Rejection rates for credit card applications are running at 18,000 a day, says one report - but the truth about credit is more complicated than headlines suggest.

But before you launch a quest for the best credit, you need to know how being a credit tart can damage your finances.

As Capital One becomes the fourth bank to offer a short 0% interest-free period is this the best way to escape your credit card debt?

The lure of 0% credit cards has tempted millions into debt, we offer five ways out to escape.

New developments mean plastic money might finally have become powerful enough to kill off cash for good - find out why.

Angry customers of internet bank Egg complained that their credit cards had been cancelled even though they always paid off any money they owed.

If you're lucky, you'll get perks with your job. If you're canny, you'll get perks with your credit card.

As January blues set in, we examine which bills should be paid first and which can be ignored until later.

With the festive break now past, many households will be desperately trying to get their finance back on track after two weeks of lavish spending.

January can seem like a long month when salaries were paid early in December and after a big festive splurge on the credit card.

New changes to credit card terms and conditions mean many cardholders are about to have a lot less time to pay off their balance without incurring charges.

The pound is riding high against the US dollar and flights to New York are full of eager British shoppers. Most of them don't realise that they could knock an extra 10% off everything they buy just by using the right cards.

It's generally cheaper to shop online. Which is a problem, because we end up overspending. James Andrews looks at why we do this and how to deal with it.

If you play your credit cards right, you could actually make money from doing your Christmas shopping.

With Britain in the grip of what now appears to be a rolling postal strike the warning is: make alternative plans to pay your bills, or you could be faced with a hefty fine from your bank, credit card or utility company.

The Office of Fair Trading has threatened high fines after a sting on firms showed failing standards in the sale of payment protection insurance.

A survey has revealed that one-fifth of us even mistrust charities, a fact that could hit them hard as most increasingly rely on computerised fund-raising.

Emma-Lou Montgomery investigates the world in 2017 - where Pins and cash are on the endangered species list.

Damian Clarkson looks at the new BMW credit card and wonders “What were they thinking?”

There were over 200,000 cases of financial fraud last year - Barry Stamp, co-founder of the Credit Reporting Agency- gives 10 tips to stay safe.

We reveal the five worst credit card scams and how to beat them.

What are your options when you really want a credit card, but have been rejected by lenders? Sarah Modlock gives an overview of what's out there and the cost of each option.

Penalty fees for credit cards have gone down, but some of us are still paying a larger fee than we need to. Find out why this is, and what you can do to prevent it happening.

Barclaycard is the latest company to launch an eco-friendly credit card but do you need to go into the red to help green causes?

Discover the cards of the mega rich, how much you have to earn to use them and how much the banks make from them.

There are many reasons why paying by plastic is easier than paying by cash - you can even make a profit if you play your cards right. Find out how here.

The vast majority of credit card providers use your monthly payment to reduce your balance in a way that suits them – not you, warns Damian Clarkson.

Most of us have missed a credit card or loan repayment at some point. But doing so can have serious consequences for your finances.

Vanquis has launched a credit card with a staggering 59.9% APR. Are these mega-interest cards ever worth the risk?

If it feels like your cards are calling the shots, here are two simple ways to regain control of your plastic spending.

The initial discounts offered by store cards can be extremely tempting. But they almost always carry extortionate rates of interest. Should you avoid them altogether?

A number of credit card firms have recently re-introduced monthly or annual fees. Will we soon have to pay for our credit cards across the board?

If you're signing up for a new credit card, it's vital to read the small print. We reveal what you should look out for.

Cold, hard cash is increasingly falling out of favour and it's consumers who are paying the price, warns Emma-Lou Montgomery.

Credit card companies use such different ways of charging interest that it’s impossible to work out which offers the best deal, warns Chris Gilchrist.

Corin Vestey names and shames two of our biggest high street credit card providers for taking consumers for a ride.

Just when you thought lenders couldn't stoop any lower, Lloyds TSB has introduced charges for credit card holders who don't use their plastic often enough.

Stories abound of people falling foul of the late payment scam, when a provider delays transfer of a payment so that charges can be levied on the account. Now Barclays are in the frame as well as Virgin and MBNA.

If you overdid the spending at Christmas, now might be time to look for a new credit card – especially with a number of 0% balance transfers on offer.

Lenders are falling over themselves to offer the most competitive 0% card, but why, and how likely is it that you could get one?

How would you like to take the free money the credit card companies offer and make yourself a profit from it? Read on…

Need a short-term personal loan? Don’t go to your bank and borrow money at 10%. If you use your card smartly, you don’t have to pay any interest at all.

It's Christmas, and time for giving. But when you are buying your presents, why not give yourself a little gift by using a cashback card? We reveal the best deals.

With Christmas Day rapidly approaching, we reveal the best cards to help you manage your festive spending without suffering a new year hangover.

According to a recent report, the average UK consumer owes almost £3,000 in credit card debt. We have a seven-point plan to reduce your card balance to zero.

A credit card with an interest rate of 49.9% APR, no interest-free period and a credit limit of as little as £250? We look at the credit card deals we should all avoid.