How do I dispute a credit card charge?

If there's a charge on your card that you want to dispute – perhaps you've been double charged for an item, you don't recognise a payment and suspect fraud, or have purchased an item that either hasn't shown up or has been delivered damaged – you can often dispute it using Visa, Mastercard and Amex's Chargeback scheme. You should first contact the firm you purchased from to see if they'll refund you first, but if they refuse you can contact your bank and tell them you want to make a claim via the Chargeback scheme. You'll need to provide full details of the payment in question, alongside any correspondence you've had with the seller and sometimes a form. You only get 120 days to make a claim in this way, starting on the date of the payment so you'll need to be quick. Full details in our Visa, Mastercard & Amex Chargeback guide.

What happens if I miss a credit card payment?

If you fail to pay the minimum monthly repayment amount for your credit card, it could go down as a missed payment. You could be issued with a late payment fee of around £10 and you could lose your promotional 0% period if you have one. Your credit card provider will also report it to credit reference agencies and it will go on your credit file for six years. This could negatively impact your chances if applying for credit in future. We recommend you set up a direct debit each month of at least the minimum repayment amount to avoid this.

Can I get a credit card with no credit history?

Getting a credit card can be tricky for those with no credit history at all, as lenders have no information to determine whether you'd be a responsible borrower or not. There are special credit builder cards designed for those with poor or non-existent credit histories, which if used properly can help you improve your creditworthiness in the eyes of lenders.

How to cancel a credit card?

There are a number of steps to follow when cancelling your credit card. Firstly, you'll need to pay of any remaining balance and cancel any regular payments leaving the account. If you've any reward points built up, spend these before cancelling as it may be your last chance. You'll then need to contact your card provider to initiate the cancellation process, this can usually be done online or via its app as well. Ensure that you email or send a letter to your provider with the request and confirmation of your cleared balance, so you have it in writing. It can take as long as 60 days for your card provider to cancel your card (this number can vary across providers). Once the period is up, you can make sure it's been cancelled by checking your credit report . Once determined, cut up your now defunct card.

How does a credit card affect my credit score?

A credit card can help or harm your credit score, it all depends on whether you use it in the right way. If you never miss a payment and avoid taking out too much credit, it can improve your credit score as lenders will be able to judge your responsible behaviour as a borrower. Missed payments will go on your credit file for six years and potentially harm your chances of successfully applying for credit in future. Credit cards can also impact your credit file in other ways, for example if you apply and/or are declined for one or more credit cards it will appear on your file. Use our eligibility calculator first to get a sense of your odds for acceptance without it going on your credit file.

How does a credit card work?

Credit cards explained

Benjamin Taylor

Updated 22 May 2024

If you're new to credit cards, the idea can be daunting. Yet used correctly, they can provide valuable free protection, a chance to (re)build your credit rating and special 0% deals offer the cheapest way to borrow. This guide explains the different types of cards available and what to watch out for, so you don't get burnt.

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What is a credit card?

In a nutshell, a credit card lets you pay for things. Yet rather than taking money from your account each time you spend, the credit card company pays and sends you a bill for it all each month. If you pay this off in full, you'll pay no interest.

If you opt to pay a smaller amount, this is carried over to the next month and you'll be charged an amount of interest on the whole balance, until you repay it (unless you're on a special 0% deal, which we'll explain more about below).

The term 'credit card' is therefore not very helpful, and instead is better understood when called a 'debt card' or 'borrowing card'. Any spending on the card is actually running up a debt that you need to pay back, not using credit that has been given to you.

How do credit cards work?

There are a few steps in the process of getting a credit card after you've decided on the right one for you (see different types of credit cards below):

Check your chances of being accepted for a card before applying. Use our eligibility calculator to check your odds before you apply (without it going on your credit file).
Submit an application. This can usually be done via the card provider's website or in branch. The provider will do a credit check where they assess whether they want to lend to you.
Your card should arrive within two weeks. If successful, the provider will send you your card in the post and you can then start to use it.
You'll have a credit limit and will be billed each month. Your card will have a set minimum monthly repayment, so make sure you at least pay this. Better still, if you can, pay it off IN FULL to avoid paying interest.

Credit card providers make their money through interest payments and fees (alongside transaction fees from businesses when you spend with your card). So the longer you're in debt and the more interest you pay on your balance, the more profitable a customer you are for them.

Five key credit card need-to-knows

Here we'll take you through the main parts of getting and operating a credit card, though always remember that all debt is like fire – used right it's a useful tool, but used wrongly you'll get burnt.

1. You'll need to pass a credit check

As with all types of borrowing, you'll need to pass a credit check in order to get a credit card. This lets the lender work out how 'risky' you are to lend to, and takes into account your income and other financial commitments. It can then either accept or decline you.

The criteria is top secret though and differs between lenders, so you could be accepted by one but declined by another. Therefore before applying blind, it's far better to use an eligibility checker to check your chances of acceptance before applying, which searches multiple card providers and shows how likely you are to get each card.

If you do go on to apply, be aware that any application will leave a mark on your credit report, even if declined, which could impact your ability to get future credit (usually if there's multiple applications in a short time period). See boost your credit score for full info and how to check your score for free.
2. You'll be given an agreed credit limit

All cards come with a credit limit, which is the maximum amount you can borrow at any one time. However, do remember that whatever you borrow will need to repaid.

The credit limit is set by the credit card provider and is usually based on factors such as your income and credit history, so you usually won't know how much you'll get until you've been approved.

You can request for your limit to be reduced, and in some cases increased, though you'd usually need to have used the card for a few months first. Your provider may also increase your limit automatically, though you can decline this.

Don't spend more than your credit limit or you'll likely be hit with charges. See our Credit limit too low? guide for more information and help.
3. Make sure you ALWAYS pay at least the monthly minimum – set up a direct debit for safety
Each month your credit card provider will send you a bill, which includes a statement listing all your spending for that period. There will be a total balance – so the amount required to pay it off in full – and a minimum repayment listed, along with a due date for payment.

Most cards waive interest on spending (though not cash withdrawals, which usually attract interest from day one) if you pay the money back in full and on time by this due date, so this is the cheapest option if you're able to.

However where you can't, ALWAYS pay at least the minimum amount. Failure to pay this means you're effectively breaking the contract and, in addition to a £10ish late fee, it will be marked as a missed payment, which leaves a negative mark on your credit file for up to six years.

To ensure you don't miss it, set up a monthly direct debit to automatically pay off the minimum amount (or a higher/the full amount if you can). If you know you won't be able to pay, contact your provider immediately and work with it to agree a different repayment plan.

See Danger: Minimum repayments for full info and our minimum repayment calculator, as it's costly and can take years to clear the card this way.
How much is the minimum repayment?

This will depend on a couple of things – the amount you owe and your credit card provider's rules.

A typical minimum repayment will be around 1% to 2.5% of how much you owe (usually including any interest or charges, such as late fees) or £5 to £25, whichever is higher.

For example, a lender's rule might say something like 'Greater of 1% of balance plus interest or £5'. If the full amount on your statement was £1,000, including any interest or charges, the minimum repayment would be £10. As this is higher than £5, this is the lowest amount you'd need to repay. If you owed £200, you'd need to repay at least £5 as 1% is only £2.
4. You'll pay interest if you don't clear the balance IN FULL each month, plus avoid expensive cash withdrawals

For purchases, if you don't clear the card in full, your credit card provider will start charging interest. This is usually on the full statement balance and from the date you made each payment, regardless of how much you have since paid off. For example, if your bill was £400 and you paid off £350, leaving £50 outstanding, you would still be charged interest on the full £400 until fully repaid.

Cash withdrawals are usually treated differently and you'll usually pay interest (sometimes at a higher rate) on it immediately. Some cards will also charge you a fee for taking out cash, which is often around £3 each time, so it's best avoided.

The interest rate is calculated as an APR, which stands for annual percentage rate. A rate of around 21% to 25% is typical, though this can run as high as 60% for poorer credit scorers.

There may be different interest rates for the type of activity you're doing, for example 20.9% for purchases and 24.9% for cash withdrawals. If this is the case, the amount you repay will go towards clearing the most expensive debt on your statement first, which is known as 'allocation of payments'.
5. How well you manage your credit card will impact your credit file

Certain credit card activity is reported and visible on your credit report, including how many credit cards you have, your credit limit(s), if you've made cash withdrawals and the amount you owed when the credit card company last sent an update to the credit reference agency.

Importantly, it also records your repayment history. If you pay the minimum payment amount (or more) and before the due date, this will generally have a positive impact on your score, as it shows other lenders a track record of successful payments.

However, any missed payments, busting your credit limit or frequently using the card to withdraw cash will usually have a negative impact, as you could be deemed a risk to lend to. This can also have a lasting effect, as missed payments can remain on your credit file for up to six years.

Sign up to our Credit Club to see your credit score and how you appear to lenders and see our Credit scores guide for our top tips to boost your creditworthiness.

Pros and cons of credit cards

Credit cards are often, rightly, demonised. Used wrong, they're debt cards that cause nightmares. Yet equally debit cards (the card linked to a bank account) are debt cards too for those who are overdrawn and use them wrong. Plus these days, with 40% APR overdrafts, debit cards can be far costlier than credit cards.

If you don't have a credit card because you've been burnt in the past, or don't trust yourself with one, then don't touch them. Don't read on. Stop here. Yet if you don't have one because you just think they're all bad, think again as you could be giving up important protections.

We've developed a short list of pros and cons of credit cards below to help you understand a bit more about how they work and the benefits they can bring.

Credit card pros and cons

✔️ Pros
Extra protection on purchases	Anything you buy on a credit card that costs £100 to £30,000 (so even if you only pay 1p of it on the card) is given Section 75 protection, which means the card firm's jointly liable with the retailer for the ENTIRE amount if something goes wrong. This is hugely powerful and another lifeline if the retailer goes bust or won't play fair.
Can offer cheap borrowing or rewards	There are many different types of credit card (as we explain further below) with some offering 0% interest – so at zero cost – and others that pay cashback or reward points to use them. So a credit card used right can save or make you £100s or even £1,000s. Plus pay it off IN FULL each month and you'll never pay interest, even on a standard card.
Can boost your credit score (so other borrowing can be cheaper)	A well managed credit card (staying within the credit limit and paying at least the minimum on time every month, though better to clear IN FULL) can improve your credit score as it evidences your ability to stick to an agreement and, ultimately, repay. As you're deemed less risky, this can lead to lower rates or greater chances of acceptance for other products, such as loans or mortgages.
⚠️ Cons (things to look out for)
Avoid if you already struggle with debt	If you know you couldn't trust yourself not to spend more than you could afford to repay, then a credit card may do more damage than good. Equally if you're already in debt, try and refrain from taking on more, instead see our see our Debt problems guide for what to do and where to get help.
Beware the minimum repayment spiral	You MUST pay at least the minimum repayment to stick to the agreement, but beware doing so as interest can soon mount up. Always have a plan to pay back the balance or the interest can soon add up and the amount you owe can easily spiral to levels you can no longer afford.
Can wreck your credit score for years (and prevent you from getting other borrowing)	A badly managed credit card (missing or late payments and exceeding the credit limit) can damage your credit score as it shows other lenders that you could be risky to lend to, and they may not get their money back. This is important as this can tarnish your credit file for up to six years, which may mean it's harder to get other types of borrowing, or the rates you're given are much higher.

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Different types of credit card explained

Here we'll run through how the various types of credit card work, and our golden rules for each to ensure you don't get caught out.

Balance transfer credit cards – shift existing card debt to 0% interest

A balance transfer is when you get a new card that repays debts on other credit or store cards for you, so you owe it instead but at 0%. This means you'll be debt-free quicker as repayments will go towards clearing the actual debt, not interest.

The longest deals typically have a one-off fee as a percentage of the amount borrowed, but there are cards that have no fee. Pick the card with the lowest fee in the time you're sure you can repay.

See top picks and full info in our 0% balance transfer guide, or check your odds of acceptance using our eligibility calculator.

Golden rules for 0% balance transfer cards
If you get these cards, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULES:

Clear the card or transfer again before the 0% ends, or the rate soars to typical 23.9% to 24.9% interest rates, though it can be much higher (see APR examples).

Never miss the min monthly repayment, or you may lose the 0%, get hit with a £10ish late fee and get a credit report black mark.

Don't spend/withdraw cash – it usually isn't at the cheap rate.

You must usually transfer within 60 or 90 days to get the 0%.

You usually can't balance transfer between two cards from the same banking group.

Important. Balance transfers are for those who can meet repayments. If you're struggling, check our Debt help guide for alternative options.

0% spending credit cards – no interest for a set number of months, so cheapest way to borrow

These cards offer a number of months where no interest is charged on new spending, so done right there's no cheaper borrowing – though they're not an excuse to overspend. Use them for a needed, planned and affordable one-off purchase (for example, replacing a broken fridge).

See top picks in our Best 0% spending credit cards guide or check your acceptance odds using our eligibility calculator.

Golden rules for 0% spending cards
If you get these cards, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULES:

Clear the debt or balance transfer before the 0% ends, or costs soar to typical 22.9% to 24.9% interest rates, though it can be much higher (see APR examples).

Always pay at least the monthly min and stick within your limit or you can lose the 0% and get hit with £10ish fees.

They're usually only cheap for spending, not cash/balance transfers.

Cashback, airline & reward credit cards – get paid to spend

Reward cards give you cash or loyalty points when you spend on them. So as long as you repay them IN FULL each month and don't bust your credit limit, you neuter the 'debt element' of the card, and just have plastic that pays you to spend on it.

See top picks in our reward credit cards guide or check your odds of acceptance using our eligibility calculator. Plus, see our Airline credit cards guide for the top cards that offer air miles.

Golden rules for reward credit cards
If you get these cards, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULES:

Clear IN FULL each month to avoid interest, which wipes out the gains from the rewards (see APR examples).

Never miss the min monthly repayment, or you'll pay a £10ish late fee and get a credit report black mark. But as we say above, if you don't repay IN FULL each month, don't bother getting these cards.

Don't withdraw cash – it's expensive & there's no reward.

Never go over your credit limit or you'll pay a £10ish fee.

Some cards have an annual fee just to keep the card, so make sure to cancel if you stop using it.

All-rounder credit cards – get 0% on balance transfers AND spending

Most credit cards are good for new spending OR cutting the cost of existing debt, but an all-rounder card offers 0% intro rates for a number of months on both.

You can usually get a longer 0% period with a dedicated balance transfer card, though if you have a need to borrow further, then an all-rounder card offers one fewer application hitting your credit file, protecting your creditworthiness.

See top picks in our top all-rounder credit cards guide, or check your acceptance odds using our eligibility calculator.

Golden rules for all-rounder cards
If you get these cards, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULES:

Clear the card or transfer again before the 0% ends, or the rate soars to typical 23.9% to 24.9% interest rates, though it can be much higher (see APR examples).

Never miss the min monthly repayment, or you may lose the 0%, get hit with a £10ish late fee and get a credit report black mark.

Don't withdraw cash – it usually isn't at the cheap rate.

You must usually transfer within 60 or 90 days to get the 0%.

You usually can't balance transfer between two cards from the same banking group.

Important. Balance transfers are for those who can meet repayments. If you're struggling, check our Debt help guide for alternative options.

Travel credit cards – near-perfect exchange rates on overseas spending

If you travel regularly or pay for things in other currencies while in the UK, then specialist travel cards are a winner.

Usually if you pay on plastic, the card firm adds a 3%-ish 'non-sterling transaction fee'. Yet the fee is waived by specialist cards, so you get the rate at the same near-perfect rate the bank does, smashing bureaux de change.

See top picks in our travel credit cards guide, or check your acceptance odds using our eligibility calculator.

Golden rules for travel credit cards
If you get these cards, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULES:

Clear in IN FULL each month or you'll pay interest, which wipes out the gains from the exchange rate (see APR examples).

Never miss the min monthly repayment or you'll get a £10ish late fee and a credit report black mark.

Never go over your credit limit or there's a £10ish fee.

Money transfer credit cards – shift cash to your bank account, with 0% interest

A few specialist cards offer a 0% money transfer that lets you pay cash into your bank for a small fee. You then owe the card instead but interest-free, which is usually much cheaper than loans for amounts under £3,000.

This can win if you need to borrow but the retailer doesn't accept cards, or if you're paying interest on an existing loan or overdraft – as you can use the cash to pay these off. Crucially, to get the cheap rate never just take cash from an ATM. You'll need to ask your card provider for a money transfer.

See top picks in our money transfer credit cards guide, or check your acceptance odds using our eligibility calculator.

Golden rules for 0% money transfer cards
If you get these cards, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULES:

Clear the card or transfer again before the 0% ends, or the rate soars to typical 21% to 24% interest rates, though it can be much higher (see APR examples).

Never miss the min monthly repayment, or you may lose the 0%, get hit with a £10ish late fee and get a credit report black mark.

Don't spend or withdraw cash – it usually isn't at the cheap rate.

You must usually transfer within 60 or 90 days to get the 0%.

Important. Money transfers are for those who can meet repayments. If you're struggling, check our Debt help guide for alternative options.

Credit building cards – if you've no (or poor) credit history

Credit building credit cards are designed for those with little or bad credit history. When used for normal spending and paid off IN FULL every month, they can help build (or rebuild) your credit score.

See top picks in our credit building credit cards guide, or check your acceptance odds using our eligibility calculator.

Golden rules for credit building cards
If you get these cards, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULES:

Clear in IN FULL each month or you'll pay hefty interest, which can be as high as 60% APR (see APR examples).

If you can't clear in full, ensure you never miss the min monthly repayment or you'll get a £10ish late fee and a credit report black mark.

Never go over your credit limit or there's a £10ish fee.

Never withdraw cash – repeated cash withdrawals on a credit card are a red flag to lenders plus it's expensive as there's usually a 3% or £3ish charge and interest from day one, often at an even higher rate than spending.

Which credit card is best?

This is one of the most difficult questions we're asked. The issue is that the question wrongly assumes all credit cards are the same type and do the same job.

Some are best for spending on, others for borrowing, travelling abroad with, protecting purchases, giving rewards and more. To help ensure you have the right card(s) for the right purpose(s), simply answer each of the questions below and follow the relevant links for more info and top picks.

Do you already have credit or store card(s) you pay interest on? If yes, first check out a 0% balance transfer card as they offer the longest interest-free periods, or an all-rounder card if you also need to continue spending, as they offer 0% on both transfers and new purchases.
Do you spend on a card and always repay it IN FULL? If so, make it pay you £100s a year with a reward credit card.
Do you spend on a card, but can't always repay in full? If so, you need a 0% spending card.
Do you travel abroad or pay online in overseas currency? If so, specialist travel cards offer near-perfect exchange rates.
Do you need to borrow for a purchase but can't pay on card, or want to get respite from an expensive overdraft? If so, a 0% money transfer card can help.
Do you have a poor credit history or are new to credit and struggle to get accepted? A credit rebuilding card could help.

Credit Card Eligibility Calculator

See which 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

Credit card FAQs

How do I dispute a credit card charge?

If there's a charge on your card that you want to dispute – perhaps you've been double charged for an item, you don't recognise a payment and suspect fraud, or have purchased an item that either hasn't shown up or has been delivered damaged – you can often dispute it using Visa, Mastercard and Amex's Chargeback scheme.

You should first contact the firm you purchased from to see if they'll refund you first, but if they refuse you can contact your bank and tell them you want to make a claim via the Chargeback scheme.

You'll need to provide full details of the payment in question, alongside any correspondence you've had with the seller and sometimes a form. You only get 120 days to make a claim in this way, starting on the date of the payment so you'll need to be quick. Full details in our Visa, Mastercard & Amex Chargeback guide.
What happens if I miss a credit card payment?

If you fail to pay the minimum monthly repayment amount for your credit card, it could go down as a missed payment. You could be issued with a late payment fee of around £10 and you could lose your promotional 0% period if you have one.

Your credit card provider will also report it to credit reference agencies and it will go on your credit file for six years. This could negatively impact your chances if applying for credit in future.

We recommend you set up a direct debit each month of at least the minimum repayment amount to avoid this.
Can I get a credit card with no credit history?

Getting a credit card can be tricky for those with no credit history at all, as lenders have no information to determine whether you'd be a responsible borrower or not. There are special credit builder cards designed for those with poor or non-existent credit histories, which if used properly can help you improve your creditworthiness in the eyes of lenders.
How to cancel a credit card?

There are a number of steps to follow when cancelling your credit card. Firstly, you'll need to pay of any remaining balance and cancel any regular payments leaving the account. If you've any reward points built up, spend these before cancelling as it may be your last chance.

You'll then need to contact your card provider to initiate the cancellation process, this can usually be done online or via its app as well. Ensure that you email or send a letter to your provider with the request and confirmation of your cleared balance, so you have it in writing.

It can take as long as 60 days for your card provider to cancel your card (this number can vary across providers). Once the period is up, you can make sure it's been cancelled by checking your credit report.

Once determined, cut up your now defunct card.
How does a credit card affect my credit score?

A credit card can help or harm your credit score, it all depends on whether you use it in the right way. If you never miss a payment and avoid taking out too much credit, it can improve your credit score as lenders will be able to judge your responsible behaviour as a borrower.

Missed payments will go on your credit file for six years and potentially harm your chances of successfully applying for credit in future.

Credit cards can also impact your credit file in other ways, for example if you apply and/or are declined for one or more credit cards it will appear on your file. Use our eligibility calculator first to get a sense of your odds for acceptance without it going on your credit file.