The first credit cards were given out in 1950 to just 200 people. They were only accepted in 14 restaurants in New York.
Source: About.com (http://history1990s.about.com/
od/1950s/a/firstcreditcard_1.htm)
While fewer and fewer people carry cash in their wallets and purses these days, the variety of credit cards on the market has increased enormously. The convenience of paying by card is hard to beat and, with many offering insurance and other benefits, it's often much safer than cash. Read more>
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Virgin14 mth 0% balance transfers - 3 mth 0% on purchases |
14 months (2.98% admin fee) | 16.6% |
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| ** DISCOUNTS on Virgin holidays, Media and other products ** | ||||
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NatWest Platinum0% balance transfer for 16 mth & 3 mth on purchases |
16 months (2.90% admin fee) | 16.9% |
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| ** EXCELLENT credit score required in order to apply for this card ** | ||||
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RBS Platinum0% balance transfer for 16 mth & 3 mth on purchases |
16 months (2.90% admin fee) | 16.9% |
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| ** EXCELLENT credit score required in order to apply for this card ** | ||||
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Now with more than 100 million credit cards in circulation, a dozen major lenders, and more than 300 credit cards on offer, finding the best credit card for your needs can be a daunting task.
This section aims to take the confusion out of finding the best credit cards and offers everything from guides, FAQs and moneysaving tips, to credit card reviews and a tool to compare credit cards.
If you shop online or over the phone it’s hard to buy much without a credit card and few people would dream of going away on a trip abroad without one. For emergency purchases or suddenly required services nothing can get you out of a fix like a credit card.
For many people it's the "credit" part of the card that is their main interest because they use them for short term borrowing. For these consumers, it's the interest rate at which the money is being lent to them, or the APR (Annual Percentage Rate), that is the most important element to any credit card.
For other users, who like to buy and then pay off their balance every month, other perks like reward schemes and cash back are more important features.
By carefully comparing the various offers around, and the many providers in the market, it should be possible to find a credit card option that suits you and your lifestyle.
Sometimes it can be handy to compare just the top 10 credit card deals to make your comparison even simpler. Click on the link to view our current top 10 credit cards.
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Britons advised to book holidays on credit cards.