Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer Credit Card

Barclaycard credit card review: Platinum with Balance Transfer

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 with Barclaycard Freedom 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 great balance transfer offer is ideal for anyone wanting to shift an outstanding balance to a 0% rate for the next 15 months.

Interest Rates and Fees
		Notes..
Typical APR	16.9% APR (variable)	The typical APR is the rate most people are offered.
Introductory Purchases	0% for 3 months	Payments are applied towards promotional balance transfers before promotional purchases.
Balance Transfers	0% for 15 months	Balances must be transferred within 60 days of account opening to qualify. The amount transferred cannot exceed 90% of your available credit limit. Payments are applied towards introductory rates first, with promotional balance transfers being repaid before promotional purchases.
Balance Transfer Fee	2.9%	This balance transfer handling fee applies to the introductory balance transfer offer.
Cash Withdrawal Rate	27.9% p.a. (variable)	-
Cash Withdrawal Fee	2.5% (£2.5 minimum)	-
Annual Fee	None	-
Foreign Transaction Fee	2.75%	This fee will be charged if you make a purchase or cash withdrawal in a foreign currency.

Rewards
		Notes..
Reward #1	Barclaycard Freedom	Earn up to 1% in Reward Money on all your purchases with participating retailers. Reward Money can be redeemed towards future purchases at the checkout of any participating retailer. Barclaycard Freedom participating retailers include: - Shell: 0.5% (Earn only, no redemption) - Goldsmiths - Blue Inc - Yo! Sushi - Pizza Express - Firebox.com - npower - LA fitness - Nationwide Autocentre - gourmet burger kitchen - Just Tyres - Officers Club - Barclays - Flight Centre - Watches & Switzerland - F.HINDS - Mappin & Webb - petroleum - BSM - Bales Brothers - Lewis & Clarke - Give by George Davis - JustGiving
Reward #2	Thomas Cook Discounts	Book your holiday through the Barclaycard Travel Service and get a discount of 7% or more with Thomas Cook and over 150 tour operators. Thomas Cook will also waive their standard 2.25% credit card booking fee for Barclaycard cardholders.
Reward #3	Barclaycard Unwind	Exclusive access to entertainment tickets, must-see gigs and one-off live sessions with Barclaycard Unwind.

Cardholder Services & Extras
Online Account Management		You can log in to the Barclaycard web site and manage your Barclaycard Platinum credit card account online. An optional free text alert service offers a text message to your mobile 5 days before your Barclaycard payment is due.
Fraud Guarantee		You won't be held liable for fraudulent use of your Barclaycard as long as you notify Barclaycard as soon as you become aware of it or notice anything suspicious on your account.
Fraud Monitoring		Barclaycard will look out for any unusual activity on your account and contact you to make sure it's not fraudulent.
Identity Protection		Identity Protection Service Barclaycard provide a confidential helpline if you think you may be a victim of Identity theft or if you just want advice on how to avoid it happening.
Verified by Visa		An extra layer of security when shopping online. Register and set up a password-protected identity-check when you shop online with participating online retailers.
Purchase Protection Insurance
Purchase Delivery Insurance		Covers brand new goods bought with your Barclaycard Platinum credit card if they don't arrive or are delivered damage and you are unable to resolve the issue with the supplier. Covers goods bought online, over the telephone and in the high street if goods are delivered.
Comprehensive Travel Insurance		Free 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 be covered. Exclusions and terms and conditions apply.
Travel Accident Insurance
Travel Inconvenience Insurance
Assistance Abroad		Worldwide Assistance Free help if anything goes wrong while you're abroad. Barclaycard can help you in the case that anything goes wrong whilst you are abroad. They can provide legal assistance, medical emergency help, arrange flights and transport to get you home as quickly as possible, interpretation, send a message home, and help with lost or stolen documents.
Emergency Card Replacement		Barclaycard will get you an emergency card replacement if yours is lost or stolen anywhere in the world. Barclaycard can also arrange an emergency cash advance of up to £1,000 a week (subject to available funds on your account), and they'll even refund the cash handling fee.
OneTouch Payment System		Visa payWave A contactless payment technology that allows you to pay for purchases costing £10 or under with just a 'touch' of the credit card at participating retailers (mainly around London travel services).
Other Extras	- 10% off Barclays Annual Travel Insurance - 24 hour Customer Services.
Optional Extras	These are extras that you can choose, but you will have to pay for them. - Card Protection - Payment Protection - Everyday Cover - Identity Theft Protection.

Payments & Payment Details
		Notes..
Credit Limit	£250 minimum	Maximum credit limit is subject to status.
Interest Free Period	Up to 56 days	For purchases if you pay your statement balance in full and on time each month. There is no interest free period on balance transfers, cash withdrawals or credit card cheques outside of any promotional offer.
Minimum Monthly Payment	2.25% (£5 minimum)	The minimum monthly payment will be the greater of: - 2.25% of your outstanding balance, OR - £5.
Allocation of Payments	Default Charges > Promotional Balance Transfers > Promotional Purchases > Purchases, Balance Transfers & Other Charges > Cash Withdrawals	-
Default Charges	£12	This is how much you will be charged for late payments, returned payments and if you go over your credit limit.
Copy of Statement Fee	£3	This is the fee you will be charged for duplicate statements.

Card Details
		Notes..
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	The company who provides the payment technology and infrastructure to allow you to use this credit card. Retailers and ATM machines displaying the 'Visa' logo will accept this credit card.
Card Issuer	Barclays Bank	The bank who issues this credit card.
Card Advertiser	Barclaycard	The company who advertises and promotes this credit card.

Review Continued...

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 15 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 limit of 90% of your available credit for qualifying balance transfers, 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 up to 15-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 and offers access to Barclaycard's new reward scheme Barclaycard Freedom.

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.

You'll also be able to get 7% or more off holidays with Thomas Cook and over 150 tour operators through the Barclaycard Travel Service.

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 it. Exclusions will apply though so always check the policy details before relying on it.

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 Thomas Cook and over 150 tour operators with the Barclaycard Travel Service where you can book anything 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.

Apply Online for Barclaycard Platinum with Balance Transfer credit card »