Credit Cards
How credit card debt builds up, how minimum payments really work and the options if repayments are becoming unmanageable.
Why minimum payments keep you in debt for longer
Minimum payments protect your credit file but barely touch the balance. Here's what's actually happening each month.
Read the full guideWhen it's time to stop using a credit card
Warning signs that a card has stopped being a tool and become a trap — plus practical next steps.
Read the full guideBalance transfers: when they help and when they hurt
A 0% balance transfer can buy you breathing room, but only if you can clear the balance before the deal ends.
Read the full guideWhat happens if you default on a credit card
The step-by-step process lenders follow when credit card payments stop, and where you can pause it.
Read the full guideRelated guides
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Personal Loans
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Short-term, high-cost credit designed to be repaid on your next payday. Rules changed in 2015 — knowing them is often the key to a refund.
2 guidesOverdrafts
Why bank overdrafts have quietly become one of the most expensive ways to borrow — and what to do if you can't clear the balance.
2 guidesStore Cards
Store cards look like store loyalty programmes but are credit agreements — often with the highest APRs on the high street.
2 guidesCatalogue Debt
Mail-order and online catalogues (Very, Littlewoods, JD Williams and others) act like credit accounts — and can accumulate quickly.
2 guidesBuy Now Pay Later
Klarna, Clearpay, Laybuy and PayPal Pay in 3 look interest-free — but missed payments and stacking multiple BNPL agreements can cause real harm.
2 guidesNot sure where to start? We'll walk you through it.
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