more emphasis put on the fact that by and large Internet shopping is safe, and this is because most reputable retailers use secure software to ensure that the consumer’s financial and personal data is not compromised.

Each year billions of pounds is spent on Internet shopping by consumers in the UK, but the many stories about the risk of online shopping and credit card fraud could result in a drop in consumer confidence. The 3rd Man does advise consumers to ensure that the site that they are using is a secure one, and providing that this is the case there should be no need to worry.

The CEO of the company stated: “Every day there is a story about fraudsters cheating their way into our pockets. The introduction of Chip and PIN has made a massive impact on fraud, reducing crime in stores. It has also persuaded many fraudsters to target ‘card not present’ environments such as Internet shopping, but equally many retailers have recognised this and put in place proper systems to combat the criminals. If people wish to shop on the Internet they should be confident that it is fundamentally safe. It is the safest way to shop!”

More Info:

• Identity Theft

Tags: chip, card, steal, fraud, pin

Home credit lenders must make it easier to compare deals

Home credit lenders have recently been targeted by the Competition Commission in the UK, and the industry has been told that it needs to make things easier for consumers in the UK when it comes to comparing deals and repayments on finance offered by home credit companies. The commission also added that the industry needed to ensure that consumers that repaid the loan earlier than arranged received some form of rebate. However, the commission has decided not to enforce a price cap, as officials state that this could hit some consumers hard.

Research showed that the average sum borrowed by UK consumers in the form of home credit was £300, with loans starting from around £100. The home credit industry has nearly two and a half million customers in the UK, and the majority of these borrow under five hundred pounds in the form of home credit. The Competition Commission, however, has decided not to place any price cap as more vulnerable consumers that may need more could otherwise find themselves in difficulties.

After it came to light that a small number of home credit companies were controlling the market when it came to this type of finance, the commission was said to be ‘opening the market’ when it came to home credit. The commission is in the stages of doing this, and has stated that lenders in this industry will need to publish their data on a website, so that consumers can then easily compare terms and costs in order to get the best deals.

With regards to its decision not to enforce price caps, the chairman of the commission said that he thought that capping might have “…reduced the availability of home credit to the most vulnerable customers, specifically those with no access to alternative sources of credit. We also felt that price caps could prove to be extremely difficult to apply and enforce in this industry.”

Tags: uk, lenders, compare, competition, comparison, offers, commission, deals

Homeowners cautioned over the true cost of unsecured personal loans for home improvements

The latest figures released by the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) show that 198,242 mortgages, totaling £21.8 billion were approved in the UK in October, a six percent increase on September’s figures and an eight percent increase on the figures year-on-year.  At £144,200, the average UK residential property mortgage also saw a slight increase during the month.

Nonetheless, while, “the secured lending market undoubtedly remains robust,” according to David Dooks, director of statistics at the BBA, “after discount price growth, lending volumes are not dissimilar to the same time last year” – indicating that the recent base rates increases by the Bank of England mat be having some effect on the demand for UK property borrowing.  A factor echoed by Milan Khatri, chief economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, who foresees a slowdown in the UK property borrowing during the course of the next year once the full impact of those Bank of England rate increases filters through and the true higher cost of borrowing starts to be felt.

In the meantime,  a recent report by Money Expert is warning that an increasing number of UK homeowners are now opting to take-out unsecured personal loans to finance their home improvement projects over more cost effective ways of this type of borrowing. 

While this may, itself, not be too alarming, Money Expert’s findings also indicate that UK homeowners are not fully aware of how much their unsecured personal loan borrowing is costing them in extra interest payments.  In some cases, interest repayments on a four year £10,000 unsecured personal loan taken-out for home improvement projects can vary by as much as £2,500 – or 25%.

Sean Garden, chief executive of Money Expert, therefore warns, “Personal loans can vary in price dramatically – you could end up paying back as much as a quarter of the amount you borrowed in extra repayments unless you research the market carefully.”

As such, if you are one of the many new homeowners who have recently been approved a UK home mortgage loan and are now looking to undertaken some DIY home improvements on your new home, make sure you look around and research the many different types of UK unsecured personal loans available in the market to make sure that you get an unsecured loan that meets your needs without breaking the bank in extra interest payments.

Tags: unsecured, Mortgages, diy, improvements, bank, home

UK Credit Card Consumers Should Be Watchful

The latest scam to defraud vulnerable credit cards holders in the UK has come to light in the Worcestershire area, where thieves pretending to be police officers or bank workers managed to steal credit cards with which they then took cash from consumers’ accounts. In the recent incidents the thieves managed to get away with thousands of pounds after obtaining the credit card PIN numbers fraudulently from consumers that thought that they were talking to professionals and officials.

According to police officials, the thieves had acted very convincingly, and had actually called consumers to tell them that they were in danger of being defrauded and that they were trying to stop this from happening. The thieves posed as officers and bank officials in order to convince the victim that they were acting in their best interest, and as a result obtained personal banking and financial details from consumers.

Officials have now warned that consumers need to ensure that they don’t give out any information of this sort over the phone. One officer stated: “Banks, building societies and the police will never ask for PIN numbers over the phone or even face-to-face.” He added: “They are a matter for the individual only. If someone does ask, no matter the circumstances, suspicions should be immediately aroused and the incident reported to police.”

Consumers have always had to remain vigilant for different types of credit card fraud, and this is one of a long line of different scams that have seen consumer conned out of thousand of pounds in the UK. Police have asked card holders to challenge anyone that they are suspicious of ‘firmly but politely’ in order to try and verity their identity. Officers have also issued local and national numbers for anyone to report suspicious activity of this sort.

Tags: consumers, cards, uk, steal, fraud, thief, theft, types, credit

Choosing the right card

Choosing a credit card can be a process full of heartache and confusion; there are so many to choose from. But do they really offer different benefits?

Whether you are venturing into the world of credit for the first time or are thinking of changing your card, we examine the process of choosing a card and reach some interesting conclusions.

Loads of money!

It was clear some decades ago that credit cards were here to stay. In the late seventies there were articles on TV and in newspapers that soon we wouldn’t use cash any more – no more paper and no more heavy coins jangling in the pockets.

It hasn’t quite gone that way, but certainly these days it’s a question of which card to choose not “do I want one?”

Everybody’s different

What type of credit card user are you?

There are some very set patterns that go to make up the million or so credit card users in the UK today. There are so many of us that all together we owe in the region of £180 billion. And that’s a lot of interest!

Pay it off

Do you clear your balance every month? If you are one of these tidy users then really the market is completely open to you as you won’t have to concern yourself with how much interest the credit card company charges. It would be worth casting an eye around the market though just to make sure you’re aware of what is on offer.

To pay it off, or not pay it off, that is the question

If you use your card for regular purchases each month and usually pay off those regular sums but occasionally run up larger bills, perhaps at holiday time or Christmas, then you do need to be aware of how much interest you are being charged.

You should also examine how long the interest free period is offered on the card. Most companies will give you between 56 and 59 days interest free credit, but a rare few don’t give any!

The hole in the wall

If you are going to use your credit card to obtain cash then you are going to get stung anyway you look at it. Going to the hole in the wall will incur interest on the cash as soon as it’s in your hand; there are no interest free periods with cash transactions.

Check to see what rate the company charges for cash; it’s bound to be higher than other rates on the card.

A debt is a debt is a debt

If you are somebody who has run up a debt, or is likely to run up a debt, on your credit card and lets it sit there, then you really do need to go for the cheapest option you can get your hands on.

There are two schools of thought for outstanding balances. Some people say chose a credit card that has a low interest rate for the life of the balance and stick with it. Some people say go for the zero rate promotions and switch when they come to an end. We say it’s up to you.

Buyer beware

If you are going to change between zero rated cards and become a bit of a ‘rate tart’ then you will need to keep an eye on how often you do so and whether there are any penalties charged when you transfer to the next zero rated account.

Switching from card to card for the zero rated incentives can affect your credit rating. Credit card companies have now got wise to the fact they are losing something like £1bn a year in potential revenue by people taking advantage of their offers. So watch out for those fees.

Something for nothing

Credit card companies have also now introduced what are known as honesty boxes on their promotions. These show all the interest rates they charge and should be displayed in a clear understandable form, so you can easily compare like for like.

As far as other incentives are concerned there are cards out there that offer reward points or discounts at selected retailers, cashback, zero percent on goods purchased or even, on special charity cards, a small donation to a named charity every time you make a purchase. There will be one for you.

Choose your weapon

The credit card industry spends billions of pounds every year on encouraging users to transfer balances or to take out more credit. The different types of card on offer are staggering and have been developed to compete in the High Street wars of open finance introduced in the eighties. Today, some of the larger organisations like Barclaycard or American Express will offer several different cards each with their own unique benefits. These demonstrate that we all may be unique, but we each share the same type of habits when it comes to dealing with our finances.

Choose carefully, for your credit card can be your friend if used wisely in the fight to survive the daily financial grind or it can very easily become your enemy.

Tags: apply, choose, best, credit, balance, transfers, compare

Car Loans

Houses are the single biggest purchase you are likely to make in your life. The second isn’t so cut and dried, but it’s fairly likely to be a car. Given that you’ve probably already got quite a lot of credit and debts, and so there is a good chance another personal loan would be turned down by one of the regular banks is now the time to turn to a specialist car finance package? If so, are they really just for those who can’t get finance elsewhere?

Read more

Tags: credit, hire purchase, lending, apr, showroom, var fnance, PCH stands

The Pros And Cons Of A Business Credit Card

There are hundreds of business credit cards from banks and other business service providers. In fact, there are so many that it can be difficult to choose the right one.  Here’s a guide to what you should look at when choosing a business credit card and what to avoid to make sure your business stays financially healthy.

Business Card Advantages

One of the main advantages of a business credit card is that it can be used to manage cash flow. Business owners and their employees can use business credit cards to pay for goods or services that require immediate payment. At the same time, they can benefit from an interest holiday of up to 56 days before the money is deducted from their business accounts. Deferring payments in this way can be very useful for business owners.

Another key advantage benefits both employers and employees. When employees travel on business they often have to pay for hotels, car hire, flights, meals and business entertaining. In many cases, this comes out of their pocket and they have to wait to be reimbursed. Using a business credit card means that employees can charge these business expenses straight to the business without waiting for reimbursement. This keeps their personal finances healthy.

Saving Accounting Time

For employers, this practice has another advantage. Hours and hours of accounting time (and business money) can be spent on sorting out employees’ expenses. This workload is much reduced with a business credit card. While businesses may choose to have the backup of having employees submit expense reports, the business credit card statement may be enough. Each month, business owners get a statement that itemises all transactions on the business account, regardless of which employee made them. Some business accounts offer advanced reporting features that will help with VAT calculations.

Business Card Disadvantages

Despite these advantages, there are a couple of major disadvantages to business credit cards. For example, if an employee accidentally or deliberately reveals card details, there could be expensive transactions on the account. Even if the employee has committed a fraud, the business may still be liable. Such situations can also take a long time to sort out.

The other potential issue is the same for business credit card holders as it is for personal credit card holders. Money spent on a credit card is actually debt. With preferential interest rates and long interest free periods, business owners will need to make sure that they don’t get into a cycle of debt. This could seriously damage the long term financial health of their business.

Other Business Finance Options

For this reason, it is also worth considering other financing options for the business. A business debit card, for example, keeps tight control of access to the account. In addition, business owners cannot spend more than they have in the account, unless they have agreed an overdraft facility. A business loan is another option worth serious consideration. Whichever option business owners go for, it is essential to manage finances prudently and avoid getting into long term debt.

Tags: finance, accounts, personal, credit, business

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