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Catalogue accounts — what they really are

Catalogue accounts are running credit agreements. The 'buy now, pay in 12 months' offers hide steep interest if you don't clear the balance in time.

Catalogue Debt3 min readReviewed July 2026

Catalogue accounts are regulated consumer credit agreements. Missing payments is treated the same way as missing a credit card payment: arrears letters, defaults and, eventually, debt collection.

Where they differ is in how quickly the balance grows. Interest is often 39.9% APR or more, and buy-now-pay-later purchases that aren't cleared on time can add backdated interest across an entire promotional period.

If you're falling behind, request an income and expenditure review from the provider and ask for interest to be frozen. Catalogue debt is unsecured and can be included in a Debt Management Plan, IVA or DRO on the usual terms.

General information, not personalised adviceThis article is written to inform. It isn't personalised debt or legal advice, and Debt Compass is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. A team member can talk you through the options and point you to a free debt help service or authorised insolvency practitioner before you decide on anything.