The reason? Many of the most tempting offers, such as those from Virgin Money and MBNA, whilst they appear to come from different brands, are actually issued and underwritten by the same provider. So if you already have a Virgin Money card and want to transfer the balance over to a tempting MBNA card, you can’t because you’re considered to be an existing customer.

It’s a catch-22 situation that makes the usual ‘balance transfer shuffle’ more of a stumble, and could mean that you miss out on some very tasty transfer deals. Similarly cards issued by Lloyds TSB, are now all part of the same group as the Halifax Bank of Scotland, the new Lloyds Banking Group so if you have a credit card with any of these you would be excluded from balance transfer promotions from any other institution in the group.

NatWest, Coutts & Co and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are also similarly linked.

If a credit card excludes balance transfers from other credit cards from within related or affiliated companies, we always try and mention it in our comparison tables.

But what’s worse about this situation is the knock-on effect it could have on your financial position and your credit status. Michelle Slade, spokesman for Moneyfacts explained how it could actually impact on your credit rating if you get rejected.

Michelle said

“Customers should check they don’t already have a card from the same parent group as if they are rejected, the negative mark on their credit file could affect them getting another card elsewhere.”

So not only could you be missing out on a great deal, but a rejection based on the fact that you are already an existing customer could actually make it more difficult for you to get an alternative deal elsewhere, locking you in even tighter to your original, interest-heavy credit card.

The credit card lottery

With so many offers on the table, it can be a bit of a lottery choosing the right deal. Fat, 22-month interest-free periods may seem tempting at first, but beware the hidden small print. You have to have a pristine credit rating to take advantage of such a juicy offer, and the balance transfer fees could be a nasty shock to your bank account too. There’s also the matter of how much of your outstanding debt you can actually transfer – most of these 0% offers only allow you to transfer up to 90% or 95% of your credit limit.

So think carefully before you choose an offer that would max out your limit in one go – you’ll could be turned down which will once again put a negative mark on your credit rating. Of course you never know when you apply for  a new credit card what credit limit if any you’ll be offered if you’re accepted.

The (credit) cards are also stacked in the lender’s favour, so watch out for ‘too good to be true’ deals. Lenders only have to give 51% of their customers the advertised rate to comply with Consumer Credit Directive legislation, which means you could be staring down the barrel of a big APR at the end of your 0% period.

As always, the advice is to shop around and compare credit cards before you switch. Do your research to ensure that your prospective 0% balance transfer card isn’t part of your existing card’s parent Group. While this may seem unfair to many, the simple fact is that it’s a lender’s market out there, and you may have to jump through a few fiscal hoops to get the best deal.

Are you excluded from the top credit card offers? is a post from: Cardchoices

The rise has been fuelled by increased debt in the financial sector, as people try to ‘borrow their way out of debt’. Despite media reports on how belts are being universally tightened by cash-strapped consumers, the reality is that there is still a massive amount of debt that needs to be brought under control. And according to McKinsey’s report, it will take us until 2020 to return to pre-2003 levels. The UK press and the credit card issuers continue to report that credit card borrowing is slowly coming down, but other areas of borrowing are still groaning with debt.

Really, it is a global crisis

But it’s not just the UK that’s facing a hard, uphill slog towards financial solvency. McKinsey’s 60-page report compared major economies since 2008, and concluded that:

“Overall, the United Kingdom needs to steer a difficult course: reduce government deficits and encourage household debt reduction – without limiting GDP growth.” This statement may be regarded by some as a little trite – it’s all very well saying that household debt has to be reduced, but how do we do that without impacting on GDP growth?

The economy needs consumers to be spending in order to grow, and the truth is that people just do not have the spare capital to fritter away right now. So should we all be boosting the economy by spending on our credit cards? Surely that would compound the personal debt situation even further?

This catch-22 situation is going to be a tricky one to navigate out of. Every country is desperately trying to cut their levels of debt. It’s not just a 3rd world concern now – even the most powerful countries on earth are facing debt crises. But how they tackle that problem dictates the future winners and losers over the next 10 years.

Bring me your huddled debtors…

The US seems to be leading the way, making the most rapid progress on its debt situation compared to its peers. That doesn’t mean that everything in the ‘Land of the Free’ is rosy – just that they seem to be keeping their heads a little further above water than the rest of us. US households have managed to reduce their debt to disposable income ratio by 15%, while in the UK consumer borrowing has edged slightly up.

According to McKinsey, every economy is still only in the first phase of deleveraging, and that we still have a long way to go.

Susan Lund, director of research at McKinsey, sums it up succinctly:-

“Even in countries that have begun to adopt plans to reduce budget deficits…they’re being held back by the lack of strong economic growth. The focus at this point should really be on getting the private sector debt under control.”

So it looks like consumers in the UK are going to have to cut a couple of extra holes in their belts and continue to tighten them for a while yet. As long as lenders recognise that they will need to be a little patient with their customers, and that consumers don’t start relying on credit cards to get them through tough times again, there is light at the end of the tunnel, albeit a very faint one.

Are we doomed to wander the corridors of austerity for another decade? is a post from: Cardchoices

So is the reluctance among credit card holders to use their cards finally lifting, or is it a sign that there is still very little hard cash around and consumers are simply falling back on credit? It seems that the latter may be true. One in ten of those questioned said that they will need to use their credit card to pay utility and outstanding Christmas bills. Almost four in ten say that their credit card spending will increase by up to £200 this month.

There are those who are using their credit cards for luxury purchases, such as holidays and hitting the January sales. But the majority of card users admit that the increased cost of January will mean that they have to budget more carefully during the rest of the year. 6% of those surveyed say there is a real concern that they will be seriously overstreched because of an increase in debt.

Commentators are concerned that it marks a slide back to the ‘bad old days’ when the consequences of credit were not considered carefully enough by borrowers, and that it could lead to greater debt problems later on in the year for some consumers.

Balancing the credit card ‘books’

Apparently, the credit crunch isn’t over, then. So what can concerned consumers do to ‘quantitatively ease’ their own financial situation? The advice is to check and check again on those interest charges, additional fees and other costs that can quickly mount up to make a debt unmanageable. January usually sees a flood of new 0% interest card offers and balance transfer options. If your credit rating is good, act now and balance transfer over to the top 0% offer, or even consider a low rate for life card.

The consumer pundits also recommend that if you have a number of debts spread across different cards, a wise move might be to consolidate those smaller debts onto one ’0% on balance transfers’ card to reduce the amount of interest you may be paying.

It’s time to balance the books. If you are facing a bleak January and, no matter how reluctantly, you’re forced to break out the credit cards, don’t panic. It doesn’t have to inevitably lead to greater levels of personal debt. A little forethought and financial management could result in a far more secure 2012, free of sleepless nights worrying about mounting interest rates or dreading the arrival of the postman.

Consumers have learned to manage their finances far more effectively over the last three years, and certainly lessons have been well and truly learned since the last credit-induced recession. There’s no reason to worry that a little extra spending in January will send your finances into freefall, as long as you are aware of the consequences and how to minimise their impact.

Credit card usage up in January 2012 is a post from: Cardchoices

Although the long-haul destinations like Sri Lanka may have the benefit of low resort costs, it’s the price of air travel that could dictate just how many people are willing to travel outside the Eurozone. However Government pledges to outlaw credit card surcharges so far seem to be falling on deaf ears with the low-cost airlines, and so many will think twice before traveling in Europe just because they don’t want to be ripped off.

Viva España…

Spain has moved back up the holiday destination league, making it a compelling choice for cash-strapped holidaymakers. Post Office Travel Money suggests that, thanks to the pound’s performance against the desperately sick Euro and the fact that resort prices in the Costa del Sol are now 40% lower than five years ago, bargain hunters looking for a cheap family holiday with guaranteed sunshine will be flocking to the Spanish coast.

The big question mark is Turkey. Last year it saw a surge in visitors, but after a poor 2011 and a surprising rise of almost 21% in local costs, this previously popular destination could see numbers slipping this year.

When is a credit card surcharge not really a credit card surcharge?

The big debate over surcharges has captured the attention of travel pundits, and the issue seems to be scaling up to a full scale war between the airlines and travel companies, and the Treasury – the outcome of which could determine the real winners and losers in the battle of the low-cost carriers. Easyjet, one of the UK’s most popular budget airlines, has decided to re-label its £8 booking fee for customers paying with credit cards to a flat £9 ‘administration’ fee, while Ryanair has remained defiant over its £6 one-way charge per passenger levied on flights.

There has been a great deal of controversy over how the airlines are side-stepping the new government guidelines on fairer charges, and it seems that rather than making real changes to the system, the airlines are choosing to ‘redefine’ the terminology they use and so dodging the issue altogether. Ryanair has a menu of 15 different types of fees, including fees for reserved seating and priority boarding, while Easyjet prefers to keep it simple (as is the airline’s wont) with the flat-rate £9 fee.

For customers looking for straightforward, no ‘hidden extras’ charges, it could be Easyjet that wins this particular round. It’s not just a matter of fairness, but also of transparency, and if UK travellers are going to be ditching the ‘staycation’ and heading back abroad this year, they want to know up front that they’re not being ripped off before they even leave the airport. Ryanair’s defiance could cost them dearly, as savvy consumers hunt around for the best deals that don’t include a credit card surcharge, whatever name it’s given.

Destination Europe for UK holidaymakers is a post from: Cardchoices

According to the report, British shoppers are embracing new technology at a faster pace than many other countries. A whopping 77% of those questioned prefer to buy leisure goods such as CDs, DVDs, books and games online (as opposed to in stores), compared to 65% globally.

This gradual but marked switch in shopping habits is playing nicely into the hands of the credit card issuers, who are seeing a surge in the number of credit card transactions. Where consumers would often have paid in shops or department stores using cash or cheque they’re now using the credit card because they’re shopping for the goods online.

When it comes to online banking however, it seems that British consumers are a little more reluctant to type in their account details, for fear of phishing or cyber attacks. There’s still a way to go in persuading the public that online banking is a safe alternative to traditional methods and that their fears over privacy and data security are relatively unfounded. But the report suggests that we are increasingly dependent on modern technology to dictate our everyday buying habits.

What do other consumers think?

Social media platforms are also becoming increasingly important in shaping the way people shop online. The survey questioned 9,600 people aged between 16 and 65 in 31 countries. The vast majority of those asked said that they looked at social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as online reviews, before making a purchasing decision. It seems that the retailers need to place much more importance on this growing phenomenon if they are to persuade an increasingly savvy buying public to purchase their goods.

The biggest online buy was apps for mobile devices, with 88% of respondents saying they had downloaded an app onto their mobile. In the UK, a massive 74% said that they were more likely to buy flights and holidays online – an ominous note for high street travel agents and possibly one of the factors involved in the recent announcement by Thomas Cook to close many of its high street outlets.

Every cloud has a silver lining

But while we’re happy to buy everything from holidays in Turkey to the Christmas turkey online, we’re still suspicious in the UK when it comes to storing our data in the ether. Consumers don’t like the idea of their credit card details floating ‘out there’ in the Cloud, with the majority preferring to store their data on their computer hard drive rather than online. Surprisingly only 27% of UK respondents said that they had used mobile banking in the last six months, compared to 52% globally.

This year’s post-Christmas sale bonanza is also set to benefit online traders and credit card companies rather than the high street, despite huge price reductions that try to tempt shoppers out to the physical stores. Enthralled by the prospect of sitting at home with a cup of tea and shopping online rather than face the crowds, it could be that we’ve reached a tipping point in the way we shop. It is going to be very difficult for the high streets to force any kind of comeback, when online shopping has been so widely embraced by the buying public.

Credits card companies benefit from new technology is a post from: Cardchoices

Proving that credit card fraud doesn’t just happen online or is only perpetuated by criminal gangs, hundreds of Government employees have been caught out spending thousands of pounds of taxpayer’s money by misusing Government credit cards. Four have been jailed after a catalogue of transactions were uncovered amounting to nearly £21,000 in the past five years.

Credit card abuse

Five officials at the MoD were prosecuted for spending £4,030 on furniture, £80 on ‘picture framing materials’, £3,786 on flights and £1,600 on a laptop and other electrical goods. This was just the tip of a very big iceberg – over the period there were a further 140 cases of credit card abuse, totalling over a quarter of a million pounds. Whitehall refused to release details of these, citing data protection clauses.

Doughnuts and flying lessons

What’s even more surprising are the charges that were made to Government issued credit cards that actually qualify as legitimate. From stays in Five Star hotels to computer games, flying lessons and even doughnuts, it seems that the mandarins of Whitehall enjoy putting purchases on their company cards.

The total figures, published as part of the government’s attempts at a more ‘transparent’ system, show that staff and quangos spent a colossal £342 million on official procurement cards in the past 12 months. Astonishingly, that figure actually represents a fall of £45million compared to the previous year’s extravagances.

However, the rules seem to say that as long as an item of expenditure can be justified, it can be added to the bill to the public purse. However some, in particular some of the luxury hotel bills for the Trade & Investment delegation, are on the extreme side, particularly for a Government that is making deep cuts in public spending with a raft of austerity measures. Spending £13,689 for a stay at a Four Star hotel overlooking Copacabana Beach in Brazil doesn’t seem particularly austere. And why, exactly, would the Ministry of Justice spend nearly a thousand pounds on Avon cosmetics?

When will they learn?

With public confidence in the trustworthiness of those in public office at an all time low, when will MP’s and Civil Servants understand that the impoverished general public find it totally unacceptable for them to travel First Class on trains and planes,or to stay in luxury hotels at the tax payer’s expense?

At a time when we’re all being told to keep a check on our expenditure and many people are cutting down on basic essentials (never mind the luxuries) to make ends meet, it seems that Whitehall isn’t following its own advice. It’s all too easy to ‘put something on expenses’ without thinking about the wider consequences. Not only are these legitimate charges eating into the public purse, but they send out completely the wrong message to a population that’s currently bound by economic fear, cuts and concerns about a double-dip recession on the horizon.

In the same way that ordinary credit card users are having to ‘take-stock’ of their post Christmas finances, perhaps Whitehall should take a long, hard look at its credit card bill and start reining in some of the more frivolous expenditure. After all, do they really need to spend £54.30 on Krispy Kreme Doughnuts or ‘go antiquing’ with £868.50 of taxpayer’s money?

Credit card fraud still rife in the corridors of power is a post from: Cardchoices

CPP watched its share price plummet by 25% once the investigation was announced. This was compounded by a statement from the company saying that their profits in 2012 would be ‘significantly lower’ as a result of the investigation. The irony is that there is nothing wrong with the service that the CPP has been providing. The FSA’s investigation is a result of concerns that some bolt-on insurances that are included in some CPP packages may have been mis-sold. It shows that something as ethereal as identity protection is just as prone to mis-selling as extended warranties on washing machines or purchase protection insurance on new credit cards. But the knock-on effect could be more serious.

Identity crisis

CPP has delayed the launch of a new identity protection product because potential business partners (including most of the main credit card lenders) have made it very clear that they don’t want to associate themselves with the company until the outcome of the investigation is clear. This includes some very big names such as Barclaycard, which has suspended selling some CPP products. Their partners have also turned their backs on the company’s new ID theft product, leaving CPP out in the cold at a time when the financial climate is already decidedly chilly.

The potential for compensation demands and further action as a result of the FSA’s investigation wiped a sizeable chunk off the company’s share price. Since March 2011, CPP’s share price has halved, and the company is worried that continuing uncertainty and a long, drawn-out investigation could do irreparable harm to both the reputation and the finances of the organisation. There are a number of remedies available from the FSA from a reprimand through to potentially heavy penalties, but until the regulator makes a final decision, the company is in the dark.

Operating profit is expected to be particularly hard hit in 2012 as renewal rates, which provide the company with their highest margins, are affected. However, CPP is trying to weather this storm and is confident that once all the bru-ha-ha has died down, organic revenue growth should be around 6%, boosted by robust sales of credit card and mobile phone insurance.

Everyone is hoping for a speedy resolution to the situation, especially the board at CPP. However, the FSA is notorious for moving at a snails pace, and until the outcome has been decided CPP shares, currently trading on around seven times forecast earnings for 2012, will remain flat. The unfortunate outcome for consumers is that CPP’s reputation has taken as much of a battering as its financial books, and as a result a number of innovative new credit card and identity protection products will remain in the wings until CPP can convince the credit card issuers that it’s playing by the rules.

Credit card insurer under investigation by FSA is a post from: Cardchoices

In a year where many consumer bodies as well as journalists have fought crusades to highlight the unfairness of the often hidden charges, it’s taken Government action to finally see the writing on the wall. With consumer morale at its lowest point in three years, the move will be well received by the public. But the beleaguered travel and airline industry clearly won’t be celebrating the news of a further dent in its margins, just before the start of its key new-year business period.

Although the Government announcement is good news for the consumer, the end of excessive card surcharging was already in sight as new European rules due to come into force in 2014 already state that only the true cost of processing card payments could be charged to customers.

Criticism of the dubious practice has escalated over the last three months as it’s become apparent that many companies are deliberately hiding the credit card surcharges and only revealing them at the end of complex buying processes. The Government has stated that the surcharges as well as being unjustified also stifle competition as they prevent consumers easily comparing prices between retailers.

When interviewed on the Today Program on BBC Radio 4, Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mark Hoban said

“It’s important that consumers know up front what charges they pay.

“What we have announced today will give consumers the transparency they need.

“I think consumers do feel ripped off and we want them to be able to shop around.”

The UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) recently calculated that travellers spent over £300m on card surcharges buying tickets in the UK airline industry alone in 2010. Arch villain of the surcharging airlines Ryanair said in response to the government’s announcement that it only charged an administration fee which covered the cost of running its website, it didn’t charge a credit card surcharge per se.

One senior Treasury source went onto say

“We want this to go as wide as we can to prevent excessive charges.”

Under the new plans, retailers won’t be allowed to make unwarranted payment surcharges. However, they will be able to make a small charge to cover the actual cost they incur for processing a particular form of payment.

Under current charging structures, this is likely to cap credit card charges at a maximum of 2 per cent per transaction, and debit card charges at about 20p per payment. Airlines, travel firms and online ticket agencies (and recently many other sectors of retailing) regularly charge 3 or 4 per cent for credit card payments.

Self-styled consumer’s champion Which? spearheaded the campaign against surcharging with a Super-complaint to the OFT earlier this year.

Executive Director of Which? Richard Lloyd, applauded the news and immediately called for companies making the detested charges to act on it instantly to eliminate them.

Richard said

“The Government’s decision to ban rip-off debit and credit card surcharges is a huge victory for consumers. More than 50,000 people supported the Which? campaign to see these fees stamped out.

“This announcement goes further than the Office of Fair Trading’s proposals, finally putting an end to these unfair and excessive charges.

“Given that airline passengers alone pay more than £265,000 a day in card surcharges, businesses shouldn’t drag their feet over this. While the law will come into force at the end of 2012, we want companies to be upfront and fair over card charges today.’

Chancellor to axe rip-off credit card surcharging is a post from: Cardchoices

If we could be honest with ourselves, we all know already if we want to look buff we need to do more and eat less.

We can of course apply the same principle of festive restraint to our personal finances, and try to prevent that post-Christmas bulge in our credit card statement. Watch out for these festive financial temptations that will be hard to work off in the New Year!

Credit card temptation No. 1 – The ‘Perfect’ Home

Your siblings are coming to stay in a few days. Your Christmas decorations are years old. Your settee is saggy, your curtains shapeless and your carpets have seen better days. You see loads of 0% interest credit deals on offer, isn’t it so tempting to put it all right just in time for Christmas.

Cut the credit calories

Christmas is about friends and family, not stunning interior design. Each time you apply for credit, the lender will search your credit report. Don’t forget that leaves an imprint that other lenders will see. If you make several applications in a short period, this will ring alarm bells that you’re living beyond your means, or that these applications are fraudulent. You may well be hurting your credit score as well as your New Year bank balance.

Credit card temptation No. 2 – The post ‘in-laws’ New Year get-away

You’re exhausted and stressed from the run-up to the big day. 3 days with your Mother-in-Law’s fashion tips, and all that washing up to consider. A weekend in a health-spa or a shopping trip to the City sales with a night a luxury hotel is just what you need.

Cut the credit calories

Christmas and New Year breaks are considerably more expensive than taking a break when the holidays are over and everyone else has gone back to work. If this appeals, you may want to set aside a little of your Christmas budget and enjoy a post New Year indulgence instead. You’ll deserve it, just look to get value for money.

Credit temptation No. 3 – The kids

Several surveys have shown that sadly children’s happiness at Christmas is directly linked to material goodies, and whether Father Christmas brings them what they want. This is usually something that pushes the budget, so how do you resist their imploring little faces?

Cut the credit calories

Similar surveys show that kids also love family outings and playing outside. So put away your wallet and go for a snowy walk in the woods. Cosy- up with a home-made picnic, and an old-fashioned flask of tea with fresh-baked biscuits. You can always tell them that this is how people spent Christmas when your parents were children!

Credit temptation No 4 – The discount deals

You’ve already got a great pile of presents and the assistant at the check-out suggests a store card will get you a TEN % discount if you sign up for one today. You’re going to be saving money, so why not?

Cut the credit calories

If you really need a new card, think about it first. Do an analysis of your spending profile. Do you want cashback, rewards or simply low fees and interest? Store cards rarely offer as good a rate of interest as mainstream credit cards.

You’re likely to stand a much better chance of qualifying for the market leading deals if you tidy up your credit report first, so go through it carefully – look for accounts that have been duplicated, look for incorrect information or inconsistencies and take them up with the relevant lender. (Remember it can take 2 – 3 months for information to be updated on your credit file from when you address any incorrect information with a lender or utility company).

Close unused accounts and register to vote at your current address (lenders use the electoral roll to check that you live where you say you do). An Experian Credit Score can help you see how an application might fare – you can get it for FREE with a 30-day trial of CreditExpert*.

Credit temptation No.5 – The new credit card

So many gifts to buy, so many parties to dress for and potentially such a big credit card bill! Why not just take out a new credit card and pay for it all later?

Cut the credit calories

New research shows that if you borrow just £500 on a credit card with an average 18.12% interest rate and make only minimum repayments, it could take ten years to pay off. One quick way to see whether you could end up in this trap is to take a look at your credit report. This personal history of your cards, loans, mortgage and repayment record will give you a snapshot of what you already owe and shows whether you can afford to take on more debt. It’s FREE to see your Experian credit report with a 30-day trial of CreditExpert*.

7 days to go, which is more full, you or your credit card? is a post from: Cardchoices

There have been stark warnings lately about how inflation is set to rise even further next year, and the current Eurozone crisis will also have a direct impact on Britain’s finances.

So how can you combat inflation and keep your outgoings at a more manageable level?

Strangely enough, the answer could lie in your wallet, by using your credit cards in a smart and savvy way. That doesn’t mean piling on the debt in a ‘buy now, pay later’ way (that’s what got many people into trouble in the first place). It’s about taking back control, shopping around for the best credit card deals and taking advantage of the offers card lenders use to tempt in new customers.

Free money!

Yes, you did read that right. Using a cashback credit card wisely could effectively mean you earn as you spend. The one proviso with cashback cards is you must avoid paying interest. i.e. only spend as much as you can afford to pay back in full at the end of the month. If you end up paying interest, this will cancel out any positive financial effect of the cashback!

Cashback credit cards are exactly the same as ordinary cards. You don’t have to use them at specific retailers (unlike some store cards) to get cashback on your purchases. To see which cashback card will give you the best return, you’ll need to analyse your own spending profile and look at our best cashback card deals.

Points mean prizes…

The alternative to cashback is a rewards credit card, where you earn points for every pound you spend. These points can then be exchanged for gift vouchers, or account credit. To make the most of points-based cards, analyse your outgoings and see where you spend the majority of your money. For example, if you have a large family and a big weekly food bill, look for a card that rewards you with points that can be used in your regular store such as Tesco or Sainsbury’s.

Points-based or rewards cards often provide a bonus for spending over a certain amount in the first three months. But before you get too carried away, make sure that

a) you can afford to pay back the amount you spend (if you end up paying interest, it will cancel out the benefit of any rewards)

b) the rewards merit the extra expenditure.

Pumping up the points

Less common but worth tracking down if you spend a lot of money on petrol or diesel every week are cards that offer a cash/fuel rebate. Inflation has a huge effect on the prices at the pumps, and with petrol rapidly heading towards the £1.50/litre barrier, every penny really does count. These cards work in the same way as the normal reward cards, but could make a huge difference to your monthly fuel costs if you’re a high-mileage driver. Check out for instance the AA Credit Card which offers double rewards points on motoring spend (including fuel). These points can be converted back to credit on the card.

The most important thing to remember is to never borrow more than you can afford to pay back, and to keep looking out for deals that suit your lifestyle. By playing it smart, you can beat the Chancellor at his own game and dodge those rising inflation figures.

Beat inflation with the latest credit cards is a post from: Cardchoices