Barclaycard Simplicity Credit Card

Barclaycard credit card review: Simplicity

THE Barclaycard breathe might not breathe, the Barclaycard Goldfish may not be gold (or a fish) but the Barclaycard Simplicity really is simple.

If there's one thing that we're asked for again and again it's a credit card with a simple low interest rate. That's what the Barclaycard Simplicity credit card has in spades.

There's a 6.8% p.a. interest rate on purchases, 6.8% p.a on balance transfers.

Best of all those aren't short introductory rates they're forever (or in the case of the balance transfer, until you've paid it off in full).

In fact, the only time-dependent feature we can spot is the fee-free life of balance transfer rate: you'll need to move the amount to your Barclaycard Simplicity credit card within 60 days of the account opening.

There are also some pretty simple Barclaycard simplicity credit card holder benefits.

That includes decent identity and fraud protection, travel discounts and access to the Barclaycard Freedom rewards scheme.

Barclaycard Freedom offers money back when you spend at over over 30,000 retailers. There's no need to sign up and no messing about with vouchers: just earn as you spend and redeem as you go.

To apply for the Barclaycard Simplicity you'll need a good credit rating and meet the following requirements:

• Be over 21
• UK address for over three months
• Income over £20,000 pa
• No other Barclaycard credit cards

All in all, the Barclaycard Simplicity credit card does what it says on the tin, keeps it simple.

Interest Rates and Fees
		Notes..
Typical APR	6.8% APR (variable)	The typical APR is the rate most people are offered.
Balance Transfers	6.8% for life of balance	You can transfer between £250 and up to 90% of your available credit limit. You must transfer any balance within 60 days of account opening to qualify.
Balance Transfer Fee	None	There is no balance transfer handling fee on the introductory balance transfer offer. Other balance transfers and cheques may be charged a handling fee of 2.5% unless Barclaycard tell you otherwise.
Cash Withdrawal Rate	15.8% 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 Simplicity 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 Simplicity 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 period.
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...

Great deals come without time limits with the Barclaycard Simplicity credit card.

Low rates

Purchases are subject to a low interest rate of 6.8% APR and balances transferred in the first sixty days will be charged just 6.8% APR until they're paid off in full.

That means the Barclaycard Simplicity credit card has some of the UK's lowest interest rates.

For paying off high-interest balances, you'll be suited to the Barclaycard Simplicity if you have a credit card debt of over £250 (the minimum) and want to avoid the stresses of being a credit card tart.

Note that the Barclaycard Simplicity credit card is also fairly unique as it offers the balance transfer without a fee, likely to be a substantial saving over 0% deals in itself.

For spending, that's ideal if you sometimes let your balance roll over at the month or just as a safety net should it ever happen accidentally.

This is unlikely to happen, though, since the Barclaycard Simplicity credit card includes an interest-free period on purchases of 56 days.

Note that there's no interest-free period on cash advances.

This, along with a high 15.8% p.a. interest rate and 2.5% 'handling fee' (minimum £2.50), makes the Barclaycard Simplicity credit card unsuitable for cash withdrawals.

More security

Barclaycard Simplicity credit cardholders have the same security features of all other Barclaycard customers: that means a decent identity protection service and fraud monitoring service.

There is also worldwide assistance for free if you lose your card or other important documents or have them stolen whilst abroad.

Barclaycard rewards with freedom

The new Barclaycard reward scheme - Barclaycard Freedom - is available to Simplicity customers.

Make a purchase at a participating retailer and you'll get up to 1% cash back or a reward and then use that cash back at other participating retailers.

We're fans because there's no messing about with vouchers or complicated points, just money on your card when you spend which means more money in your pocket.

Barclaycard Freedom retailers include: petrol stations (Shell), utility providers (npower), gyms (LA fitness), travel providers (Flight Centre) and thousands of restaurants including big chains (Gourmet Burger Kitchen). And many more.

Final Word

Sometimes simple delivers: the Barclaycard Simplicity credit card's low interest rate on both purchases and balance transfers could help you save big.

Apply Online for Barclaycard Simplicity credit card »