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  • nationwide credit card
    Card Rating: 4 out of 5
    • Nationwide
      Credit Card
    • 0%
      17 month
      3% fee
    • 0%
      6 month
    • No rewards
    • 15.9
      APR
    • Recommended for overseas spending
    • Commission free purchases abroad
    • Benefits from positive payment order
    • No transfers accepted from other Nationwide cards

    Representative example: 15.9% p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equivalent to 15.9% APR representative (variable) based on a credit limit of £1,200.

    You can choose 0% on balance transfers for 17 months, with a 2.9% fee, or 0% for 3 months with additional purchases offer. Balance transfers apply to 95% of your credit limit, and the interest applied to balance transfers once the introductory period finishes is between 9.9% and 19.9% depending on your circumstances.

    There is 0% on purchases for 6 months if you choose 3 month balance transfer offer. The typical annual rate is between 9.9% and 19.9% depending on your circumstances.

    No rewards are available with this card

    Typical APR is 15.9% (variable) which applies after any introductory offers. APR is between 9.9% and 19.9% depending on your circumstances.

  • Bank-of-Scotland-Plus
    Card Rating: 0 out of 5
    • Bank of Scotland Plus
      Plus
    • 0%
      18 month
      3% fee
    • 0%
      3 month
    • No rewards
    • 16.9
      APR
    • Manage your card online
    • Cover against online fraud
    • Instant application decisions
    • Transfers not accepted from other Bank of Scotland of Halifax accounts

    Representative example: 16.9% p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equivalent to 16.9% APR representative (variable) based on a credit limit of £1,200.

    For the first 18 months you will get 0% on balance transfers made in the first 90 days (a fee of 3% applies for each balance transfer). After this period has expired the interest rate offered for balance transfers will be the same as that for purchases.

    0% interest for 3 months on purchases made using the Bank of Scotland Plus Credit Card. Your personal APR for purchases will be either 16.9% APR (variable), 19.9% APR (variable) or 21.9% APR (variable), depending on your credit history

    No rewards are available with this card

    This card is not available from Bank of Scotland branches. Receive up to 59 days interest free from the date a purchase is made if you pay your statement balance in full and on time each month. The minimum repayment figure is the greater of 1% of the outstanding or a flat £5. Bank of Scotland will assess your personal circumstances and credit history to determine the exact APR to make available to you. The Bank of Scotland Plus credit card has a representative APR of 16.9% (variable).

  • Halifax-Plus
    Card Rating: 0 out of 5
    • Halifax Plus Credit Card
      Plus
    • 0 %
      17 month
      3% fee
    • 0%
      3 month
    • No rewards
    • 16.9
      APR
    • Manage your card online
    • Cover against online fraud
    • Instant decision for most applications
    • Transfers not accepted from other Halifax or Bank of Scotland accounts

    Representative example: 16.9 % p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equivalent to 16.9 % APR representative (variable) based on a credit limit of £1,200.

    For the first 13 months you will get 0% on balance transfers made in the first 90 days (a fee of 3% applies for each balance transfer). After this period has expired the interest rate offered for balance transfers will be the same as that for purchases.

    0% interest for 3 months on purchases made using the Halifax Plus Credit Card. Your personal APR for purchases will be either 16.9% APR (variable), 19.9% APR (variable) or 21.9% APR (variable), depending on your credit history

    No rewards are available with this card

    This card is not available from any of high street branches of Halifax. Receive up to 59 days interest free from the date a purchase is made if you pay your statement balance in full and on time each month. The minimum repayment figure is the greater of 1% of the outstanding or a flat £5. Halifax will assess your personal circumstances and credit history to determine the exact APR to make available to you. Representative APR of 16.9% (variable).

  • Virgin-Credit-Card
    Card Rating: 5 out of 5
    • Virgin
      Credit Card
    • 0%
      20 month
      2.99% fee
    • 0%
      12 month
    • Virgin Discounts
    • 16.8
      APR
    • Contactless payment technology
    • Paperless statements
    • Instant Decisions where possible
    • Transfers not accepted from MBNA cards

    Representative example: 16.8% p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equivalent to 16.8% APR representative (variable) based on a credit limit of £1,200.

    There is 0% on balance transfers for 20 months, with a 2.99% fee. Balance transfers apply to 95% of your credit limit, and the interest applied to balance transfers once the introductory period finishes is 18.9% depending on your circumstances.

    There is 0% on purchases for 3 months. The typical annual rate is 16.8% depending on your circumstances.

    Your Virgin Credit Card includes a discount scheme which lets you save money across the Virgin group, and more.

    Typical APR is 16.8% (variable) which applies after any introductory offers, depending on your circumstances.

  • Bank of scotland all in one
    Card Rating: 4 out of 5
    • Bank of Scotland
      All In One
    • 0%
      12 month
      3% fee
    • 0%
      12 month
    • No rewards
    • 17.9
      APR
    • Cover against online fraud
    • Instant Decisions
    • Accepted at 24 million locations worldwide
    • Cash withdrawal interest charged at 27.95%
    • Transfers not permitted from Bank of Scotland
    • No balance transfers from Halifax

    Representative example: 17.9 % p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equivalent to 17.9 % APR representative (variable) based on a credit limit of £1,200.

    There is 0% on balance transfers for 12 months, with a 3% fee. Balance transfers apply to 95% of your credit limit, and the interest applied to balance transfers once the introductory period finishes is between 17.9% and 23.9% depending on your circumstances.

    There is 0% on purchases for 12 months. The typical annual rate is between 17.9% and 23.9% depending on your circumstances.

    No rewards are available with this card

    Typical APR is 17.9% (variable) which applies after any introductory offers. APR is between 17.9% and 23.9% depending on your circumstances.

  • halifax all in one credit card
    Card Rating: 5 out of 5
    • Halifax all in one
      All In One
    • 0%
      12 month
      3% fee
    • 0%
      12 month
    • No rewards
    • 17.9
      APR
    • Manage your card online
    • Instant Decision in most cases
    • Online fraud protection
    • Balance transfers not allowed from Halifax
    • Balance transfers not allowed from Bank of Scotland

    Representative example: 17.9 % p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equivalent to 17.9 % APR representative (variable) based on a credit limit of £1,200.

    There is 0% on balance transfers for 13 months, with a 3% fee. Balance transfers apply to 95% of your credit limit, and the interest applied to balance transfers once the introductory period finishes is between 17.95% and 23.95% depending on your circumstances.

    There is 0% on purchases for 13 months. The typical annual rate is between 17.95% and 23.95% depending on your circumstances.

    No rewards are available with this card

    Typical APR is 17.9% (variable) which applies after any introductory offers. APR is between 17.9% and 23.9% depending on your circumstances.

  • Tesco-Clubcard-Credit-Card
    Card Rating: 5 out of 5
    • Tesco
      Clubcard Credit Card
    • 0 %
      9 month
      2.9% fee
    • 0%
      15 month
    • Clubcard
    • 16.9
      APR
    • Earn more Tesco Clubcard points
    • Spend your Clubcard vouchers
    • 0% commission travel money
    • 2.9% balance transfer fee

    Representative example: 16.9 % p.a. (variable) on card purchases. This is equivalent to 16.9 % APR representative (variable) based on a credit limit of £1,200.

    There is 0% on balance transfers for 9 months, with a 2.9% fee. Balance transfers apply to 95% of your credit limit, and the interest applied to balance transfers once the introductory period finishes is between 18.27% and 24.24% depending on your circumstances.

    There is 0% on purchases for 15 months. The typical annual rate is between 16.95% and 21.95% depending on your circumstances.

    Clubcard Credit Card doubles as a Tesco Clubcard. For every £4 spent on your card anywhere in the world you gain one Clubcard point, alongside standard points from Clubcard if used at Tesco.

    Typical APR is 16.9% (variable) which applies after any introductory offers. APR is between 16.9% and 21.9% depending on your circumstances.

Instant Decision Credit Cards

People who have a penchant for everything fast and spontaneous form the largest chunk of the market for instant decision credit cards today. These credit cards are just what their name indicates—they approve credit card applications within the fastest possible time and send the cards very quickly, much faster than standard applications. However, the rule of the thumb is that you always have to sacrifice something when you get something. The same applies with instant decision credit cards, also known as instant approval credit cards. Here when you get a speedy approval for your card, there are other things that you may have to bear with, such as a higher APR or interest rate.

How Do Instant Decision Credit Card Approvals Work?

In the good old days of snail mail—these cards were available back then too—instant decisions were not all that instant. You had to visit your bank or the card issuer’s office and fill out an application, explicitly stating that you wanted instant approval. Then all you could do is go home and wait. The letter of approval or rejection would arrive by traditional post, as soon as it could reach you. Even then the process wasn’t over. If you were approved, you needed to send another letter of approval for them to actually send you the card. They would send the card when they would get this letter. In all, the entire process would take somewhere around 10 days.

Today, this instant approval is considerably shortened because most people are dealing with the companies online. You fill out the form online and there itself you check a box that says that the company can send the card if you are approved. Hence, there is not much back and forth communication. If you are approved—an automated process that can be done instantaneously by their secure servers—the credit card is sent right away. With these expedited methods, today it is possible to get instant decision credit cards within barely 3 working days.

What Do You Need to Apply?

Though anyone can apply for instant decision credit cards, everyone is not approved. To be approved, you have to see whether you have good credit. People with excellent credit are accepted right away, though people with adverse credit may have to wait longer, till the card issuers do some secondary checks to gauge their paying capabilities. These cards are not meant for people with bad credit in most cases.

Apart from that, you need to show all your personal proofs. Your full name is required and they would want to see some proof of address of all residences where you have lived for the past 3 years. They will also want to see your employment details and may even call up your employer for reference and verification.

Benefits of Instant Decision Credit Cards

The main benefit of these cards is the speed with which you get them. Standard credit card applications may take as much as a month or more before you can actually see the card; however, with instant approval cards, you need to wait only 1/10th of that period to get your card.

If you have a need for some urgent money due to some emergency, etc., then these cards could be your savior. Even with all the delays and contingencies, you should be able to use your instant credit cards within 7 days of application, assuming that you are accepted.

Downsides of Instant Decision Credit Cards

They may sound fantastic, but instant decision credit cards come with their own pitfalls. While fantasizing about the speed with which you will get the credit card in your hands, you should not forget that these cards could be slapped with a higher APR and a higher rate of interest. You have to see whether you would want to pay more for as long as you have the card just because you want to get hold of it a few days earlier. If you are transferring money from another card to this one, you may also have to pay stiffer balance transfer fees.

At the same time, you should take a look at the rewards the card gives you. Things to look for are bonus points on purchases, cash back facilities, points for things such as travel and accommodation and so on.

So, in conclusion, instant decision credit cards have their uses and their drawbacks. Think of your situation carefully and then decide whether you want to go for these.

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