What we think of it...

AT first glances the Virgin credit card could be mistaken for simply offering a swift balance transfer offer. However, on closer inspection, it's not hard to see that the Virgin credit card offers a great deal more than a temporary debt fix.

If you love Virgin, then the Virgin credit card really is for you, offering up a number of discounts when you shop via the exclusive Virgin members shop with Virgin Megastores, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Wines, Virgin Money (insurances), plus others.

The Virgin credit card also offers a range of nifty little extras to help keep shopping safe and travelling stress-free.

A little more detail

Rates and Fees

			Special Note..	Any good?
Typical APR		15.9% APR (variable) -	-
Introductory Purchase Rate		0% for 3 months	Payments are applied towards introductory rates first.
Balance Transfer Rate		0% for 15 months	Also includes credit card cheques. Payments are applied towards introductory rates first.
Balance Transfer Fee		2.98% (£3 minimum)	-
Cash Withdrawal Rate		24.9% p.a. (variable)	-
Cash Withdrawal Fee		3% (£3 minimum)	-
Annual Fee		£0	-
Foreign Transaction Fee		2.99%	-

Rewards

			Special Note..	Any good?
Reward Type #1	-	Virgin Discounts	Get discounts when you shop with your Virgin credit card through the exclusive members shop. Discounts include Virgin Megastores, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Wines and Virgin Money (insurances), plus others.

Extras

			Special Note..	Any good?
Online Account Management		Yes	-
Purchase Protection		Yes	- Most purchases between £50 and £1,000 will be covered against theft or accidental damage for up to 100 days from purchase when you pay with the Virgin credit card. - There is a maximum claim limit of £15,000 each 12 months.
Fraud Guarantee		Yes	-
Travel Accident Insurance		Up to £100,000	When you use this card to buy travel tickets you and your family will be covered against death or serious injury whilst abroad.
Travel Inconvenience Insurance		Up to £750	- For food, accommodation and additional travel expenses charged to the Virgin credit card if your travel is delayed for 8 hours. - Also covers the cost of purchasing emergency clothing if your luggage is delayed for more than 12 hours.
Emergency Card Replacement		Yes	-
Other Extras	-	24 hour customer service	-
Optional Extras	-	- Payment protection	This is not a free service, but is available for this card.

Payments

			Special Note..	Any good?
Credit Limit		Up to £50,000	-
Interest Free Period		Up to 50 days	There is no interest free period on balance transfer or cash withdrawals.
Minimum Monthly Payment		3% (£25 minimum)	-
Allocation of Payments		Lower rate items » Higher rate items	Where there are two balances at the same promotional rate, the balance with the longer promotional period will be repaid first.
Default Charges		£12	-

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		MasterCard	-
Card Issuer		MBNA	-
Card Advertiser		Virgin Money	-

At a Glance

Typical APR	15.9% APR
Credit limit	Up to £50,000
Intro purchases	0% for 3 months
Balance transfer	0% for 15 months (2.98% transfer fee - £3 min)
Discounts	Virgin members shop
Interest free period	Up to 50 days
Annual fee	£0

	This card includes:
	Online Account Management
	Purchase Protection Insurance
	Fraud Guarantee
	Travel Services
	It is best suited for:
	Virgin lovers, who keep their monthly statements in check, but who may want to make use of the 0% period on purchases. Also great for balance transfer tarts, looking for a top-notch 0% deal.
	Wait! Only apply if you are...
Aged 18 or over UK resident Have a bank or building society account

More about this card...

All those nifty extras...
The Virgin credit card offers an abundant of free cardholder extras and services that make a credit card what it should be.

To help keep your purchases safe, the Virgin credit card provides free purchase protection that will cover most purchases bought with the card between £50 and £1,000 against theft or accidental damage for up to 100 days from the day you purchased the item.

Keeping your money safe, the Virgin credit card also comes with a guarantee that states there is no liability or excess to pay if your card is ever stolen or lost or used fraudulently, just let MBNA (the issuer) know as soon as you cannot find your card or you notice any unusual transactions.

As an added service, if you do ever lose or have your card stolen whether in the UK or abroad, a response line is provided so that they can do their utmost to get an emergency card replacement to you.

... services to help with travelling...
If you like to travel or holiday abroad, the Virgin credit card will offer you a ream of free travel services to help lighten the load if the unfortunate ever happens.

The free travel services available to you as a Virgin credit card holder will include up to £750 travel inconvenience insurance for food, accommodation and additional travel expenses charged to the Virgin credit card if your travel is delayed for 8 hours. Purchasing emergency clothing if your luggage is delayed for more than 12 hours is also included in the cover.

You can also get up to £100,000 travel accident insurance when you pay for your trip with the Virgin credit card.

0% offers
The Virgin credit card offers an excellent 0% balance transfer deal for a calendar-busting 15 months, which is among - if not the - longest in the market. As with the majority of longer 0% deals, a balance transfer handling fee of 2.98% will apply.

If you are planning on using the Virgin credit card for a balance transfer, there are a few terms to bear in mind. The Virgin credit card is issued by MBNA, so you will not be able to transfer a balance from another MBNA credit card.

Also, because payments are allocated first to 0% or lower rate balances (this is true for most credit cards) we strongly advise not to use the Virgin credit card for purchases at the same time as making use of the balance transfer offer.

The reason is simple, once the 0% rate on purchases has finished (12 months prior to the end of the balance transfer deal), your purchase balance will accrue interest charges and you will not be able to repay this balance until you have first cleared your balance transfer.

Final word
The Virgin credit card is a great credit card if you love Virgin's range of products and services, you'll get discounts at the exclusive members shop.

Plus, the Virgin credit card offers some great cardholder services that will keep you, your money and your purchases safe and secure.

Feel free to make use of the 0% rate on purchases (unless you're also transferring a balance), but get on top of your repayments when it ends as this card does carry a mid-range interest rate that will soon add up.

The Virgin credit card also offers a smashing balance transfer deal, however, if you are going to transfer a balance to the Virgin credit card, hide it away until you've repaid the balance in full. Once you have, you can then start to thoroughly enjoy the rewards and features on offer without getting yourself into a world of un-repayable interest hell (see '0% offers' above for further explanation).