- Need to strengthen your credit rating and want some time out from paying interest on your balance transfer
- Have an average credit rating
- Have no history of bankruptcy
- Have no CCJ's or IVAs in the past 5 years
- Please check the full criteria before applying.
| Representative Example: 19.9% p.a. variable on purchases. This is equivalent to 19.9% APR representative variable based on a credit limit of £1,200. Barclays Bank, 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP |
 Purchases: |
 Balance transfers: |
 Rewards: |
 Cardholder services: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19.9% p.a. variable | 0% until 1 September 2012 19.9% p.a. variable thereafter 2.5% transfer fee Must be transferred within 60 days On amounts up to £5,000 |
Barclaycard Freedom Thomas Cook Discounts Barclaycard Unwind |
Online Account Management Fraud Guarantee Active Fraud Monitoring Identity Protection Service Verified by Visa OneTouch Payments Purchase Delivery Insurance |
Please read this first:
This review is based on general information about how the product compares in the market, it shouldn't be taken as a recommendation or advice.
Please see below for more important information relating to the content of this page.
All that glitters is not gold - as even Spandau Ballet and John Suchet would surely agree - but that doesn't stop the Gold credit card from Barclaycard outshining the competition.
The most noticeable feature of the Barclaycard Gold credit card is the accessibility of a 0% balance transfer deal for people who "need to strengthen their credit rating".
With the majority of 0% balance transfer deals aimed and restricted to those with all but excellent credit reports - this is a shining example of what's needed in the marketplace.
The 0% balance transfer deal is a decent mid-market offer, lasting until September 2012.
This is a "fixed end date" offer as opposed to offers lasting for so many months. The difference here really is just that the later someone applies the shorter the offer becomes - that is of course unless the provider updates that fixed end date.
The terms of the balance transfer offer restricts the amount to £5,000 or 90% of the given credit limit - whichever is less.
Balances must be moved within 60 days of account opening and are subject to a transfer fee of 2.5%.
Payments made to the account will be applied towards the highest rate balance first - however, if a balance transfer is on the account this would waive any standard interest free period on purchases (which requires the full balance to be repaid) - so some interest is unavoidable if using the card for purchases at the same time as using the 0% balance transfer offer.
The Barclaycard Gold credit card is marketed both towards those looking to better manage existing card debts, as well as people who may want to improve their current credit report.
Well-managed credit borrowing is recorded as a positive sign on a credit report for future lenders to see when applying for credit, such as current accounts, loans and mortgages.
Barclaycard have positioned this product to be more accessible to people who may not have an excellent credit report - however, they still set down some application criteria which is important to check thoroughly before applying.
Barclaycard is well known for its additional services and benefits - and doubly so for offering them across its entire range of cards.
The Barclaycard Gold credit card is not left out in this remit - and as such comes with a hefty bag of useful extras that are certainly worth knowing about.
Offered is the well advertised purchase delivery protection insurance (although how useful this is, is actually slightly debatable - see our guide for more on this), as well as active fraud monitoring and access to a free identity fraud help and advice phone line.
Barclaycard are also at the front of the market in terms of technology - and include free text alert services to remind cardholders of due payments, as well as integrated contactless payments primarily for use in and around London.
As a rather large establishment, Barclays offer a travel service in partnership with Thomas Cook as well as services for travellers including emergency card and cash replacement.
The Thomas Cook partnership offers a discount of at least 7% to Barclaycard cardholders, and the credit card booking fee is also waived.
Choice is broad with the travel service covering holidays from Thomas Cook as well as over 150 tour operators.
Additional savings can be made with the free single trip travel insurance that's offered on trips booked through the Travel Service.
It is a comprehensive policy - however, it's important to check the full policy details before relying on it and ensuring the level of cover is adequate.
Eligible trips are those lasting from 2 days to 3 weeks and cover is provided for up to 5 friends or family travelling in the same group. Extreme sports are not included.
Travellers aged over 65 years or with pre-existing medical conditions won't be covered - but a discount of £35 may be offered on another policy instead.
Barclays also offer travellers worldwide assistance services that can help to provide legal and medical assistance as well as emergency flights and transport back to the UK.
If your card is ever lost or stolen, Barclays will aim to get a replacement card to you anywhere in the world. They can also help to arrange an emergency cash advance of up to £1,000 (subject to available funds).
A useful addition to a crowded market - it's the type of card we'd like to see more of: a more accessible 0% balance transfer deal and genuinely useful cardholder services that aren't cut off to all but the financially advantaged.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Only apply if you are: | - Need to strengthen your credit rating and want some time out from paying interest on your balance transfer - Have an average credit rating - Have no history of bankruptcy - Have no CCJ's or IVAs in the past 5 years - You have a limited history of managing credit commitments well i.e. have existing credit cards, loans, overdraft or mortgage, but have no more than 2 credit commitments - Your record of paying credit commitments on times is less than 4 years - You have not missed any payments on a credit card or loan in the last 12 months - Don't already hold a Barclaycard - Have a permanent UK address for 3 months or more - Have a regular income - Earn at least £17,500 per annum - Excluding a mortgage, your debt on credit cards or store cards is less than 40% of your income - Aged 21 or over |
| Detail | Additional | |
|---|---|---|
| Representative APR (variable) | 19.9% APR | Based on a £1,200 credit limit. |
| Introductory Purchases | - | Not offered |
| Introductory Balance Transfers | 0% until 1 September 2012 | Must be transferred within 60 days of account opening to qualify. On amounts up to £5,000 or 90% of your credit limit, whichever is lower. |
| Standard Purchases | 19.9% p.a. variable | - |
| Standard Balance Transfers | 19.9% p.a. variable | - |
| Standard Cash Advances | 27.9% p.a. variable | - |
| Detail | Additional | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance Transfer fee | 2.5% | - |
| Cash Advance fee | 2.5% (£2.5 min) | - |
| Foreign fee | 2.75% | This fee is charged for transactions made in non-sterling currency. |
| Annual fee | None | - |
| Default charges | £12 | This charge is made for late payments, returned payments and exceeding the credit limit. |
| Detail | Additional | |
|---|---|---|
| Credit limit | £250 min | Maximum credit limit subject to status. |
| Interest free period | Up to 56 days | Maximum 56 days from date of transaction for purchases if you pay your balance in full and on time each month. No interest free period on cash advances or balance transfers (this is subject to any interest free promotional offer). |
| Minimum monthly payment | 2.25% (£5 min) | The minimum monthly payment will be the greater of: - 2.25% of the amount owed on the monthly statement; - £5 (or the entire amount if less than £5); - any interest, account fees and default charges that have been added to the account since the last statement plus 1% of the remaining balance. |
| Allocation of payments | If you do not pay the total outstanding balance in full by the payment due date, the issuer will apply the amount you do pay to reduce higher interest rate balances before lower interest rate balances. | - |
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| 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) - Yo! Sushi - Pizza Express - npower (earn only) - LA fitness - and many others. |
| 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. |
| Barclaycard Unwind | Exclusive access to entertainment tickets, must-see gigs and one-off live sessions with Barclaycard Unwind. |
| Offered | Additional | |
|---|---|---|
| Online account management |  |
You can log in to the Barclaycard web site and manage your Barclaycard Gold 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. |
| Credit Report Access |  |
- |
| 3D Secure | |
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. |
| OneTouch Payments | |
Visa payWave Visa payWave A contactless payment technology that allows you to pay for purchases costing £15 or under with just a 'touch' of the credit card at participating retailers (mainly around London travel services). |
| Purchase Protection Insurance | |
- |
| Purchase Delivery Insurance | |
Covers brand new goods bought with your Barclaycard Gold 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 via Barclaycard Travel Service Single trip travel insurance for you and up to 5 friends or family travelling with you for trips between 2 days and 3 weeks, that don't include extreme sports. Trips must be booked through the Barclaycard Travel Service and paid with the Barclaycard credit card. Exclusions apply (age up to 65 years and no pre-existing medical conditions), although a discount of £35 may be offered to those who don't qualify for the free insurance policy. Read the full details before relying on it. |
| 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. |
Please read the following notice:
The review on this page is intended to provide general information only and does not attempt to give advice that relates to your specific circumstances. If you are unsure as to the suitability of any financial product, you should discuss this with an independent financial advisor.
While we make every effort to ensure and maintain current and accurate information on this site and the review on this page will be periodically updated inline with product changes, it could contain rates, deals or facts which have now changed and therefore should not be solely relied upon.
You should check the full details of any product with the relevant provider before applying, and you are advised to conduct your own research as well.
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