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credit card rewards

Credit Card Rewards

Earn cashback, points & more

Karl Talbot
Karl Talbot | Edited by Martin Lewis
Updated 15 April 2021

Spend on one of these cards and it pays you – either in pure cashback or points that can be converted into vouchers for shops, airlines, hotels etc. If you're debt-free and pay off your card every month, you can earn goodies worth £100s each year. Plus our Rewards Eligibility Calculator will show credit cards you've the best odds of getting.

Top rewards credit cards

Who's this guide for? People who pay off their credit card balance in full every month who want to be rewarded for their spending.

Not what you want? If you're looking to cut debt costs or want other ways to get rewards, see...
Top Airline Credit Cards | 0% Balance Transfers | Full Credit Cards Section

illustration

How do reward credit cards work?

Essentially, they're quite simple. You just do your everyday spending on them and, in return, you get cashback or points which you can turn into vouchers, or money off at various shops. Reward cards can be a great way of earning £100s' worth of bonuses/cashback.

It sounds great – everyone loves something for nothing. But unless you're careful, cards will actually deliver nothing for something, as you may get hit with interest if you don't pay off IN FULL every month. Some cards even impose a minimum spend to get the rewards – so always read carefully before choosing a card and make sure it'll work for you.

We take you through the top cards and the potential pitfalls below.

The five reward card need-to-knows

Get it wrong, and you could actually be left out of pocket, so here's all you need to know to get the best from reward credit cards...

  • 1. Set up a direct debit to repay IN FULL each month to ensure you never pay interest

    Getting charged interest almost always scuppers even the very best reward schemes, so quite simply…

    If you want rewards, always set up a direct debit to repay the card in full each month, so there's NO interest.

    By doing this, you've effectively made your credit card a debit card, but one that pays you every time you spend on it. Just make sure you stay within the credit limit or you'll pay charges.

    Sadly, some card providers deliberately miss the 'repay in full' option off when you set up your direct debit. If it's not there, call the lender and ask them to make sure the direct debit is set up to pay off in full.

    If you're not sure you can always repay the card in full, DON'T pick a card for rewards. Focus on a card with a lower interest rate instead – see our 0% Spending Credit Card guide.

  • 2. Use the card for all NORMAL spending to max rewards (these cards aren't an excuse to overspend)

    Once you've set up a credit card, every time you use it you get paid. While this isn't an excuse to spend more, it does mean from now on…

    Use the rewards card for ALL normal spending, replacing cash and other debit, credit and charge cards.

    For those who have work expenses they need to reclaim, this can be a powerful way to earn more, at no cost to you, provided you can cope with paying the bill in full each month.

    Do check it's fine with your employer though, as there's a chance it could be seen as a taxable benefit (you'll still be up even if it is).

    Can I add an additional cardholder to my account to boost cashback?

    Yes, you can. By doing so, both your spending is eligible for cashback. Remember, with credit cards there's no such thing as a joint card – it's your card and you're giving them permission to spend on it. Any spending is yours to pay off, not theirs.

  • 3. Check the rewards are right for you and the real value of the points (then see if you can boost it)

    Some schemes are focused on making people think they're earning large, when actually payouts are pretty paltry, so go through our best buys below meticulously to check which you'll actually get value from. To what extent depends on the type of scheme.

    • Cashback. This is the most straightforward type of scheme – for every pound spent, you get a certain amount back, eg, 1%. But watch out for tricky terms: cashback tends to be paid annually as credit to your statement, and some cards have a minimum spend requirement to get any cashback.

    • Rewards schemes. Here you earn days out, flights, holidays and more by getting points – and that's where the problems can start. Always ensure you know what a point is worth.

      Generally, most cards in this guide have one point being worth between 0.5p and 1p. If you're not sure, check BEFORE you take the card out.

    boost the value of your points

    Boost the rewards you get

    By correctly targeting the right rewards to redeem your points on, it's possible to substantially increase the amount. To find out how to do this for all schemes and specific info for Avios, Nectar and Tesco, read our Boost Your Loyalty Points and Avios Boosting Tricks guides.

  • 4. If you have debts, it's best to sort them out before going for a reward card

    You'll save more by keeping your debts cheap instead of going for reward cards. Every card application has a credit score impact, so make sure your debts are sorted before applying for reward cards.

    Multiple applications on your credit file in a short space of time can damage your chances of getting future credit so you need to weigh up whether getting a reward card now could harm other more important credit applications you may have on the horizon (like a debt cutting card - see Best Balance Transfers).

    A single application may not kibosh your chance, but together with other negatives may well do. See Credit Score Boosting for more tips.

  • 5. Don't borrow or withdraw cash on these cards

    They're a tool to get you rewards by using them like a debit card and clearing them each month, and we rate them based on that. If you need to borrow as well, you're far better off focusing on getting the lowest interest rates – that'll save you much more money. See 0% Credit Cards for Spending and Best Balance Transfers for more info.

    And when it comes to withdrawing cash the rule is simple – never, ever, ever use these cards for cash withdrawals as you'll often be charged a fee and interest, even if you pay the card off in full.

 Credit Card Eligibility Calculator

See which reward credit cards you've the best chance of getting, in your own personal best-buy table.

Usually, applying is the only way to know if you'll be accepted for a credit card. Yet that marks your credit file, affecting your ability to get future credit. To help, our tool uses a 'soft search' to find your chances of acceptance before applying.

Check your chance of acceptance

The top-paying rewards cards are from Amex

pound sign

Important: From 4 Aug 2021, Amex is changing cashback rates on the Amex Platinum Everyday and the Amex Platinum Cashback, with both new and existing customers affected. Full info in the card summaries below.

If you're looking for a cashback or reward card, your best bet is likely to be a card from American Express' range – they have big intro bonuses and give unbeatable ongoing rewards when compared with the rest of the market.

However, there are a couple of drawbacks: Amex isn't as widely accepted in shops compared with Mastercard and Visa, plus if you've held a personal Amex within the past two years, you won't be eligible for the introductory offers (if this applies to you, or if you need a backup card for when Amex isn't accepted, check out the top non-Amex cards).

In this section, we've listed the top Amex cashback cards, plus we've also got those that give decent ongoing points rewards and included details of what you can spend the points on.

Amex Platinum Everyday

Highest cashback payer with no fee, giving up to 5%. Best if you'll spend less than £10,000 a year – if you'll spend more, it's beaten by the Amex Platinum Cashback

Check eligibility

Apply*

The Amex Platinum Everyday (check eligibility / apply*) is the top fee-free card, especially if you've big spending to do in the next few months. It gives 5% back on your first £2,000 of spending in the first three months (max £100 cashback), then up to 1% after. Cashback is paid to your account annually – in the month after your card anniversary date.

Important: You need to spend at least £3,000/yr to earn any cashback.

Note: You won't get the intro 5% rate if you've held a personal Amex card in the past two years. Additionally, from 4 Aug 2021, the minimum annual spend required to earn 1% cashback is increasing from £5,000 to £10,000. This change will affect both new and existing customers, though the introductory bonus rate will remain unchanged.

Representative APR (variable): 22.2% APR (Official APR Examples)
Important: Repay IN FULL every month to avoid interest
Cashback rates until 4 Aug 2021: 5% in first 3mths (max £100), then once you've spent £2k or after 3mths (whichever's sooner) it's 0.5% on the next £5,000/yr, 1% above £5,000/yr.

Cashback rates from 4 Aug 2021: 5% in first 3mths (max £100), then once you've spent £2k or after 3mths (whichever's sooner) it's 0.5% on the next £10,000/yr, 1% above £10,000/yr.
Annual fee: None
Min income: N/A

See how likely it is you'll get this card

MSE's Eligibility Calculator

Or just go straight to the lender

Apply*

Amex Platinum Cashback

Top cashback rates overall – but charges annual fee. Beats the Everyday above if you'll spend more than £10,000 a year

Check eligibility

Apply*

The American Express Platinum Cashback (check eligibility / apply*) charges a £25 annual fee, but has an intro 5% cashback rate on up to £2,500 of spending in the first three months (max £125 cashback).

After that, it gives 1% back on up to £10,000/yr and 1.25% above this – making this card a winner for bigger spenders. However, from 4 Aug 2021 you'll earn 0.75% on spending of less than £10,000/yr, down from 1%. This change will affect both new and existing customers. However, the rate of 1.25% above this spend will remain unchanged, as will the introductory bonus rate for new customers.

Cashback is paid to your account annually – in the month after your card anniversary date.

Note: You won't get the intro 5% rate if you've held a personal Amex card in the past two years.

Representative APR (variable): 27.3% APR incl fee (Official APR Examples)
Important: Repay IN FULL every month to avoid interest
Cashback rates until 4 Aug 2021: 5% in first 3mths (max £125), then once you've spent £2,500 or after 3mths (whichever's sooner) it's 1% on the next £10,000/yr, 1.25% above £10,000/yr

Cashback rates from 4 Aug 2021: 5% in first 3mths (max £125), then once you've spent £2,500 or after 3mths (whichever's sooner) it's 0.75% on the next £10,000/yr, 1.25% above £10,000/yr

Annual fee: £25
Min income: N/A

See how likely it is you'll get this card

MSE's Eligibility Calculator

Or just go straight to the lender

Apply*

Amex Preferred Rewards Gold

Intro bonus worth up to £184 in Nectar points, a £100 M&S/Amazon vch or 23,000 airline/hotel points – plus up to £10/mth cashback on Deliveroo orders

Check eligibility

Apply*

The Amex Preferred Rewards Gold credit card (check eligibility / apply*) gives an intro bonus of 20,000 reward points if you spend £3,000 in the first three months. This is on top of the usual one point per £1 spent (making a total of 23,000 points). Amex says the points come within a month of hitting the trigger, but it usually only takes a couple of days. You can change them for:

- 36,800 Nectar points (worth £184). Amex doesn't advertise this, but there's a trick to manipulate the new British Airways and Nectar partnership: you need to swap your Amex points for BA points, which are called Avios (23,000 points = 23,000 Avios), then swap the Avios for Nectar points (23,000 Avios = 36,800 Nectar points) and hey presto... (see the FAQs tab for more on how to do this). You can spend these points at Nectar partners including Sainsbury's, eBay and Argos – see the Nectar website for the full list.

- A £100 voucher. Choose from retailers such as M&S and Amazon. This will use up 20,000 points, so you'll still have 3,000 left over.

- 23,000 airmiles/hotel points. Schemes include Avios, Virgin Red and Hilton Honors.

Additionally, you can earn a bonus statement credit of £5 every time you spend with Deliveroo on this card, up to a max of £10/mth – you need to opt in to get this, so see the FAQ tab for full info. All cardholders also get two free visits per year to airport lounges. 

The card usually has a £140 annual fee, but is fee-free in the first year, so to avoid it, remember to cancel before year two starts.

Note: You won't get the bonus if you've held a personal Amex card in the past two years.

Representative APR (variable): 56.6% APR incl fee (Official APR Examples)
Important: Repay IN FULL every month to avoid interest
Annual fee: No fee in year one, but £140 from year two onwards
Standard points earned (excl bonus): One per £1 on day-to-day spending, two points per £1 spent directly with airlines or in a foreign currency
Value of one point: 0.8p if converted to Nectar points via Avios, 0.5p if converted to vouchers (airline/hotel scheme redemption values vary)
Points' expiry: N/A

  • What rewards can I get from this card?

    You can convert Amex Membership Reward points into gift cards for Amazon, M&S and more – though stores on the Amex rewards website do vary. Vouchers are sent either by post (allow 10 days for arrival) or digitally on the same day. Do check before converting your points whether it's a postal or digital gift card.

     

    Alternatively, you can convert Membership reward points into frequent flyer or hotel scheme points and add them to your current stash (transfers can take up to five working days).

     

    Additionally, you can now also convert them into Nectar points – though to do this, you'll need to swap them for Avios points first (more detail in the FAQ below).

     

    For full options, see the Membership Rewards site.

    Note: Bonus points can take a month to hit your account, but we've seen them applied on the day you hit the trigger.

  • How do I swap Avios for Nectar points, and vice versa?

    You can swap your Amex points for Avios (British Airways' points currency) at the American Express website.

     

    Once you've done that, in order to convert Avios to Nectar points and vice versa, you'll need to link your Nectar and British Airways Executive Club accounts, which can be done on either the Nectar or British Airways Executive Club website. If you're not currently a member of either scheme, these can both be joined for free.

     

    Normally, the next step is to select the 'Convert your points' option on either site. However, British Airways is currently having technical issues, so in order to swap Avios for Nectar points, you'll need to ring British Airways' points swap helpline on 0344 49 333 03. You can still swap Nectar points for Avios online.

     

    You can also choose to convert your points automatically in either direction, so if you have a preferred points scheme, you won't need to manually switch points over in the future.

     

    The conversion rate is given by Sainsbury's as 250 Avios to 400 Nectar points. This means that Avios now have a set monetary value of 0.8p when converted to Nectar points. For example, if you've got 1,000 Avios, you can convert them to 1,600 Nectar points, worth £8.

  • What's the deal with the airport lounges?

    You get two free visits to airport lounges (see affiliated lounges), which you can use for yourself on two separate visits, or for yourself and a guest for one visit.

     

    Additional visits or guests cost £20 a time, which will be charged to your Amex.

  • How can I further boost points?

    You get a 10,000-point bonus on the anniversary of taking out the card if you've spent more than £15,000 that year. Though remember, if you keep the card into a second year, you'll pay the £140 annual fee

     

    If you forget and cancel it before the year is up, you'll get a pro-rata refund.

     

    You can also boost your points by getting a supplementary card (for a partner/friend), whose spending will then earn points. The first additional card is free, though any more will cost £45.

     

    Plus if you have a friend who has the card, get them to recommend you, and they'll get 6,000 bonus points and you'll get 2,000 extra points – as long as you spend £3,000 within three months.

  • Can I use points to pay off purchases?

    Yes, but you'll receive slightly less than you'd get exchanging for vouchers. 1,000 points gives £4.50 'cashback' vs £5 in vouchers – so it's not the best use of them.

  • How are the gift vouchers sent?

    Gift cards are sent by post (within 10 working days of redemption) or by email on the day you redeem if it's a digital gift card.

  • How do I opt in to receiving bonus Deliveroo credit?

    You can earn £5 in bonus statement credit each time you use the Amex Gold to spend with Deliveroo, up to a max credit of £10/mth. 
     

    To get this benefit, you just need to save it to your card via the 'Offers' tab in your Amex account online or via the app – statement credits are normally added to your account within 2-5 days of a qualifying spend, but this can sometimes take up to eight weeks.

See how likely it is you'll get this card

MSE's Eligibility Calculator

Or just go straight to the lender

Apply*

Amex Nectar

Earn 24,000 Nectar points, worth £120 at Sainsbury's/Argos/eBay, when you spend £2,000 within 3mths

Check eligibility

Apply*

Spend £2,000 on the Amex Nectar card (check eligibility / apply*) within the first three months, and you'll get 20,000 bonus Nectar points, on top of the usual two Nectar points per £1 spent you get with this card. So hit the spending trigger and you'll end up with at least 24,000 points, worth £120 at Nectar retailers such as Sainsbury's, Argos and eBay. Points will usually be credited to your Nectar account within a month of hitting the trigger.

Alternatively, you can now convert Nectar points to Avios, which you can spend on flights, hotel and car hire (see FAQs tab for more details).

The card has a £25 annual fee that kicks in from year two, so diarise to cancel before then if you don't want to pay it. 

Note: You won't get the bonus if you've held a personal Amex card in the past two years.

Representative APR (variable): 27.3% APR incl fee (Official APR Examples)
Important: Repay IN FULL every month to avoid interest
Annual fee: Free in year one, then £25
Standard points earned (excl bonus): Two per £1 spent
Value of one point: 0.5p at Nectar partners
Points' expiry: One year if you don't collect or spend any points

  • Where are Nectar points worth more?

    Usually one Nectar point is worth 0.5p, but occasionally some retailers give better offers (see Loyalty Schemes for more info).

  • How do I swap Nectar points for Avios?

    In order to convert Nectar points to Avios and vice versa, you'll need to link your Nectar and British Airways Executive Club accounts, which can be done on either the Nectar or British Airways Executive Club website. If you're not currently a member of either scheme, these can both be joined for free. 

     

    Next, you'll need to select the 'Convert your points' option on either site. You can also choose to convert your points automatically in either direction, so if you have a preferred points scheme, you won't need to manually switch points over in the future.

     

    The conversion rate is given by Sainsbury's as 250 Avios to 400 Nectar points. This means that Avios now have a set monetary value of 0.8p when converted to Nectar points. For example, if you've got 1,000 Avios, you can convert them to 1,600 Nectar points, worth £8.

See how likely it is you'll get this card

MSE's Eligibility Calculator

Or just go straight to the lender

Apply*

Amex Rewards

Earn 5,000 bonus Rewards points for spending £2,000 within three months. Spend 'em on a £25 Amazon/M&S vch or swap 'em for Nectar pts, or airmiles/hotel pts

Check eligibility

Apply*

If you won't hit the spending trigger on the Gold card above, Nectar pts aren't your thing, or you want a card that's fee-free all the time, this could suit you better. Spend £2,000 on the Amex Rewards credit card (check eligibility / apply*) in the first three months and you'll get 5,000 bonus points, on top of the usual one point per £1 spent – so you'll have a total 7,000 points. You can change them for:

- A £25 voucher. Choose from retailers such as M&S and Amazon.

- 7,000 airmiles/hotel points. Schemes include Avios, Virgin Red and Hilton Honors.

- 11,200 Nectar points (worth £56). To do this, you need to swap your Amex points for Avios, then swap the Avios for Nectar points (see FAQs tab for more details).

Note: You won't get the bonus if you've held a personal Amex card in the past two years.

Representative APR (variable): 22.2% APR (Official APR Examples)
Important: Repay IN FULL every month to avoid interest
Annual fee: None
Standard points earned (excl bonus): One per £1 spent
Value of one point: 0.8p if converted to Nectar points via Avios/0.5p if converted to vouchers (airline/hotel scheme redemption values vary)
Points' expiry: N/A

  • What rewards can I get from this card?

    You can convert Amex Membership Reward points into gift cards for Amazon, M&S and more - though stores on the Amex rewards website do vary. Vouchers are sent either by post (allow 10 days for arrival) or digitally on the same day. Do check before converting your points whether it's a postal or digital gift card.

     

    Alternatively, you can convert Membership reward points into frequent flyer or hotel scheme points and add them to your current stash (transfers can take up to five working days).

     

    Additionally, you can now also convert them into Nectar points - though to do this, you'll need to swap them for Avios points first (more detail in the FAQ below).

     

    For full options, see the Membership Rewards site.

    Note: Bonus points can take a month to hit your account, but we've seen them applied on the day you hit the trigger.

  • How do I swap my Avios for Nectar points, and vice versa?

    You can swap your Amex points for Avios on the American Express website.

     

    Once you've done that, in order to convert Avios to Nectar points and vice versa, you'll need to link your Nectar and British Airways Executive Club accounts, which can be done on either the Nectar or British Airways Executive Club website. If you're not currently a member of either scheme, these can both be joined for free. 

     

    Next, you'll need to select the 'Convert your points' option on either site. You can also choose to convert your points automatically in either direction, so if you have a preferred points scheme, you won't need to manually switch points over in the future.

     

    The conversion rate is given by Sainsbury's as 250 Avios to 400 Nectar points. This means that Avios now have a set monetary value of 0.8p when converted to Nectar points. For example, if you've got 1,000 Avios, you can convert them to 1,600 Nectar points, worth £8.

  • Can I use points to pay off purchases?

    Yes, but you'll receive slightly less than you'd get exchanging for vouchers. 1,000 points gives £4.50 'cashback' vs £5 in vouchers – so it's not the best use of them.

See how likely it is you'll get this card

MSE's Eligibility Calculator

Or just go straight to the lender

Apply*

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Top non-Amex reward credit cards

As we say above, the top-paying cards are all from American Express. But if you already have an Amex and don't qualify for the bonuses, can't get an Amex, or need a back-up for when it's not accepted, there are a few decent options – mainly from supermarket chains. They give the best returns when used at those stores, but do give some points if used elsewhere.

Sainsbury's Bank 

Nectar members only. Earn 10,000 bonus Nectar points worth £50 at Sainsbury's/Argos/eBay

Apply direct to lender

With the Sainsbury's Bank Nectar Reward card (apply, it's not in our eligibility calculator), you can earn Nectar points on all purchases. Plus, spend £400+ at Sainsbury's, Argos or Tu Clothing in the first two months and you'll get 10,000 bonus Nectar points, worth £50.

The points will be credited to your Nectar account 60 days after the end of the two-month period. You can spend them at Sainsbury's and at Nectar partners, eg, Argos, and you can also now swap Nectar points for Avios (at a rate of 400 Nectar to 250 Avios) which means you can put them towards flights etc.

You'll only be able to apply for this card if you've had a Nectar card for six months or more. You could also get up to 17 months 0% on spending (some poorer credit scorers will get 14 or 12 months 0%), but only use this if you're disciplined and can fully repay within the 0% period.

It's also worth looking at the Amex Nectar card, which offers a 20,000 Nectar-point intro bonus and ongoing points, as it could be a better option.

Representative APR (variable): 20.9% APR (Official APR Examples)
Important: Repay in full before end of 0% period to avoid interest (always pay at least monthly minimum) then clear IN FULL every month if you continue spending on it
Annual fee: None
Standard points earned (excl bonus): Two per £1 spent in Sainsbury's, one per £5 elsewhere
Value of one point: 0.5p at Nectar partners
Points' expiry: None unless account is closed

Apply direct to lender

Amazon Platinum 

Get a £20 Amazon voucher, plus points on spending

Apply direct to lender

The Amazon Platinum card (apply, it's not in our eligibility calculator) is a good deal for Amazon shoppers. If approved, you get a free £20 voucher to spend at Amazon. This will be loaded to your Amazon account automatically.

You'll also earn points when you spend on your card – you'll get 75 points per £100 spent at Amazon (150 points for Prime members) and 25 points per £100 spent elsewhere. Earn 1,000 points and they're converted into a £10 Amazon voucher, added to your account a few days after your statement date.

Important: If you're accepted, the card will be set as your default payment method on Amazon. This is good for earning points on things you would've bought anyway, but don't use it as an excuse to overspend.

Representative APR (variable): 21.9% APR (Official APR Examples)
Important: Repay in full before end of 3mth 0% period to avoid interest (always pay at least monthly minimum), then clear IN FULL every month if you continue spending on it
Annual fee: None
Standard points earned: 0.75 points per £1 spent at Amazon (1.5 for Prime members), 0.25 points per £1 spent elsewhere
Value of one point: 1p

Apply direct to lender

Don't shop at any of the stores above? Other reward cards

If you don't shop at one of the supermarkets or stores above, here are some quick details of some other cards to consider.

Card Rewards Value of one point  Rep APR†
M&S
Check eligibility / apply*

- Bonus £5 in M&S points for making a purchase at M&S

- 2 points for every £1 you spend at M&S in the first year (one point for every £1 afterwards)

- 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere

 1p 19.9%
John Lewis
Check eligibility / apply*

- 5 points per £4 spent at John Lewis/Waitrose

- 1 point per £4 spent elsewhere

 1p 18.9%
Tesco Bank
Check eligibility / apply*

- 1 point per £4 at Tesco (on top of the usual point per pound spent)

- 1 point per £8 elsewhere 

 1-3p (See how to boost points) 20.9%

†If not repaid. Representative variable APR, your interest may be different.

Cashback sites may pay you for signing up

As an extra boon, members of specialist cashback websites can be paid when they sign up to some financial products. Do check that it's exactly the same deal though, as terms can be different. And remember the cashback is never 100% guaranteed until it's in your account.

For full help to take advantage of this and the pros and cons, see our Top Cashback Sites guide.

Coronavirus credit card help

If you're struggling to pay off debt on an existing credit card due to coronavirus, lenders should provide support. Yet the blanket payment holiday help that used to be available has ended.

So if you're struggling to pay your credit card debt now, or you're coming off an agreed payment holiday, lenders are now supposed to provide 'tailored support'. Under this, you could be offered a (further) payment holiday or a period of reduced payments, reduced interest or a repayment plan – lenders should take into account how much you can afford and how your finances are likely to change in the near future.

Providers are expected to report any support they give you to credit reference agencies, which could affect your future creditworthiness. Yet don't let that put you off from contacting your provider – missing payments or defaulting is likely to have a far worse impact.

For the latest updates and full information on the support available, see our Coronavirus Finance & Bills Help guide.

Reward cards Q&A

  • Do I get Section 75 protection on these cards?

    There's another big bonus to using a rewards card. You actually have far more consumer protection. This all comes about due to what's called Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. It means that if you buy something costing between £100 and £30,000, here or abroad, and pay on a credit card, the card issuer's equally liable if something goes wrong.

    Now this protection only applies to credit cards, not debit cards or any other plastic, and it's hugely important. If a retailer were to go kaput, you'd still be able to claim your money back from the card company.

    However, Section 75 protection doesn't apply to additional cardholders - so ensure that any big purchases are made by the main cardholder. 

    But be aware of using PayPal to pay on a credit card, as you'll lose this valuable Section 75 protection. Read the full guides to Section 75 refunds and using PayPal to pay on a credit card.

  • How do card companies make money if I always repay?

    While customers paying interest is a big source of income for the card company, it's not the only one.

    The second is the retailer. When you pay on a credit card, the card company gets a small percentage of what you spend from the shop/restaurant and this will often cover the cashback.

    Therefore, in a way, all you're doing is getting back the extra that's been factored in to pricing for all customers to cover credit card costs.

    It's worth noting that Amex tends to charge retailers more than they pay when you use a Mastercard or Visa, which is one of the reasons some smaller companies don't accept it.

  • How many reward cards can I have?

    As many as you're accepted for – there's no limit. Though of course, every card application has a small impact on your credit score. So the more you have, the less likely you are to be accepted for more cards.

    Don't apply for lots if you may need credit for something important such as a mortgage or a balance transfer card. Full info in our Credit Rating guide.

  • Is it worth going for a card that gives bigger rewards in one store?

    If you spend a substantial amount of money in a store then it certainly is worthwhile. But don't let this blind you for the rest of your spending – make sure you maximise what you get elsewhere too (it may be worth having two cards).

    Also remember that lots of cards use a 'double earn' promise, so it looks like you get more points using your credit card in the linked store, but actually you would've got the same just using its normal loyalty card. See our Loyalty Points guide for a full explanation. 

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