[Closed] Anyone given up credit cards?

CC for use over £100 for section 75.

0% CC for spreading payments.

Benefits. For example Clubcard points with Tesco's card.

Etc.

Mine gets a fair bit of use (but only online...)

There's a few reasons to keep it;

1. As Jamie above says, you get some additional consumer protection when buying things over £100 on a CC. The level of protection on a CC for purchases is much greater than a debit card.

2. The longer you hold a particular credit line, the more it improves your credit score (useful when applying for car / mortgage finance which we all need to at some stage in life).

3. Depending on the card, you may have a number of additional benefits. For example, one of mine lets me withdraw cash from foreign cash machines as well as make purchases in shops abroad and receive a far superior exchange rate than any FX dealer or bank.

Just remember to pay off in full every month and you'll not get any interest charges.

devash - Member

Just remember to pay off in full every month and you'll not get any interest charges.

And also remember that you'll get an annual charge even on cards with a zero balance. I recently got a cc statement in showing that I owed .15p in charges for the year and of course if I hand't paid it I would have been slapped with a £25 fine.

Yes I have. Years ago I ran up what I thought was unacceptable debt, though by today's standards of domestic debt it was a mere trifle. I paid it off, cut it up and now spend only what I have.

Though I agree providing you have the discipline to use it wisely (pay it off each month) it's OK. Though I don't really see the difference between that and using a debit card which is what do now.

Some credit cards give useful "cashback" - so why not use such a CC and pay off in full every month and accrue the cashback?

Gave up mine several years ago, got into more trouble than it was worth and cut it up, and unless I had a nice big lottery win, I’ll not bother with one again, as I just don’t earn enough to pay off anything spent on a CC each month.

In addition to cash back.....some car hire places require a credit card as the guarantee to be able to defraud you later for fictitious damages 😉

I usually use mine when I fill up the car once in a while or purchase something on line just to keep it ticking over.

I prefer not to have any debt so pay off the balance, small though it is, each month.

It's handy to have for emergencies though.

I actually use mine all the time these days instead of the debit card. It's more of a fraud protection thing than anything else as it's paid off in full by DD each month.

I don't know but would hiring a car require a credit card?

edit already mentioned above, sort of ^^^

@ kormoran

When hiring cars abroad I've always had to use a CC. Usually ok with the debit card in the uk though.

@ kormoran

When hiring cars abroad I've always had to use a CC. Usually ok with the debit card in the uk though.

Ah I see, have only ever hired abroad, thanks.

Mine is always paid off, but always used as I get cashback, purchase protection, a month interest free before payment, and it keeps the credit score strong. Means I don't have to have the cash sitting in the bank until I need to pay it, so the cash can be in a savings account. Tiny amount of interest, but it's still a bit of extra cash compared to zero if it just sits in the bank.

Debit card for cash and the odd few places who charge extra for using a credit card.

Tip on hiring cars abroad with cards - don't use prepay travel cards! The deposit is held against the card and the balance available will go down until the car is returned (with no damage). Similar is true with a regular CC but you have a much larger limit usually. If you're near to the credit limit you could have problems though.

Also, take photos of the car on picking it up, especially of any existing damage, and show the hire company before driving off.

I'm exactly the opposite everything's on my credit card and pay them off monthly, I only use debit card in an ATM ..

If you are defrauded online a credit card debt is not your problem , if you are frauded with a debit card the money is out of your bank account and therefore is your problem, the money needs reclaiming

That plus American Express pays 1% as does my barclaycard , always usefull overseas shopping, debit cards fees are far higher than credit card oversea,

Got to make it work for you,

Hired a van last year from Enterprise in UK & had to have a credit card.

I have a standing order for credit card, so gets paid off each month without fail - after getting penalised a couple of time for mistakenly late payments.

Edit

If you are defrauded online a credit card debt is not your problem , if you are frauded with a debit card the money is out of your bank account and therefore is your problem, the money needs reclaiming

useful advice thanks 🙂 will be changing my online spending habits

Cut mine up 10 years ago.. I got caught via a petrol station scam and it took me months to sort it out.. pissed me right off.
I’m not going to preach but I don’t see the need of CC’s.

jimjam - Member

And also remember that you'll get an annual charge even on cards with a zero balance.

I use my Tesco card regularly, pay it off at the end of the month and collect Tesco points. On an annual basis I convert these into Evans vouchers at 2:1.

And also remember that you'll get an annual charge even on cards with a zero balance.

I don't understand. Pls explain.

And to add, I use my CC for all transactions as mentioned above for the fraud protection/prevention.

The only time I'll use my debit card are for the occasions when I'll be chared for using a CC (car tax, for example).

Over the years I've earned lots of M and S vouchers, etc so bonus red wine and steak every now and again!

I hardly ever use a debit card, why would you?

All purchases on a credit card, might as well get the free vouchers for doing so.

+ it helps with credit score.

I’m not going to preach but I don’t see the need of CC’s.

The need has been well explained above.
You’ll need one to hire a car abroad. Can’t be done without.

Plus-
Cash back/points deals
Insurance - I bought my first motorcycle helmet with one 20 years ago. I crashed. I got a new helmet for free.
Interest free loans on anything.

Etc.

To be fair, I usually take the hit for using the credit card to buy car tax rather than risk putting my Debit card details on line.

I'm assuming that there is 'offline' protection on credit cards too? I've never checked tbh, just assumed they would spot unusual activity but thinking about it filling your car with diesel on someone elses card isn't going to look unusual to Mastercard is it.

And also remember that you'll get an annual charge even on cards with a zero balance

Rubbish, I've never paid an annual charge on any of the CCs I've had.

I’m not going to preach but I don’t see the need of CC’s.

Fair enough, but I can't see any good reason why you wouldn't want to use a CC.

GlennQuagmire - Member

And also remember that you'll get an annual charge even on cards with a zero balance

Rubbish, I've never paid an annual charge on any of the CCs I've had.

So why did I get a cc statement saying I owed 15p on a card that I cleared two years ago? (actually might have been 12p).

So why did I get a cc statement saying I owed 15p on a card that I cleared two years ago? (actually might have been 12p).

Bank error not your favour pay £25?

Credit card for everything online, and car hire, etc.
All paid in full by direct debit.

I do it like that not just for the consumer protection etc. but also if (when*) the CC gets scammed by the fraudsters, there's that buffer between card being blocked and my bank account. If the scammers get my debit card then they're going straight in to my bank account, and when that card gets blocked I can't even get cash from an ATM or pay for anything.

*Mine's been done twice. Once as part of that massive security mess up by a well known online bike store that did over lots and lots of other STWers. The other time was a brand new card that was used twice - once to book a hotel via a popular hotel booking site, and to renew a sub via Paypal. 3 weeks without a debit card would have been a pita.

So why did I get a cc statement saying I owed 15p on a card that I cleared two years ago? (actually might have been 12p).

Well, that's a question for your bank. I'm aware that annual charges may apply, but these are never 15p! (or 12p).

Protection plus use someone else’s credit - why not*?

Unless you don’t pay off, then very expensive. Why?

So why did I get a cc statement saying I owed 15p on a card that I cleared two years ago? (actually might have been 12p).

was it the card of vanquis ..... or some other chargable high interest card for people who have bad credit.... or just a really shit credit card ?

PeterPoddy - Member
The need has been well explained above.
You’ll need one to hire a car abroad. Can’t be done without.

Your choice, you choose how to spend your money, I don’t see the need to use a CC... hope that’s clear enough.
As for hiring cars in the EU it’s plenty easy without a CC.. I have done it plenty of times.

HTHs.

I don't have a credit card, wouldn't have one either. Seen too many people get into bother with them.

I do have two current accounts though and only use one of them for day to day purchases. I transfer a set amount into it each month from main account, that way if anything happens to it there is only a couple hundred quid to be dealt with and no bills or direct debits impacted due to being wiped out.

Any larger purchases online then I transfer the right amount in at the time I am making the purchase to cover it.

Not had one for well over 20 years.

Racked up a couple of grand in my early 20's and it worried me sick.
Paid it off in a year and took out a mortgage instead.
😀

Based on the comments above re cashback, points offers etc, I might just get another one.

I don't have a credit card, wouldn't have one either. Seen too many people get into bother with them.

Not had one for more than 20 years.

No problem whatsoever as I bought my car using debit card.

All other items I pay in cash. 😀

I don't have a credit card, wouldn't have one either. Seen too many people get into bother with them

If you're shit with money then fair enough - but using a CC doesn't make you that way.

Do you feel the same about drinking alcohol, driving cars, gambling, eating etc?

If you're shit with money then fair enough - but using a CC doesn't make you that way.

Just to be clear on hiring cars in the EU (including the U.K.)

You don’t need a Credit Card. Europcar are the only ones who “insist” but that’s because it’s easy for them to “insist” if you want to hire a car from them pay a deposit as normal via Debit Card, then either buy a Europcar Voucher or pay by good old Cash.. it’s in thier T&C’s
SIXT and many many others accept Debit Cards, since Debit Cards are effectively cleared Cash acceptance it’s easier to “Authorise” the Card.. yes you may run into maximum amount issues because normally Debit Cards are automatically cleared for payments of up to £100 in most cases, cars being hired for long periods (a week say, and costing more than the cleared £100 authorised) will incure a deposit as you would expect then payment of the balance at the end of the hire etc. It’s all in thier T&Cs if you care to look.

You’ve no need to be fearful nor panic if you think you need a Credit Card to hire a car, it’s nonsence.

Car rental (?)
Hotel check-in deposit

I have Credit cards for those and also they have the best rewards programmes. Always paid off every month. Be disciplined and do that

Never had one. And had no issues up until a few years ago when I've had problems with hotels and hire cars.

very handy if you’re planning on travelling to North America

I've had a couple of cases of fraud on my credit card: both very easy to sort-out, wasn't a penny out of pocket.

Made me realize how ****ed I would have been if it had been debit card fraud.

I now use a CC for everything - only occasionally use cash, and only keep my debit card in my wallet for using cash machines.

double post wierdness

So no one using it to pay for big purchases as a interest free loan? Had no money for new boiler as just bought first home so put it on 30 month 0 interest cc. Not sure what I would have done otherwise

PeterPoddy - Member

The need has been well explained above.
You’ll need one to hire a car abroad. Can’t be done without.

This isn't true.
I've hired cars before and have never owned a credit card.

i'm 35 and have never had one. thought about getting one when i started travelling more for work, but banks in Germany charge you for having a CC. my bank wnted 30€ a year for the privilage....

You’ll need one to hire a car abroad. Can’t be done without.

nope... as said above, it doesn't really matter. have hired cars in Germany, Portugal and Italy with no problems.

some of the posh hotels i've had the (dis?)pleasure of staying in have gotten a little arsey about me not having one. probably worried that i would cane the mini bar and do a runner 🙄
have had a few hotels either remotely lock the mini bar or remove the drinks from it.

^ so you use your debit card when you are travelling for work?

To save yourself 30 Euros a year? You'd probably earn that back in a month in cashback/vouchers/ffpoints.

As others, I use a credit card for all purchases and it gets paid in full each month (generally - see recent post where it didn't as a one off). I used to use Capital One but their cashback card stopped so I switched to Tesco for Clubcard points instead.

I was glad we paid for our holiday with the credit card after Monarch went bust! Easier than claiming back through CAA, we just were refunded automatically after a couple of weeks.

One shared CC between the two of us for non work stuff. Paid off every month. I don't see it as 'credit' so much as just a way to collect reward points in one place. One CC for the company - same paid off every month but an easy way to track company expenditure/recharge.

I have a credit card for a couple of reasons.

I generally make purchases of electrical goods etc. on the credit card for the extra protection if supposedly offers (I have never had to make use of that, but I guess it's reassuring to know it's there).

I also use it to make purchases that I intend to then pay off with money from a savings account; it gives me time to transfer the money out of savings & pay the card off

I use my credit card when travelling with work so my expense claim gets paid before I have to cough up the money; a few days away with work can soon add up once you have paid for hotel, food, taxis etc - it would be too much to come off my debit card.

I use cc for everything, and pay it off in full at the end of the month. Wife also has a card on my account and puts all her spending through it as well.

We get 1.25% cashback with no upper limits, which works out around £450 cash back per year.

I use my credit card for [u]all[/u] online purchases as it offers you much better protection than using a debit.

If you've used your card details online, there's probably a 99% chance they've been stolen and it's only a matter of time before you get your card cloned.

It happened to me and they put £1800 odd on my credit card.

I would much much [b]much[/b] rather have £1800 come out of my credit card than out of actual cash via debit. That way I still had my money available to me.

I also got the money refunded to my CC within a few days and HSBC were generally great at handling it all.

The trick is to understand it's not free money. You can only spend what you have. I've never had an interest payment because I only spend what I have.

I've never had one, never needed one and I'm certainly not getting one just for the hell of it.

Mind you I've never had a loan of any sort or ever bought anything on credit. I'm sure the day will come however..

We get 1.25% cashback with no upper limits, which works out around £450 cash back per year.

Who's that with?

If you've used your card details online, there's probably a 99% chance they've been stolen and it's only a matter of time before you get your card cloned.

I believe the real figures are 60% of the time it happens all the time.

All spending on CC where possible, building a 0% debt up plus earning cashback. Funds in my account spread across accounts paying 5%, 5%, 3% and 1%. Next year I'll do a 0% transfer and continue if possible. Not sure of the exact figures but I should be making £500+ on this for about an hours work 🙂

As per IHN, who's 1.25% cashback with?

Halifax Clarity is my holiday card - no charge on foreign transactions, and you can withdraw cash locally at no charge - you only pay the standard interest rate for as long as its outstanding. It was actually the cheapest way to top up on cash I could find (assuming you aren't with Nationwide for current account).

If you've used your card details online, there's probably a 99% chance they've been stolen and it's only a matter of time before you get your card cloned.

So why has this never happened to me despite shopping online with CC since the early 90s? I really don't think I'm all that lucky!
Using a CC online is an extremely prudent safety measure - if compromised its away from your money and you aren't liable for losses on it. Add the other benefits (potentially) and there's little argument against.

Everything goes on a credit card that earns me Nectar points, cleared in full every month.
GIves me additional peace of mind when dealing with online / retailers.

Nectar points pay for most of xmas...

So why has this never happened to me despite shopping online with CC since the early 90s? I really don't think I'm all that lucky!

Yeah, I mean - naturally we're not all getting our cards cloned day in day out.

But what with the Equifax breach at the top end, and 'disgruntled' employees at CRC on the bottom end, it's safe to assume someone has your details on a database somewhere!