Barclaycard Football Credit Card

Barclaycard Football is dedicated to the game you've devoted your life to. It's more than a credit card, it's a football rewards card that gets you closer to the game you love.

Great Rates

0% on your season tickets (purchases above £250)
0% on balance transfers for 12 months from account opening (2.5% handling fee applies)
14.9% APR Typical Variable

Amazing Rewards

Earn reward points at selected retailers which can then be redeemed for club vouchers, club merchandise and Barclays Premier League match tickets

Exclusive Experiences

Get ongoing access to once in a lifetime football experiences and exclusive offers

Match Tickets

Win a pair of tickets to see the Barclays Premier League team of your choice every month

Suits you if you:

• Are a football fan

• Have a good credit history

• Are 21 or over

• Have a permanent UK address

• Aren't a student

• Have a regular income

Summary Box:

It's good to know the plain facts about your Barclaycard. This Summary Box gives you clear information about the key features of your card.
APR Typical 14.9% APR (variable)

Pay less interest by repaying more each month.

The example below assumes the following:
• £1,000 purchase on 1st January 2007 and no further transactions

• Typical rate of 14.9% APR variable is charged

• Credit limit is not exceeded

• Minimum repayment of 3% or £5 (whichever is the greater) is made

• Payment is made each month on payment due date

• Calculation excludes payment protection insurance

Cancellation rights
You have a right to cancel this agreement. This right will expire 14 calendar days after we post the card to you. Unless you cancel within this period you will be bound by this Agreement. If you wish to cancel this Agreement, please send written notice to Barclaycard, Department BCR, Northampton NN4 7SG. If you cancel you will still need to repay any money already lent to you. Unless you repay this money in full within a month of cancellation, you may be required to pay interest or other charges under the terms of this Agreement.
Barclaycard is a trading name of Barclays Bank PLC. Barclays Bank PLC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Registered in England No: 1026167. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP

Balance Transfer Terms & Conditions:

1. Barclays reserve the right to refuse a balance transfer or to limit the amount that can be transferred, in any case the minimum is £250 and the maximum will be £5,000 or 90% of your credit limit, whichever is lower, subject to the available credit limit on your account. Should we honour amounts in excess of your balance transfer limit they will be debited to your account and charged at 6.9% interest p.a., until paid in full, with no handling fee.

2. A 2.5% handling fee will be applied to each 0% interest balance transfer you make.

3. We are unable to accept transfers from cards or loans issued by companies within the Barclays Group.

4. If you choose to close your account with other lenders, please notify them in writing.

5. You should continue to make payments to your other lenders until we have confirmed that the balance has been transferred.

6. Your monthly repayments will reduce your promotional balances first (longest duration first), so you will be charged interest (where it applies) on other balances and new spending whilst your promotional balances are paid off. Obviously the more you pay back, the quicker your balances will be paid off.

7. If you do not make at least the minimum payment by the payment due date or if you exceed your credit limit at any time we will remove the promotional rate and charge at your standard interest rate (typical rate 14.9% APR variable).

8. This balance transfer offer is only available when you apply online on this application form.

9. To qualify for this balance transfer offer you must transfer any balance within 60 days of opening your Barclaycard account.

Link to previous article Barclaycard Initial Credit Card

Barclaycard Initial Credit Card

If this is your first credit card or you're looking to build your credit rating, this option can get you off to a great start.

Suits you if you:

• Are new to credit or rebuilding your credit

• Are 18 or over

• Have a permanent UK address for 3 months or more

• Have a regular income of more than £3,000 pa

• Don't already have a Barclaycard

• Haven't missed multiple payments on a credit agreement within the last 12 months

• Don't have a CCJ,IVA or have not been registered bankrupt

• Aren't a student

To begin with you could enjoy an affordable credit limit of up to 2000 (minimum 250) to get you off to a good start
27.9% APR typical (variable)

People choose Barclaycard because all customers enjoy:
• No annual fee

• Identity Protection Service – advice about protecting yourself from identity theft

• Safer shopping with Fraud Protection – including chip and PIN, and watching for unusual spending on your account

• Purchase Delivery Protection – protecting your online, phone or mail orders against loss or damage, from despatch to door (excludes second-hand goods and services)

• Emergency help when travelling abroad

• Great holiday deals with our Travel Service

• Convenient online account management

• Emergency cash advance and credit card replacement service

• Text alerts five days before payment is due (opt in required)

• 24 hour helpline
* Terms and conditions apply to all benefits

Important details
Barclaycard reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer is only available to new customers. You will be required to use a PIN with this credit card in order to pay for goods and services over the counter in shops and other outlets. If you have any particular requirements concerning communications with Barclaycard or use of your credit card arising from a disability please contact us on 0845 7660 758 before completing the application.

Barclaycard Simplicity Credit Card

If you're looking for a card that makes life simple by offering a consistently low rate, this is the one for you.

Suits you if you:

• Are looking for a simple, low rate

• Have built an excellent credit history

• Are 21 or over

• Have a permanent UK address for 3 months or more

• Have a regular income of more than £10,000 pa

• Don't already have a Barclaycard

• Haven't missed multiple payments on a credit agreement within the last 12 months

• Don't have a CCJ,IVA or have not been registered bankrupt

• Aren't a student

A low rate that stays low

6.8% p.a.

on every purchase and every balance transfer you make

6.8% APR typical (variable)

People choose Barclaycard because all customers enjoy:
• No annual fee

• Identity Protection Service – advice about protecting yourself from identity theft

• Safer shopping with Fraud Protection – including chip and PIN, and watching for unusual spending on your account

• Purchase Delivery Protection – protecting your online, phone or mail orders against loss or damage, from despatch to door (excludes second-hand goods and services)

• Emergency help when travelling abroad

• Great holiday deals with our Travel Service

• Convenient online account management

• Emergency cash advance and credit card replacement service

• Text alerts five days before payment is due (opt in required)

• 24 hour helpline

* Terms and conditions apply to all benefits

Important details
Barclaycard reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer is only available to new customers. You will be required to use a PIN with this credit card in order to pay for goods and services over the counter in shops and other outlets. If you have any particular requirements concerning communications with Barclaycard or use of your credit card arising from a disability please contact us on 0845 7660 758 before completing the application.

Barclaycard Breathe Credit Card

The card that donates 50% of profits to projects that tackle climate change.

Suits you if you:

• Are looking to transfer your balance to a new credit card

• Have a good credit history

• Are 21 or over

• Have a permanent UK address for 3 months or more

• Have a regular income of more than £10,000 pa

• Don't already have a Barclaycard

• Haven't missed multiple payments on a credit agreement within the last 12 months

• Don't have a CCJ,IVA or have not been registered bankrupt

• Aren't a student

0% interest

on balance transfers for 6 months from opening your account (2.5% handling fee applies)
5.9% purchase rate on public transport (excludes Transport for London).
Great offers and discounts including £25 off Ecotricity, upto £50 off British Gas home insulation, 10% off Halfords cycles and accessories and many more.

14.9% APR typical (variable)

People choose Barclaycard because all customers could enjoy:
• Advice about protecting yourself from identity theft.

• Safer shopping with Fraud Protection – including chip and PIN, and watching for unusual spending on your account

• Purchase Delivery Protection – protecting your online, phone or mail orders against loss or damage, from dispatch to door (excludes second-hand goods and services)

• Emergency help when travelling abroad

• Great holiday deals with our Travel Service

• Convenient online account management

• Emergency cash advance and credit card replacement service

• Text alerts five days before payment is due (opt in required)

• 24 hour helpline
Terms and conditions apply to all benefits

Important details
50% of net profits after tax (independently reviewed) from Barclaycard Breathe will be donated to Pure, the Clean Planet Trust (Registered Charity No. 1112249), to fund government-approved environmental projects. Minimum donation of £1 million in the first year.
Barclaycard reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer is only available to new customers. You will be required to use a PIN with this credit card in order to pay for goods and services over the counter in shops and other outlets. If you have any particular requirements concerning communications with Barclaycard or use of your credit card arising from a disability please contact us on 0845 7660 758 before completing the application.

Link to previous article Barclaycard OnePulse Credit Card

Barclaycard OnePulse Credit Card

Barclaycard OnePulse is the only card to offer an Oyster card, Credit card and Cashless all in one card.

Suits you if you:

• Live, work or travel around London

• Have a good credit history

• Are 23 or over

• Have a permanent UK address for 3 months or more

• Have a regular income of more than £15,000 pa

• Haven't missed multiple payments on a credit agreement within the last 12 months

• Don't have a CCJ,IVA or have not been registered bankrupt

• Aren't a student

0% interest

on purchases for 6 months from account opening

In-built Oyster card

for the easiest way to travel around London
Go cashless with OneTouch payments a new and quick way to pay for purchases of £10 and under

14.9% APR typical (variable)

How the card works

Think of your Barclaycard OnePulse as having a built-in Oyster card in addition to your standard credit card and cashless payment, so you can move faster and shop smarter.
Before you use your card for Oyster travel, you need to pre-load your card with either a season ticket (e.g. a Travelcard or a bus pass) or pay as you go.
To make cashless purchases with OneTouch payment for purchases of £10 and under, simply hold your Barclaycard OnePulse card next to the secure reader at participating merchants and your transactions will be complete in a matter of seconds. That’s all it takes. No need to enter your PIN1. No counting cash, No messing.

Oyster card

• Built in Oyster card – the simplest way to travel around London by buses, the Tube, trams or DLR.

• Your Barclaycard OnePulse can be used in exactly the same way as a standard Oyster card.

• Set up Auto top-up from your Barclaycard OnePulse and we’ll automatically top up your Oyster pay as you go with £40 or £20 whenever it drops below £5. This means you will never have to top up your Oyster pay as you go again.

Credit card and Cashless

• It works as a standard credit card allowing you to shop with confidence and all the value, flexibility and security you’d expect from Barclaycard.

• Cashless is the new quick and easy way to pay for purchases of £10 and under using OneTouch payment wherever you see the wave symbol.

• Your normal credit card and OneTouch transactions will be debited directly from your Barclaycard.

People choose Barclaycard because all customers could enjoy:

• No annual fee

• Identity Protection Service – advice about protecting yourself from identity theft

• Safer shopping with Fraud Protection on credit card transactions – including chip and PIN, and watching for unusual spending on your account

• Purchase Delivery Protection – protecting your online, phone or mail orders against loss or damage, from despatch to door (excludes second-hand goods and services)

• Emergency help when travelling abroad

• Great holiday deals with our Travel Service

• Convenient online account management

• Emergency cash advance and credit card replacement service

• Text alerts five days before payment is due (opt in required)

• 24 hour helpline

Important details

Barclaycard reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer is only available to new customers. You will be required to use a PIN with this credit card in order to pay for goods and services over the counter in shops and other outlets. If you have any particular requirements concerning communications with Barclaycard or use of your credit card arising from a disability please contact us on 0845 7660 758 before completing the application.

Link to previous article Barclaycard Platinum with Cashback

Barclaycard Platinum with Cashback

Enjoy some breathing space. You'll pay no interest on balance transfers for 12 months.



Suits you if you:

• Are looking to transfer your balance to a new credit card

• Have a good credit history

• Are 21 or over

• Have a permanent UK address for 3 months or more

• Have a regular income of more than £10,000 pa

• Don't already have a Barclaycard

• Haven't missed multiple payments on a credit agreement within the last 12 months

• Don't have a CCJ,IVA or have not been registered bankrupt

• Aren't a student

0% interest

on balance transfers for 12 months from opening your account (2.5% handling fee applies)

2% cashback

on supermarket and petrol (up to £15 per month)

0.5% cashback

on all other spending

14.9% APR typical (variable)

People choose Barclaycard because all customers could enjoy:

• No annual fee

• Identity Protection Service – advice about protecting yourself from identity theft

• Safer shopping with Fraud Protection – including chip and PIN, and watching for unusual spending on your account

• Purchase Delivery Protection – protecting your online, phone or mail orders against loss or damage, from despatch to door (excludes second-hand goods and services)

• Emergency help when travelling abroad

• Great holiday deals with our Travel Service

• Convenient online account management

• Emergency cash advance and credit card replacement service

• Text alerts five days before payment is due (opt in required)

• 24 hour helpline

* Terms and conditions apply to all benefits

Important details

Barclaycard reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer is only available to new customers. You will be required to use a PIN with this credit card in order to pay for goods and services over the counter in shops and other outlets. If you have any particular requirements concerning communications with Barclaycard or use of your credit card arising from a disability please contact us on 0845 7660 758 before completing the application.

Barclaycard Flexi-Rate™ Credit Card

Forget about balance transfers for a while. You’ll pay no interest on balance transfers for 10 months

Suits you if you:

• Are looking to transfer your balance to a new credit card

• Have a good credit history

• Are 21 or over

• Have a permanent UK address for 3 months or more

• Have a regular income of more than £10,000 pa

• Don't already have a Barclaycard

• Haven't missed multiple payments on a credit agreement within the last 12 months

• Don't have a CCJ,IVA or have not been registered bankrupt

• Aren't a student

0% interest

on balance transfers for 10 months (2.5% handling fee applies). So you can forget about it until then.

0% interest

on purchases for 10 months from account opening.

14.9% APR typical (variable)

People choose Barclaycard because all customers could enjoy:

• Identity Protection Service – advice about protecting yourself from identity theft

• Safer shopping with Fraud Protection – including chip and PIN, and watching for unusual spending on your account

• Purchase Delivery Protection – protecting your online, phone or mail orders against loss or damage, from despatch to door (excludes second-hand goods and services)

• Emergency help when travelling abroad

• Great holiday deals with our Travel Service

• Convenient online account management

• Emergency cash advance and credit card replacement service

• Text alerts five days before payment is due (opt in required)

• 24 hour helpline

* Terms and conditions apply to all benefits

Important details

Barclaycard reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer is only available to new customers. You will be required to use a PIN with this credit card in order to pay for goods and services over the counter in shops and other outlets. If you have any particular requirements concerning communications with Barclaycard or use of your credit card arising from a disability please contact us on 0845 7660 758 before completing the application.

Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card with Balance Transfer

Enjoy some breathing space. You'll pay no interest on balance transfers for 14 months or on any purchases you make for the first three months.

Suits you if you:

• Are looking to transfer your balance to a new credit card

• Have a good credit history


• Are 21 or over

• Have a permanent UK address for 3 months or more

• Have a regular income of more than £10,000 pa

• Don't already have a Barclaycard

• Haven't missed multiple payments on a credit agreement within the last 12 months

• Don't have a CCJ,IVA or have not been registered bankrupt

• Aren't a student

0% interest

on balance transfers for 14 months from opening your account (2.5% handling fee applies)

0% interest

on purchases for 3 months from opening account

14.9% APR typical (variable)

People choose Barclaycard because all customers could enjoy:

• No annual fee

• Identity Protection Service – advice about protecting yourself from identity theft

• Safer shopping with Fraud Protection – including chip and PIN, and watching for unusual spending on your account

• Purchase Delivery Protection – protecting your online, phone or mail orders against loss or damage, from despatch to door (excludes second-hand goods and services)

• Emergency help when travelling abroad

• Great holiday deals with our Travel Service

• Convenient online account management

• Emergency cash advance and credit card replacement service

• Text alerts five days before payment is due (opt in required)

• 24 hour helpline

* Terms and conditions apply to all benefits

Important details

Barclaycard reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer is only available to new customers. You will be required to use a PIN with this credit card in order to pay for goods and services over the counter in shops and other outlets. If you have any particular requirements concerning communications with Barclaycard or use of your credit card arising from a disability please contact us on 0845 7660 758 before completing the application.

Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card with Long Term Balance Transfer

If you are looking for a card with a consistently low rate on balance transfers for the life of the balance

Suits you if you:

• Are looking to transfer your balance to a new credit card

• Have a good credit history

• Are 21 or over

• Have a permanent UK address for 3 months or more

• Have a regular income of more than £10,000 pa

• Don't already have a Barclaycard

• Haven't missed multiple payments on a credit agreement within the last 12 months

• Don't have a CCJ,IVA or have not been registered bankrupt

• Aren't a student

5.9% interest

on balance transfers for the life of the balance - no balance transfer fee in first 60 days

0% interest

on purchases for 10 months from opening account

14.9% APR typical (variable)

People choose Barclaycard because all customers could enjoy:

• No annual fee

• Identity Protection Service – advice about protecting yourself from identity theft

• Safer shopping with Fraud Protection – including chip and PIN, and watching for unusual spending on your account

• Purchase Delivery Protection – protecting your online, phone or mail orders against loss or damage, from despatch to door (excludes second-hand goods and services)

• Emergency help when travelling abroad

• Great holiday deals with our Travel Service

• Convenient online account management

• Emergency cash advance and credit card replacement service

• Text alerts five days before payment is due (opt in required)

• 24 hour helpline
* Terms and conditions apply to all benefits

Important details

This information was taken from Barclaycard website. Barclaycard reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer is only available to new customers. You will be required to use a PIN with this credit card in order to pay for goods and services over the counter in shops and other outlets. If you have any particular requirements concerning communications with Barclaycard or use of your credit card arising from a disability please contact us on 0845 7660 758 before completing the application.

History of Credit Cards - II

Credit cards are now part of our daily lives.

• We use them to pay for goods and services quickly and conveniently virtually anywhere in the world.

• We use them to borrow money in the shortterm, taking advantage of the interest-free period offered by our credit card provider as long as we pay the bill in full every month.

We all agree that credit cards have revolutionized our spending power and transformed the way we manage our money.They really are part of our daily lives – in fact in 2005 there were 31.6 million credit cardholders in the UK with an average number of 2.4 credit cards per person. We spent £124 billion on credit cards through the 790,000 retail outlets that now accept plastic card payments.
This year we are marking the 40th anniversary of the credit card.We take a look back at the way we have paid for goods and services over the last forty years and the payment services that might be on offer in forty years time.

Past and the Future:

1966

In the year England won the World Cup, cash and cheques were the main forms of payment in the UK. We wrote 560 million cheques that year with a total value of £68 billion (the average cheque value being £121). Less than one in four of the UK population had a current account and most will have received their wages in cash. Debit cards, credit cards and guaranteed domestic cheques had not been introduced and there were no cash machines on the high street; consumers could only access their cash through high street branches.

The biggest change to the way we used money was not to come for another five years – on 15 February 1971 the UK currency went decimal and we stopped using pounds, shillings and pence. The only form of payment card in circulation at the time was the charge card, introduced by American Express in 1963 with an annual fee of £3 12s (=£49 in 2005) and a required income of £2,000 (=£27,250 in 2005) The card was usable in 3,000 UK outlets and 83,000 overseas outlets.

Therefore, the introduction of the first credit card in 1966 was a significant milestone for payments in the UK. Although initially there were only a few cards in issue which were accepted in only a handful of retail outlets, within a short period of time the credit card became an important part of our daily lives.

2006

The UK is now a plastic society, as debit and credit cards have overtaken cash as our most popular method of payment. We are used to the security and flexibility plastic offers. There are currently 141.6 million payment cards in circulation (67 million debit and 74.6 million credit and chargecards), with the average number of cards per person standing at 2.4 credit cards and 1.6 debit cards. 42 million of us have at least one card in our purse or wallet.

Today entire generations of shoppers readily delve for their plastic card instead of cash – in fact as a nation we pay by plastic both in the UK and abroad 6.2 billion times a year spending a total of £309.4 billion.

We are now presented with many payment choices which were not available to us in 1966 – and we use all those on offer. We still use cheques – much more than in 1966 but a lot less than when cheque use peaked in 1990. We write 1.6 billion cheques a year for a total value of £1.15 trillion (the average cheque value is now £175). But we also use direct debits to pay our regular payments and receive our salary electronically too. So not only do we have to choose between payment methods, we also have to choose between the thousands of products in the marketplace, and even between the way we look after our finances –
including online and telephone banking. Nowadays 16.2 million of us bank online which would have seemed very 21st century back in 1966. We remain someway away from being a cashless society, with two-thirds of all payments we make still being in cash, albeit predominantly for low-value amounts

2046

Our plastic society is set to increase, with other providers outside traditional banks and card issuers expected to offer debit and credit cards. In fact this new generation may well have never seen the more traditional forms of payment – such as a cheque. Cash will still be around, but will be used significantly less than it is currently.

Personal identity verification is likely to be biometric, using an automated method of verifying or recognising our identities by our body characteristics, such as iris scanning or fingerprints. Most likely, cards will have been replaced by these biometrics contained within chips which we will carry around, perhaps as part of any mobile phone technology we’re then using.

Predictions are that in 40 years time chip and PIN will have evolved to enable it to continue tackling plastic card fraud as it does now – whilst chips will be commonplace, they’ll be used in a contactless way. All payments will be made in real-time, so when buying something in a shop or over the internet, we will validate our identity and then be presented with a range of our subscribed payment methods.

Once this choice has been made, the funds from our account will be transferred in real-time.
2046 will present a huge step change away from our current payment systems, with yet more security, flexibility and convenience on offer to the next generation of card users. We may not be a cashless society but we will be a lot closer to it.

Previous Article: History of Credit Cards - I

History of Credit Cards

1966 On 29 June 1966 Barclays issues the UK’s first credit card – Barclaycard - based on the BankAmericard that had been issued a few years earlier in the USA.

1967 The world’s first cash machine opens in a Barclays Bank branch, Enfield in Middlesex. Early cash dispensers were designed to receive hole-punched vouchers of £10.00 each purchased by the customer from the bank and used in the dispenser when needed.

1967 The first direct debit is made.

1968 The Inter-Bank Computer Bureau is established to process electronic payments. In 1971 this was renamed to become BACS (Bankers Automated Clearing Services).

1969 The UK’s Domestic Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme is established, guaranteeing cheques up to a value of £30 (subsequently increased to £50 with additional levels of £100 and £250).

1971 On 15 February 1971 the UK currency goes decimal and we stop using pounds, shillings and pence.

1972 The Access brand for credit cards (to be known through advertising for ever after as our flexible friend) is launched by Midland Bank, National Westminster Bank and Lloyds Bank.

1977 On 1 July 1977 the Consumer Credit Act 1974 comes into force. Among its many clauses, Section 75 provides protection to consumers buying goods costing between £30 and £10,000 (increased to £100 and £30,000 subsequently) on their credit card.

1984 CHAPS is established to process highvalue same-day electronic payments.


1987 The first debit card is launched in the UK; Barclays is the first to issue a Visa Delta card under the Connect brand. Midland, National Westminster Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland follow closely in 1988 issuing debit cards under the Switch brand (which itself became Maestro in 2004).

1990 Cashback emerges as a means of acquiring cash with 7 million transactions in that year.

1994 Half of all UK adults hold a debit card, only seven years after their launch.

1995 Town clearing (for high-value cheques within the City of London) closes.

1997 Banks offer online banking services to personal customers.

1998 The UK’s first cash machine not owned by a financial institution is installed.

1999 Half of all UK adults hold a credit card. The average value of a credit card purchase exceeds £50 for the first time.

1999 Internet card issuers (Egg, Smile, Marbles) join the marketplace.

1999 Annual fees disappear, extras such as travel insurance and loyalty schemes begin to be offered to attract customers, who are beginning to hold more than one card each.

1999 The euro comes into being, allowing electronic euro-denominated transactions for the first time.

2001 More than half of UK retail spending is on plastic. More than 100 million card payments are made online.

2001 Debit card expenditure exceeds credit card expenditure for the first time.

2002 Euro notes and coin appear as the national currency in 12 European countries.

2002 More than half of all cash we acquire is through cash machines. Mobile-phone top ups become available at cash machines for the first time.

2003 Chip and PIN cards start hitting the doormats throughout the UK – the biggest change to consumer payments since decimalisation.

2004 UK card expenditure exceeds cash expenditure for the first time (£273 billion compared to £272 billion). The average debit card user spends over £100 per week.

2005 More than half of all adults now use remote banking services – either online or over the phone.

2006 Debit card expenditure on the high street overtakes cash expenditure for the first time.

Previous Article: Important tips for cardholders for safe online gambling- II

Important tips for cardholders for safe online gambling- II

It is the gambling operator’s responsibility to prevent under-age gambling. However you can help by making sure you know what the rules are.

• It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to gamble in the UK.

• Where a minor can get access to your cards, either as an agreed secondary cardholder or possibly without your knowledge, make sure you follow basic security measures – keep your PIN or online password safe and never pass these on and always check your statement so that you always know what is being spent on your account.

• Immediately notify the gambling operator if you think that your child has registered themselves so that the gambling account can be locked.

• To protect your family, consider installing software to restrict access to gambling websites. For example:

www.netnanny.com,

www.gamblock.com,

www.icra.org/parents,

www.cyberpatrol.com

www.getnetwise.org.

• For general help on the internet and children, Childnet International’s mission is to “help make the internet a great and safe place for children” and they can be found at www.childnet-int.org.

The majority of people who gamble in the UK do not encounter any difficulties.
However, a minority may find themselves addicted and need support. The following organisations can provide further advice:

GamCare:

www.gamcare.org.uk

Gamblers Anonymous:

www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk

Gordon House Association:

www.gordonhouse.org.uk


If you do find yourself struggling with debts from online gambling, you should seek advice as soon as possible. The following sites provide support and assistance.

Citizens Advice:

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

National Debtline:

www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

Consumer Credit Counselling Service:

www.cccs.co.uk

Community Legal Service Direct:

www.clsdirect.org.uk

Choosing and Using:

www.choosingandusing.com

Previous Article: Safe online gambling with Credit Cards

Safe online gambling with Credit Cards

Online gambling is becoming more and more popular, and while it is up to you how you spend your money, we should all take certain steps to safeguard our cards when using the internet. This guide aims to provide simple tips to UK cardholders for safe online gambling.

Using our credit cards for online or telephone betting is legal in this country, but there are significant variations internationally. In addition, there have been recent legislative changes abroad that will affect those who choose to gamble online. It is your responsibility to ensure that whatever you are doing is legal.

Here we outline some of the key considerations you should make when gambling online.

Important tips for cardholders for safe online gambling

• Check that your credit card issuer will allow you to use your card to gamble online.

• Check the website is secure before sending your card details. Ensure that the security icon – the locked padlock or unbroken key symbol – is showing in the bottom of your browser window. The beginning of the gambling operator’s internet address will change from “http” to “https” when a deposit is made to your gambling account using a secure connection.

• Look for gambling sites that are accredited by one of the main gambling associations and those which follow a code of conduct for responsible gambling. For more details, see the links overleaf.

• Always check your statements as soon as you receive them. If you find a transaction on your statement that you did not make, contact your bank or card company immediately. Tear up, or preferably shred, any documents that you no longer need that contain information relating to your financial affairs.

• Check whether you will be charged a fee. Some card companies will levy a small charge on gambling transactions and interest rates on any borrowings for bets or gaming may be higher than normal. This information will be clear in your terms and conditions.

Previous Article: Transactions in foreign currencies

Transactions in foreign currencies

When using a credit card to pay for goods or services it is likely you will be charged a foreign exchange fee which covers the charges for converting the currency and the costs of providing customers with access to a global service. Charges on foreign credit card transactions are always a percentage of the transaction value. Credit card exchange rates (which are based on the current wholesale exchange rates) are generally better than the tourist rate.

Check your statement, or with your card company for information on these rates. In addition to these charges if you withdraw cash using your credit card you may be charged a cash advance fee, as well as a fee for using a foreign cash machine. As at home, if you withdraw cash at a cash machine with your credit card you will be paying interest from the date of the withdrawal.

• Increasingly you will find you can pay by debit card abroad and you should be able to do so wherever you see the logo that appears on your card (e.g. Maestro or Visa). Although the currency conversion may well be at the same rate as you would get on your credit card, instead of paying a percentage of the transaction value you will be charged a flat rate for all transactions. You can check this rate in your terms and conditions or by contacting your bank. As with a credit card there may be additional charges if you use a cash machine and any fees for using a foreign cash machine can be checked in your bank’s terms and conditions.

• When paying on plastic abroad the retailer may offer you a choice either to pay in the local currency or have the transaction converted into your home currency there and then. If you decide to do this you should check the exchange rate being used by the retailer because it may not be as competitive as the rate offered by your card company. The shop should make you aware of this optional service – called “Dynamic Currency Conversion” – and if you choose to pay in sterling, the shop assistant should let you know the exchange rate they will use, including any commission charged.

• When using your credit or debit card abroad to make purchases or obtain cash in a foreign currency you will usually be charged a fee. Rates vary between different cards and it is worth checking which

Previous Article: Tips to avoid credit card fraudsters

Tips to avoid credit card fraudsters

We all know that losing your cards, or having them stolen, is a huge inconvenience. It is even more inconvenient when you’re on holiday. By following some simple advice you can help protect yourself against card theft abroad:

1. Only take cards away with you that you intend to use on holiday. Leave others in a secure place at home.

2. Be aware that your card and card details are as valuable to the fraudster as cash. When paying be wary of letting your card out of your sight and carefully dispose of any receipts or statements that include your card details.

3. Check your statement carefully for unfamiliar transactions when you return home.

4. You should consider letting your bank know in advance if you are going to be using your cards abroad. If your bank spots unusual spending patterns it may try to contact you to check that the transactions are genuine.

5. If you drive on holiday, keep handbags and wallets out of sight of opportunist thieves – especially in slow moving traffic. Always remove plastic cards and other valuables from parked cars.

6. In hot weather, wearing fewer clothes can mean personal items such as wallets are more visible. Take extra care to ensure that valuables are safe. A concealed money belt is an ideal way to carry your cards and valuables. If you’re staying in the UK this summer, here are some tips to stop the card criminals going on a shopping spree abroad with your cards.

• Guard your card and card details at all times. Safeguard your PIN. Don’t give it to anyone – even if they claim to be from the police or your bank.

• When entering your PIN at a cash machine or PIN pad in a restaurant or shop, use your hand or body to shield it from prying eyes. If the PIN pad is on a flexible cord, pick it up and hold it so that you can’t be overlooked.

• Memorise your PIN and never write it down – you can change your PIN at most UK cash machines to something you can easily remember.

Previous Article: Tips for safe Credit Card usage on holidays

Tips for safe usage on holidays

Know your PIN

We are now used to seeing chip and PIN terminals in shops, restaurants and hotels in the UK and, with the global rollout now well underway, it is increasingly likely you will be asked to give a PIN abroad. It’s worth knowing that just because you see a PIN pad it doesn’t mean that you will be asked for your PIN –some countries are still using older versions of the technology and in these cases the retailer may be prompted by their pin pad to automatically ask you for your signature.

Remember that if you are asked to give a PIN the process is exactly the same as at home and all you need to remember is your four-digit number to make a payment.

You should also know that, just as at home, if you are asked to give a PIN and you can’t remember it, the transaction is likely to be declined, so it is essential that you memorise your PIN before your travel. Of course, if you think you’ll have difficulty remembering your PIN, why not change it to a number of your choice using the PIN services option at most UK cash machines?

If you know of someone from abroad who is coming to the UK for a holiday this summer, and they do not have chip and PIN in place at home, do let them know that they will still be able to pay for goods and services in the same way as they do at home. They can still sign when using non-chip and PIN cards issued by an overseas bank - the terminal will read the card and instruct the retailer to ask them for their signature rather than a PIN.

Remember you are protected

One of the most enjoyable aspects for many when on holiday is snapping up that holiday bargain we hadn’t expected to stumble across. The good news for the travelers amongst us is that we are now protected on all international purchases made on UK-issued credit cards of between £100 and £30,000. This means that credit card companies are responsible along with the supplier of the goods or services for any breach of contract or misrepresentation by the supplier. This is useful protection if there is a problem with your purchase that you cannot resolve with the supplier.

Remember though - you only get this particular protection if you pay using your credit card. You do not have the same protection if you pay by debit card, charge card, traveller’s cheque, or cash.

Keep phone numbers handy

For those cards you do take with you, make sure you have the 24 hour phone numbers for canceling your cards in case they are lost or stolen – and don’t keep these numbers in your wallet; keep them in a separate place away from your cards. If you forget to take these numbers, but have access to the Internet, a list of contact numbers is available from www.cardwatch.org.uk.

If you know that your card has been stolen or is being used fraudulently contact your bank to cancel your card(s) immediately. Your bank will be able to advise you on how to access your money for the remainder of your trip. You may find that they will be able to organise a replacement card and send it to where you are staying.

Previous Article: Dealing with Credit card Debt: Where to get help

Dealing with debt: where to get help

Being a student is becoming more and more financially demanding. Don’t ignore debt problems; if you are unable to meet your monthly repayments, and you are finding it difficult to pay off the outstanding balance on your credit card, you should contact your card company immediately. The earlier you speak to someone the easier it will be for them to help you with your situation – they will also assist you in developing a plan to manage your debt.

Trying to avoid the problem will only make it worse.

Banks and lenders are sympathetic towards debt and urge customers to address problems straight away. The sooner you seek help the better.

It is also important to be aware of the various support bodies that you can turn to for debt advice:

Choosing and Using	www.choosingandusing.com	Helps consumers make sensible decisions when choosing and using a credit card. The site now contains downloadable guides on choosing and using credit cards
Citizens Advice	020 7833 2181 www.citizensadvice.org.uk	Helps people solve their legal, money and other problems with free information and advice from over 3,200 locations.
National Debtline	0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.co.uk	Provides free, confidential and independent debt advice.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service	0800 138 1111 www.cccs.co.uk	Provides free debt management assistance, budget counselling and educational programmes.
Community Legal Service Direct	0845 345 4345 www.clsdirect.org.uk	Provides free legal advice on debt related issues.

Previous Article: Tips for safe online card usage: beat the fraudsters

Tips for safe online card usage: beat the fraudsters

More and more people are using their card online to pay for goods and services. Using your credit card in these instances gives you extra protection in case things go wrong – protection you don’t get paying by debit card, charge card, cheque or cash.

Take the following steps to protect yourself from all types of card fraud and to bank online with confidence:

1. Surf safe.
You should only ever use a PC with a firewall and up-to-date anti-virus software. If you’re buying online only ever shop at secure websites.

2. Say no to strangers.
Don’t give your PIN or bank passwords to cold callers or e-mails. Always check who you are dealing with. Are they who they say they are?

3. Keep it secret, keep it safe.
Keep your cards safe and never give out your PIN to anyone. Never write down your PIN.

4. Check your statements.
If you spot anything you weren’t expecting contact your bank, building society or card company immediately.

5. Dispose of personal information safely.
Tear up or shred statements or documents containing personal information before throwing them away.

If you discover you have been a victim of card fraud tell your card company immediately and it will be cancelled straight away. It is also recommended that you report the theft to the police.

It can be inconvenient and time consuming but it will make it easier to get your money back.
If the worst does happen then protection provided by the card companies means that you can usually get your money back. If a criminal uses your card before you tell your credit card company that it has been lost or stolen, or if someone else knows your PIN, the most you will ever have to pay is £50.

For more information about how to shop and bank safely online, visit the following sites:

www.cardwatch.org.uk

www.banksafeonline.org.uk

www.getsafeonline.org

www.identitytheft.org.uk

Previous Article: Tips for safe borrowing and using credit card

Tips for safe borrowing and using credit card

It’s important that once you have found the right card you use it responsibly. Living away from home gives you more freedom than ever before but the reality of rent, utilities, food and bills means you will have to budget to ensure you don’t run into problem debt. Below is a list of top tips to help keep your finances healthy and give you peace of mind:

1. Budget before you borrow. You should work out a budget and stick to it. When making purchases shop around for the best deal. Ask yourself if you can afford the repayments before you make a purchase. Do NOT use your credit card to buy goods you can't afford or to fund a lifestyle that is beyond your means.

2. Consider setting up direct debits. If you make monthly payments on any credit cards you can ensure that you never incur any late payment fees. Talk to your card issuer to find out how. It may pay to set up direct debits on other regular bills as many companies will give you discounts.

3. Beware of only making minimum repayments on credit cards. Unless you’re taking advantage of a special deal or a zero per cent offer, only ever paying the minimum repayment will cost you more and increase the time taken to clear your debt. It is NOT a suggested payment schedule.

4. Check all your monthly statements. Managing your money means knowing what you are spending and, on a credit card, what you owe. How much interest are you paying? What repayments must you make? The answers are all on your monthly statement.

5. Keep your details up to date. If you’ve moved out of home to start university you will need to notify your bank and any credit card companies of your change of address so that you can continue to receive your monthly statements. Alternatively, you may be able to access your accounts online allowing you to check your finances regularly.

6. Keep your PIN safe. Never ever write your PIN down or tell it to others, not even your friends. If you have difficulty remembering your PIN then you can always change it to a more memorable number at most cash machines.

7. Allow time for card payments to reach your account. Debit and credit card payments can take several days or more to reach your account. There will normally be information on your statement that tells you how long you should allow.

8. Be wary when withdrawing cash. Even if you only use your debit card to get cash from cash machines, remember most cash machines operated by banks and building societies let you withdraw money for free. Non-bank cash machines, however, will usually charge a fee. You will always be told if you are going to be charged. Constantly incurring a fee to access your cash will soon mount up and eat into the money you have to spend on yourself. Withdrawing cash on a credit card is more expensive with interest charged from the day you make the withdrawal.

Previous Article: Student Credit Cards - II

-(As advised by FSA)

Student Credit Cards - II

If you decide a credit card is right for you, with so many cards to choose from it is crucial that you think about what you want from a credit card and how you intend to use it. Different cards suit different people’s needs.

The following list of top questions provides a guide to for a student for some of the things you should think about before deciding on a credit card.

1. Do I need a credit card? Can I afford it?

2. What do I want the credit card for?

Is it just to pay for things and not for credit at all? And, do you intend to pay off your balance in full every month? Credit cards can be very effective in helping you spread the cost of spending over a number of months – this may prove particularly useful during the first few months of university when you have heavy set up costs to deal with. You may also consider a credit card as a standby option in the case of an emergency.

3. What card features are important to me?

Check things like the interest rates — for purchases, balance transfers, cash advances and credit card cheques; the length of the interest free period for purchases; incentives and benefits such as cashback, rewards or loyalty points; being able to manage your account online; using your credit card when you are abroad.

Once you know what kind of credit card you want and how you intend to use it:

4. Make a shortlist.

When you know what you are looking for, talk to card companies, look online, look at the Summary Box for each credit card and make a ‘top five’ list of credit cards that are right for you.

5. Compare cards.

Get a copy of the Summary Box for the cards on your shortlist. Have a look at all the different features and decide which card is most suited to your needs.

6. Review the terms and conditions.

Make sure you have read, in full, the terms & conditions of the credit card that you decide to apply for. This is important to ensure that you fully understand your responsibilities and obligations.

7. Apply for a card.

You can apply for your card in person, on the phone, by post or online. Remember, you need to be completely truthful in your application. As part of the application you will sign to indicate your acceptance of the terms and conditions.

8. The card company’s decision.

Your card company will run some credit checks on you and look at your application form and any
past payment behaviour before deciding if you are eligible for a credit card. If more than one interest rate is available for a credit card, the card company will decide which rate and credit limit are appropriate, depending on what they think you can afford to pay back.

9. Receiving your card.

Some issuers may require you to activate your card before you can begin using it. If on receipt of your card
you decide that the credit is not for you then you should immediately contact the card company and ask to cancel the agreement.

10. Tidy up loose ends.

If you’re transferring a balance from another credit card or closing an old account remember to check that any regular or recurring payments have been cancelled or moved from your old credit card.

Previous Article: Student Credit Cards - I

Student Credit Cards - I

Introduction

So, you’ve accepted your offer and you’re off to university! Your student days promise a busy social life, the chance to develop new interests and, of course, the opportunity to study your chosen subject. You’ll be given a lot of independence – perhaps moving out of the family home for the first time – and deciding how you want to live your life. You’ll also be responsible for managing your finances.

Looking after your money is a big responsibility, and for some students it can be a constant burden. While there’s no avoiding university fees and the cost of living, by learning to manage your money you are giving yourself the best chance of graduating with both your career and your bank balance in order.

Before you rush into any decisions, it pays to be aware of the financial options available to you.

Here we outline some of the key considerations students should make when making financial decisions, particularly about choosing and using plastic cards.


Used sensibly, credit cards offer many benefits, but used

Benefits
• Free, short-term credit as long as you always pay your balance in full by the due date shown on your statement

• A safe and convenient way to pay for goods and services, particularly over the internet, by telephone or by mail order

• Protection against fraud — if you are the innocent victim of fraud you will not be expected to pay if a criminal uses your card

• Incentives for using a card such as loyalty points and cash-back, or payments to support a charity

• Convenience when travelling, as credit cards are accepted in virtually every country around the world

• Perhaps the most flexible and convenient way of borrowing money in the short term

Risks

• Can lead to unplanned levels of debt

• Can incur charges if you make late payments, miss them altogether or go over your credit limit

• Can damage your credit rating if you continually make late payments or miss them altogether

• Can cost you more and take you longer to pay off than the alternatives, particularly if you only ever make the minimum repayment

• Can make it difficult to manage your finances if you have more cards than you need

Choosing the financial products that suit you:
During the first few weeks of university it is likely that you will receive offers from local banks and building societies to set up an account, take out a loan or apply for a credit card.

Often these offers are accompanied by free gifts or incentives such as iPods, MP3 players or discounted travel cards; some more valuable than others. If you decide to open an account, it is important to choose the right one.

Studying the terms and conditions and key features, such as overdraft limits and credit interest, may be time consuming but it’s important if you want to get the best from your bank.

For those considering the option of a credit card, think about what you need it for: is it a luxury or a necessity?

A credit card is a convenient short-term way to borrow money, usually offering a period of interest free credit. But if you’re thinking about borrowing money for more than a few months then you might want to consider a personal loan.

Remember, you have to pay back what you borrow. The golden rule is, if you can’t afford to pay it back, don’t spend it!

Previous Article: History of Credit Cards (Plastic Cards)

History of credit cards (Plastic Cards)

The first plastic card wasn’t plastic at all. Cards started life on the other side of the Atlantic as ‘metal money’ in 1914 when the US Western Union started providing metal cards that gave free payment privileges to preferred customers.

The first proper plastic card was a charge card issued by American Express in 1958. It was 1963 before this made it over to Britain and was swiftly followed by the ‘Barclaycard’, the UK’s first credit card launched on 29 June 1966.

Since then, cards have gone from strength to strength with more people taking up the ‘flexible friend’ and new features, like cashback, being introduced. Concerns grew about rising fraud and card security during the 90s.

This led to the introduction of chip and PIN in 2003 – the biggest consumer change to
the way we pay since decimalisation.

The final switch over to chip and PIN happened on Valentine’s Day 2006.

Future developments

2006 saw new ‘smart card’ technology introduced into the world of card payments – opening up a whole new range of possibilities:

• Replacing cash –
cash is still king for payments under £5. However, the introduction of contactless cards could change all that – the future could see an increase in the number of card payments for small purchases such as newspapers and sandwiches as these cards are launched throughout the UK in the forthcoming year.

• Prepaid cards –
a whole range of new prepaid cards are coming onto the market which allow temporary workers to receive wages electronically or younger people to use these cards to make purchases online.

• Cards that do –
in the near future you could be carrying just one card in your wallet. It’s likely that card companies will have the technology to put your debit and credit cards or new loyalty or gift schemes onto a single card. Not only that, even you office access card, your phone card, sim card, etc. may be all integrated into one single card – who knows.

Previous Article: Understand your Credit Cards