Credit cards Switching credit cards

 

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Example: If you were to transfer a balance of £8,000 from your existing card with an APR of 18.9%, to a card with no balance transfer fee and an APR of 16.9% on a 12 month deal and you were repaying £200 per month, then the saving would be £127 over the 12 month period.

Credit card balance transfer calculator

Find out how much you could save with our handy balance transfer interest calculator

If you're paying too much interest on your credit card, find a better one with Which? Best Rate 0% balance transfer credit cards. Our handy balance transfer calculator can help you find out how much you could save by switching.

Just enter the amount you owe on your credit card, the interest rate (APR) on your new and old cards and the length of time you want to calculate the savings over.

Type in how much you plan to repay each month and any balance transfer fee charged by your new card (this is usually around 3% of the balance you want to transfer).

The calculator will show you the potential saving you could make with your new credit card over the chosen period.

Of course, the precise amount you could save will depend on your exact spending and repayment patterns - different cards use different methods to work out the interest you'll pay, so this calculator should be used as a guide only. For more information on calculation methods, see the Which? guide to how credit card interest is calculated.

If you decide to stick with your existing credit card, find out much you could save by making a higher monthly repayment using our free credit card repayment calculator.

Simple steps to switch credit cards

  • You first need to choose a credit card that's suitable for you from our Best Rate cards. To find the best credit card for your needs, check the Which? Best Rate credit cards. Once you've done this, you need to click through to the credit card company's website and fill in the online application form.
  • If your credit card application is approved, your credit card will be sent through the post to the address you have given, followed by your personal identification number (Pin) and any additional credit card documentation such as terms and conditions. Sign the back of your new credit card immediately and call the number on the front of the credit card to activate it.
  • If you are looking to transfer a balance from another credit card you are likely to have ticked a box on the application form letting the new credit card provider know this. Contact your new credit card provider with the details of the credit card or cards you wish to transfer balances from and the amounts you wish to transfer and they will set these up for you. Be warned that you should not try to transfer credit card balances yourself as this is likely to result in paying a much higher interest rate.
  • Keep track of your old credit cards. They won't automatically be closed when you transfer a balance to your new credit card, so if you're not going to use them again, it's best to close the account and destroy the old credit card. You may also wish to set up a direct debit from your bank account to avoid missing any repayments on your new credit card as this may harm your credit report
  • If you make any regular payments from your old credit card, remember to contact the companies you pay and give them your new credit card number and details

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