Store Cards

FLA issues new measures to benefit store card customers

Retailers that offer store cards are to be bound to a raft of new measures designed to help customers manage their purchases and debts.

Card protection insurance can be covered by other insurance policies you may have

The pros and cons of card protection insurance

Card protection insurance can apply to credit cards, debit cards or store cards but many experts believe section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act already provides enough cover.

Lower store card activity is common after high street sales in the New Year period

Store cards see slower high street sales

High street sales of store cards were lower in February than is usually expected, even though it often sees a lull in consumer credit lending.

FLA reveals 'cautious spending'

The Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) has revealed consumers are continuing to show caution in terms of spending.

Consumers 'should ask about inactivity fees'

Inactivity fees are increasingly being charged as part of a range of measures to soften the blow of regulations that will give customers a fairer deal and cost providers up to £300 million per year.

The government wants to give regulators more power to tackle "excessive" card charges.

Government takes aim at "excessive" credit card rates

The government plans to give financial regulators more power to define and ban "excessive" interest rates for credit and store cards as part of its strategy to improve consumer protection in the UK.

Many retailers are expected to replace store cards with co-branded credit cards.

Expert backs "demise" of store cards

Consumers should not be "shedding any tears" over the apparent decline of store cards, as most levied "hugely-inflated" interest rates and were widely considered to be a rip-off, an analyst has claimed.

R3 has called for a ban on the sale of store cards at checkouts.

Insolvency body calls for ban on store card sales

Insolvency trade body R3 has called for a ban on retail staff being allowed to sell store cards to consumers.

Credit and store card companies have been criticised in the past for increasing customer credit limits without their knowledge

Credit card industry offers to ban unsolicited credit limit increases

The credit card industry has bowed to pressure from the government to limit the number of people offered credit limit increases.

Which? wants high street stores to work more closely with credit reference agencies

Alarm raised over store card policy

Fresh concerns have been raised over store cards after a debt-ridden graduate was able to obtain £2,750 worth of credit in high street shops.

Axa claims up to a quarter of people hide debt from their family

Quarter of Brits hide debt from family

Almost a quarter (24%) of people hide debt from their family, new research claims.

Store cards: Easy credit but not worth it

Store card interest rates rumble up

Interest rates on store cards are rising in the push for profits on the high street up to Christmas.

Newcastle BS scoops finance accolade

Newcastle Building Society has picked up an award for its range of prepaid cards.

Don't trip up on store cards this Christmas

Store card rates rise for Christmas

As stores start to stock Christmas ranges, shoppers are warned store card rates are also rising.

Tory Osborne aims to taek on debt by hitting store cards

Tories aim to clamp down on high store card rates

The Conservatives are aiming to stop store cards from charging excessive interest rates.

Store card late payment fees slashed

A leading store card provider is to cut its fees for late bill payment and breaking card limits by over £10 after pressure from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

Watchdog raps 'irresponsible' catalogue credit ads

Adverts for cheap credit aimed at young women have been condemned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Credit Cards: Store card interest hit Christmas costs

Store card Christmas costs Brits £2.8bn

Britain's 15.9 million store card users are paying 62 per cent more interest by using store cards rather than credit cards

Credit cards: John Lewis tops satisfaction

John Lewis tops credit card satisfaction

The credit card from the John Lewis/Waitrose group has topped a new customer satisfaction poll, with 84 per cent of John Lewis card customers very satisfied.

Store cards become safer for consumers

From today, May 1st 2007, it will become safer and easier to take advantage of deals offered by store cards.

A short time sorting out finances could save hundreds

How to make the most of your money in 2007

Spending just a small amount of time to find the best credit deals could save hundreds of pounds, new research from Which? finds.

Store card users could save hundreds of pounds every year with a debt consolidation loan

Christmas store card warning for cash-strapped Brits

One in four Brits have used a store card to help finance their Christmas purchases but this could cost them an extra £1,500, Alliance & Leicester is warning.

Switching to a cheap credit card could save over £305 a year

Product switches could save £5,200 in 2007

Switching to more competitive financial products could net consumers more than £5,000 over the next 12 months, new figures from a price comparison site show.

A "significant minority" of shoppers are being caught out by the high-interest rates of store cards

One in three unaware of store card interest rates

A third of people who take out a store card have no idea of the interest charged with one in 16 also "sleepwalking into danger" by not clearing their balance.