http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk Credit Card News and Information Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:00:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en There’s no escaping credit cards these days. Many people use them on a daily basis, but have no idea how and where they originated. Time for a quick history lesson! It's an interesting story, we promise. Credit has been with us since the dawn of trade. In the olden days, shops ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2008/08/06/how-did-credit-cards-begin/ In the past, credit card fraud and identity theft happened when thieves stole wallets, rifled through bins to find information, or even when unscrupulous waiters wrote down card numbers while processing restaurant payments. But as technology has advanced, a new menace has raised its head. What is it, and ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2008/07/29/credit-card-skimmers/ Paying off credit card debt with 0% interest is the perfect scenario, which is why many credit card companies offer such promotions. They know it will attract new customers who have debt with other credit card companies to transfer that debt to their cards. But where is the value to ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2008/07/23/the-lowdown-on-0-balance-transfer-offers/ A time when credit cards are especially useful is when you’re travelling. If you’re going away on business, credit cards make it easy to track your expenditure so you can claim expenses and tax-back. If you’re travelling on a vacation a credit card is often necessary to book hotels and ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2008/07/15/credit-cards-on-holiday/ If you shop in department stores or clothes shops you’re probably familiar with the routine when you get to the till. Would you like to take out a store card? Great discounts on future purposes, and 15% off your transaction today. Sounds tempting. Many store cards come with a raft ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2008/07/07/store-cards-%e2%80%93-a-bad-idea/ You may have heard of pre-paid credit cards. Also known as secured cards, they offer many of the advantages and benefits of a regular credit card without the risk of overspending and getting into debt. In the current credit crunch, it’s definitely worth thinking about. So what does it involve? Think ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2008/07/01/what%e2%80%99s-the-deal-with-pre-paid-credit-cards/ With so many different types of credit card out there, it’s often tricky to decide which is the best one for you. Like many people, you’ll probably be attracted to 0% interest introductory offers, so here are some tips to make sure you get the best out of the deal. Types ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2008/06/27/making-the-most-of-0-introductory-offers/ Profits of British credit card companies plummeted by 43 per cent last year when compared to the previous figures in 2005, it was revealed this month. According to banking analyst Lafferty, profits for all collective UK credit card companies amounted to just £1.16 billion in 2006. The fall in profits highlights just ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2007/05/18/credit-companies-profits-drop-43/ Profits of the UK's credit card companies have fallen by around 40 per cent over the past year, according to the latest statistics. On average, lenders made an average of £24 per credit card issued last year, a decrease from the £27 annual profit per card recorded in 2005, making the ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2007/05/17/lenders-report-fall-in-profits/ UK consumers are increasingly living the high life, with credit cards used to fund regular restaurant visits and the purchasing of luxury goods, it has been reported. According to the most recent research carried out by Mintel, consumer spending rose to a record £1.09 trillion in 2006. While home purchases continued to ... http://blog.creditcardexpert.co.uk/2007/05/17/credit-cards-increasingly-used-to-fund-brits-good-life/