How to compare credit cards fairly under FCA rules in 2026
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0% purchase, balance transfer, rewards and credit-builder cards serve different goals. Representative APR applies to only 51% of approved applicants — use soft eligibility checks before applying.
By Money Guide editorial team
Published:
Credit card comparison is a common search topic, but headline rates mislead. The representative APR must be offered to at least 51% of accepted customers — your personal rate may be higher if your credit file is average or thin.
Match card type to purpose: 0% purchase for planned spending you can clear in the promo window; balance transfer for expensive card debt (factor in 2%–3% transfer fees); credit builder for thin files at higher APR; rewards only if you never carry a balance.
FCA affordability assessments mean more declined applications when utilisation is high or recent hard searches cluster. Soft-search eligibility tools reduce wasted applications.
Section 75 protection applies to credit card purchases between £100 and £30,000 — a reason to use a card for major buys even if you pay the bill in full.
See our compare credit cards guide, 0% cards explained and balance transfer hub.