What we think of it

IF you're a 'nectar-collector' why haven't you applied for this Nectar Credit Card already?

With one of the best APR's we have seen on a reward credit card, this credit card is a good bet all round. But it is the handsome 1 nectar points per pound spent that makes it such a generous shopping partner.

Even better, using this card for purchases at any Nectar store or outlet gives you up to 4 points per pound, (including the points earned with your Nectar loyalty card).

With the card's APR looking pretty average, if you want to see a benefit from the rewards it offers, you should pay the balance off in full every month.

So, use this Nectar credit card primarily for spending, paying it off strictly each month, and you will soon be dripping in nectar points.

A little more detail

Rates and Fees

			Special Note..	Any good?
Typical APR		18.9% APR (variable) -	-
Balance Transfer Rate		18.9% p.a.	-
Balance Transfer Fee		2%	-
Cash Withdrawal Rate		27.9% p.a. (variable)	You may only make cash withdrawals equal to 20% of your credit limit at the time of withdrawal. also, you may only draw up to £200 cash in any 7 day period.
Cash Withdrawal Fee		3% (£3 minimum)	-
Annual Fee		None	-
Foreign Transaction Fee		2.73%	-

Rewards

			Special Note..	Any good?
Reward Type #1	-	Nectar Points	Earn up to 4 points for every £1 spent at participating Nectar retailers (including the points earned with your Nectar loyalty card), and earn 1 point for every £1 spent elsewhere. Nectar sponsors include Sainsbury's, Debenhams, BP, Thresher, Adams, Ford, Hertz, Brewers Fayre, Beefeater, TalkTalk, Dollond and Aitchison, Thomson and more.
Reward Type #2	-	Double Nectar Points	Earn double Nectar points during the first 3 months of account opening.
Reward Type #3	-	Nectar Bonus Points	5,000 bonus points earned when you spend at least £200 on goods or services within the first 3 months.

Extras

			Special Note..	Any good?
Online Account Management		Yes	-
Purchase Protection		Up to £20,000 per year	Purchases made with this card will be protected against theft or accidental damage for 90 days after the purchase date. Exclusions do apply.
Refund Protection		Up to £200 per item, up to £750 per year	Purchases will be covered in the event that you return an unused eligible item to the retailer, within 90 days of purchase and the retailer will not refund you. Exclusions do apply.
Internet Fraud Guarantee		Yes	-
Emergency Card Replacement		Yes	-
Other Extras	-	- 24 hour customer service - free additional cards	-

Payments

			Special Note..	Any good?
Credit Limit		£700 minimum	Credit limit may vary from person to person.
Interest Free Period		Up to 56 days	There is no interest free period on cash withdrawals, cheques or balance transfers.
Minimum Monthly Payment		2.5% (£5 minimum)	-
Allocation of Payments		Interest » Fees » Balance transfers » Purchases » Cash withdrawal	-
Default Charges		£10	-
Copy of Statement Fee		£5	-

Card Details

			Special Note..	Any good?
Online Application	-	Yes	Remember: always ensure you meet the application requirements before applying, as getting rejected can affect your credit score.
Card Type		Classic	-
Payment Company		American Express	-
Card Issuer		American Express	-
Card Advertiser		American Express	-

At a Glance

Typical APR	18.9% APR
Credit limit	£700 minimum
Balance transfer	18.9% p.a. (2% transfer fee)
Rewards	Nectar points
Interest free period	Up to 56 days
Annual fee	£0

	This card includes:
	Online Account Management
	Purchase Protection Insurance
	Internet Fraud Guarantee
	It is best suited for:
	Nectar reward collectors who spend a lot, but can easily pay off the balance in full each month.
	Wait! Only apply if you are...
Aged 18 or over Have a permanent UK home address Have a current UK bank or building society account Have no CCJ's for non-payment of debt If self-employed, you have been working for over 1 year Have a household income of over £20,000 - your income plus your partner's income

More about this card...

The card's generous reward scheme of 1 nectar point for every 25p spent on it (at Nectar affiliated stores - 1 point per pound everywhere else) is made even better with the whopping 5000 Nectar points you'll receive when you spend £200 within the first 3 months.

This 5000 nectar point bonus alone is enough to make the application worth your while, and you'll even be earning double Nectar points during the first 3 months too.

Great for spending
Rewards aside, as with any American Express card, the Nectar credit card is packed full of cardholder services and benefits.

The Nectar credit card offers purchase protection of up to £20,000 a year, with purchases made using the card being protected against theft or accidental damage for 90 days after you buy them.

There is also refund protection up to £200 per item, which means that if your retailer gets sticky and refuses to refund you, American Express will step in! Note that there is a limit of £750 per year on these payouts.

If you enjoy a bit of online retail therapy this card could be your new best friend.

You can safely submit the details without the fear of your card details being swiped: you will not be held responsible for any unauthorised purchases made on the card.

Avoid the ATM
While the Nectar credit card is superbly suited to shopping - both online and in the high street, especially at Nectar affiliated outlets - it is not suited for cash withdrawals.

Like most other cards, drawing cash from a wall will land you with a rather hefty interest rate on the amount withdrawn.

Not only that, but the 'allocation of payments' lists cash withdrawals last. This means that you will need to pay off all your other debts on the card first, before any payments can be made to offset the cash withdrawal balance.

So in short, spend all you like on the card, but forget about using it for ready cash.

Final word
The Nectar credit card cannot be recommended more if you are an avid collector of Nectar points.

The generous initial bonus coupled with the up to 4 points to the pound reward scheme will see your pile of Nectar points rise tremendously.

So long as you remember to pay your balance off in full each month (and never use the card to withdraw cash) you'll be foolish not to apply.