0% Credit Cards

Zero percent rates on credit card balance transfers and purchases.

In these days of high competition for your custom between leading brands, 0% offers are almost become the market norm. However never forget these are almost always all introductory offers, and just like the saying 'there's no such thing as a free lunch', its also true that your 0% credit card at some point is going to start charging interest.

The following credit cards offer rates of 0% on either purchases and/or balance transfers. Please remember that to benefit from 0% purchase offers you would be the type of consumer who doesn't normally settle their outstanding statement balance at the end of each month. If you settle the outstanding amount each month you are not paying any interest on your purchases anyway (when interest is charged not from the day of purchase). After the introductory period has ended you will be paying the full long term standard rate and under these circumstances the right card for you may be the lowest long term standard rate card.

Currently its quite easy to have several cards and go from one introductory offer to another. As long as you have one card with a competitive low standard rate that you can fall back to using then all bases are covered. With balance transfers make sure you add in the handling fee to compare the true cost across the market of so called '0% deals'. Also check the maximum amount you can transfer at that rate.

AVAILABLE ZERO PERCENT DEALS
BRAND	PURCHASES	BALANCE TRANSFERS	TYPICAL LONG TERM RATE
ABBEY ZERO RATE	0% for 3 months from first activating your account.	0% for first 12 months. 3% handling fee (minimum £5).	Typical 18.9% APR (variable)
BARCLAYCARD BREATHE	n/a	0% interest on balance transfers for 12 months from account opening 2.5% handling fee applies. (minimum £2.50)	Typical 14.9% APR (variable)
BARCLAYCARD CHARITY	0% APR for the first 6 months of you opening your account!	0% for the first 6 months of activating your account 2.9% handling fee applies. (minimum £2.50)	Typical 14.9% APR (variable)
BARCLAYCARD FLEXI-RATE	14.9% APR Variable	0% for 1st 9 months of opening your account. 1.7% handling fee applies. (minimum £2.50)	Typical 14.9% APR (variable)
BARCLAYCARD FOOTBALL	0% on football season tickets	0% for first 12 months of opening your account 2.5% handling fee applies (min. £2.50)	Typical 14.9% APR (variable)
BARCLAYCARD ONEPULSE	n/a	0% interest on balance transfers for 12 months from account opening (2.5% handling fee applies)	Typical 12.4% APR (variable)
CAPITAL ONE PLUS	0% until 1st April 2010	n/a	Typical 24.9% APR (variable)
CAPITAL ONE PREMIUM PLUS	0% until 1st April 2010	n/a	Typical 15.9% APR (variable)
EGG	0% APR (variable) till 1st February 2010	0% p.a. (variable) till 1st December 2010 put on the Account by 1st Febuary 2010. 3% handling fee	Typical 16.9% APR (variable)
GM	0% for 5 months from first activating your account.	0% for 5 months from first activating your account. 2% handling fee (minimum £5).	Typical 14.9% APR (variable)
HALIFAX ALL-IN-ONE	0% for the first 9 months	0% for the first 9 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days (3% fee).	Typical 15.9% APR (variable)
HSBC	0% for the first 3 months	0% p.a for 15 months (2.9% fee)	Typical 16.9% APR (variable)
JOHN LEWIS	0% for the first 6 months from the date you open your account	0% p.a. for 6 months from the opening of your account 2% handling fee (minimum £5, maximum £50).	Typical 16.9% APR (variable)
MARBLES	N/A	0% p.a. (variable) for the first 12 months of your new account 2% handling fee (minimum £5)	Typical 15.9% APR variable
MBNA PLATINUM	0% on card purchases for 3 months	0% for 13 months on balance transfers made in the 1st 90 days 2.9% handling fee (minimum £3)	Typical 15.9% APR variable
MBNA PLATINUM + REWARD POINTS	0% on card purchases for 3 months	0% for 13 months on balance transfers made in the 1st 90 days 2.9% handling fee (minimum £3)	Typical 15.9% APR variable
TESCO	0% for the first 12 months	0% for 6 months from account opening (2.0% handling fee during the first 4 months from account opening.)	Typical 16.9% APR (variable)
VIRGIN	0% p.a. on card purchases for 3 months from the date your account is opened.	0% p.a. on balance transfers for 16 months from opening your new account (1st 60 days) 2.98% handling fee (minimum £3)	typical 16.6%APR variable
VIRGIN ATLANTIC	0% p.a. on balance transfers from other cards for 6 months from opening your new account 2% handling fee (minimum £3, max. £50)	n/a	typical 17.9%APR variable