- hand holding credit card image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com
Banks in the United Kingdom offer a variety of credit cards beyond the standard card. Some of these offer special features such as rewards linked to spending, while others are aimed at people with poor credit records who are not eligible for traditional credit. - A balance transfer card allows a new holder to pay off the balance on an existing card. The balance transfers to their new card and will usually be charged at a low rate or even without any interest for a certain period. Such cards can save money, though the minimum monthly payment will remain the same. Because card providers apply payments toward outstanding balances in a specific and unfavorable order, it is generally very costly to use a balance transfer card for new purchases until the balance is paid off.
- A cashback card gives a cash reward based on the spending on the card, often equivalent to 1 percent of the purchases. A loyalty card awards points for spending on the card, with these points convertible to discounts in a specific store. An airline card earns the holder air miles for spending on the card, either for a specific airline or for the multi-airline Air Miles scheme.
- Customers on high incomes are often eligible for versions of a bank's credit card known as gold, platinum, purple or black. These offer special benefits such as travel insurance or access to airport lounges. They do not necessarily offer the most favorable rates or fees.
- A pre-paid card means the customer pays a flat amount upfront and gets a card with that amount available as "credit." Some of these cards can only be used until the balance is used up, while others can be "topped up." These cards do not offer credit as such, but may be useful for people who cannot get credit but want the convenience of a credit card, for example in online shopping.
- A secured card requires the holder to deposit a security such as jewelry or a car which has a value at least equal to the card's credit limit. This is forfeited if the holder fails to pay back his spending on the card. The only real reason to use such a card is when attempting to build up a favorable credit record after experiencing credit problems.
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