What we think of it...

WITH excellent introductory rates, purchase and fraud protection, extensive shopping and travel discounts and full travel insurance the Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card is certainly no one-trick pony.

It's an outstanding all-rounder; a perfect prestige credit card to enjoy life's luxuries with.

Fantastic for the dedicated shopper, it offers savings and discounts and a lengthy interest free period on purchases. It even ticks the right boxes for the cautious consumer, putting your mind at ease by supplying purchase delivery cover and fraud protection.

The Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card doesn't stop there, it wants to please everyone. Travellers are offered numerous savings and discounts when booking their holidays as well as real travel insurance (not just the usual travel accident insurance offered by most cards) and worldwide assistance.

The Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card's amazing balance transfer offer is ideal for anyone wanting to shift an outstanding balance to a 0% rate for a long amount of time.

A little more detail

Rates and Fees

			Special Note..	Any good?
Typical APR		14.9% APR (variable) -	-
Introductory Purchase Rate		0% for 3 months	Payments are applied towards introductory balance transfers before introductory purchases.
Balance Transfer Rate		0% for 14 months On amounts up to £5,000	On amounts up to £5,000. Balances must be transferred within 60 days of account opening. Payments are applied towards introductory rates first, with the longest duration offer being repaid first.
Balance Transfer Fee		2.9%	-
Cash Withdrawal Rate		27.9% p.a. (variable)	-
Cash Withdrawal Fee		2.5% (£2.5 minimum)	This fee is also charged on cheques.
Annual Fee		None	-
Foreign Transaction Fee		2.75%	-

Rewards

			Special Note..	Any good?
Reward Type #1	-	Travel Service	Get great holiday deals with the Barclaycard Travel Service.
Reward Type #2	-	Savings & Discounts	Get savings & discounts with Thomas Cook, Avis, Hilton, Emirates, Center Parcs, Buyagift.com, Laithwaites and Domino's.

Extras

			Special Note..	Any good?
Online Account Management		Yes	-
Purchase Delivery Protection		Yes	- Covers brand new goods bought with this card if they don't arrive or are delivered damaged and you are unable to resolve the issue with the supplier. - Covers goods bought online, over the telephone and in the high street when your purchase is delivered.
Fraud Protection		Yes	-
Travel Insurance		Single trip travel insurance	- When you book your holiday (between 2 and 21 days long) through the Barclaycard Travel Service. - Up to 5 friends and family members travelling with you will also be covered. - Exclusions, terms and conditions apply.
Worldwide Assistance		Yes	- Free help if anything goes wrong while you're abroad. - Barclaycard can provide help with legal and medical emergencies, arranging flights and transport quickly, interpretation, sending messages and lost or stolen documents.
Emergency Card Replacement		Yes	Also includes an emergency cash advance of up to £1,000 a week (subject to available funds).
Other Extras	-	- Barclaycard secure - Identity Protection Service	-
Optional Extras	-	- Card protection - Payment protection - Everyday cover - Identity theft protection	These are not free services, but are available for this card.

Payments

			Special Note..	Any good?
Credit Limit		£250 minimum	Maximum credit limit is subject to status.
Interest Free Period		Up to 56 days	There is no interest free period on cash withdrawals, cheques or balance transfers outside of the introductory period.
Minimum Monthly Payment		2.25% (£5 minimum)	-
Allocation of Payments		Promotional Balances (longest duration first) » Interest and Charges » Standard Balance » Cash Balance	-
Default Charges		£12	-
Copy of Statement Fee		£3	-

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		Platinum	-
Payment Company		Visa	-
Card Issuer		Barclays Bank	-
Card Advertiser		Barclaycard	-

At a Glance

Typical APR	14.9% APR
Credit limit	£250 minimum
Intro purchases	0% for 3 months
Balance transfer	0% for 14 months On amounts up to £5,000 (2.9% transfer fee)
Discounts	Travel and shopping
Interest free period	Up to 56 days
Annual fee	£0

	This card includes:
	Online Account Management
	Purchase Delivery Insurance
	Fraud Protection
	Travel Insurance and Services
	It is best suited for:
	Anyone looking for an amazing prestige credit card. Also great for lengthy balance transfers.
	Wait! Only apply if you are...
Aged 21 or over UK resident Have a good credit history Have a regular income Do not already hold a Barclaycard Earn at least £10,000 per annum

More about this card...

The Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card is a fantastic all-rounder and one of the best prestige credit cards we have seen.

Great for balance transfers
The Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card offers a fantastic 0% on balance transfers for 14 months. Whilst your transfers will be subject to a transfer fee of 2.9%, this credit card offers a great deal for moving existing card balances.

There is a £5,000 limit on balance transfers qualifying for the 0% rate, and balances must be transferred within 60 days of account opening.

Or a useful introductory purchase period...
There is also a 0% rate on all of your purchases for three months.

However, it's important to remember that if you are going to make use of the balance transfer deal, you should transfer your balance and then hide the card away until you've repaid the balance or the 14-month introductory period has ended.

Due to the 'allocation of payments' terms and conditions, if you spend on this card - while also making use of the 0% balance transfer deal - you'll not be able to repay any purchases until you've first cleared your 0% balance transfer.

If you do not intend to transfer a balance to this card, then you can feel free to make good use of the 0% purchase offer.

Used carefully, the 0% introductory periods on this card can certainly work to your advantage.

Rewards for shoppers
The Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card is truly geared towards shopping.

The Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card entices shoppers with a special introductory purchase rate (0% for three months) but the benefits don't stop there.

A huge variety of savings and discounts are available in an abundance of places, including Buyagift.com, Laithwaites and even Dominos Pizza.

Reassuringly this credit card also offers delivery cover on any new products that are bought on the high street, over the phone or online. So if your new sofa doesn't arrive or turns up damaged (and the issue can't be resolved with the supplier) then Barclaycard will refund up to £5,000.

Fraud protection offers safer shopping for customers, even online. The Barclaycard Secure service allows you to set up a password system, that requires you to enter the password to validate any purchases that you make online with your Barclaycard, giving you extra peace of mind that you are protected against any unauthorised use by sneaky internet bandits.

Benefits for Travellers
If you like to travel, the Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card will certainly help you along the way.

The Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card offers savings and discounts with Emirates, Hilton, Avis and Center Parks. Plus they offer a discounted travel service in connection with Thomas Cook, helping to book everything from package holidays to tailor-made getaways.

The Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card is also handy to take abroad. Whilst a standard 2.75% foreign transaction fee is charged on purchases overseas, this credit card provides you with comprehensive travel insurance and emergency card replacement should anything go awry.

More impressively Barclaycard offer you worldwide help, even down to legal assistance, replacing lost or stolen items and a phone based interpretation service, offering you even more complimentary services to give you that extra peace of mind.

Final word
Whilst customers should be cautious about using an ATM due to the high cash-withdrawal rate of the card, the Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card is great for regular use and perfect for day to day purchases.

The Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card has many strings to its bow: it is a secure credit card that offers fabulous introductory rates and its numerous offers and discounts will give you that extra sense of luxury.