Main costs of a credit card
Credit cards can cost you, but it’s not complicated once you know the basics. The three main things to watch are interest, annual fees, and other charges.-
Interest is what you pay if you don’t pay off your balance in full each month. Think of it as a small fee for borrowing money.
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Annual fees are fixed yearly charges that some cards ask for. Many simple cards don’t have one, but reward or premium cards might.
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Other charges include things like cash withdrawals, spending abroad, or missing a payment. You can usually avoid these if you use your card carefully.
Interest rates (APR)
The APR shows the interest you’d pay on unpaid balances, usually for purchases. Different actions — like cash withdrawals or balance transfers — can have higher rates. Most standard cards also include any annual fee in the APR, but if you pay your balance in full each month, you won’t pay any interest.
Interest-free periods
Some cards offer 0% interest for a set period, usually between 3 and 30 months. This can apply to new purchases or when you transfer a balance from another card. Balance transfers fees are usually 2–4%, even with the interest-free deal, but this can still save you money if managed carefully.
Annual fees
Annual fees range from £0 on simple cards to £100–£200+ on premium or reward cards. If a card offers benefits, the fee might be worth it but check whether the perks are useful for you before applying.Other charges
Other possible costs to be aware of include: -
Cash withdrawals: Usually charged immediately with a higher interest rate.
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Foreign transactions: Typically 2–3% of each purchase abroad.
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Late or missed payments: Can add fixed fees and affect your credit score.
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Over-limit fees: Rare, but some cards charge if you go over your limit.
What these credit card costs look like in real life
It can be hard to picture what these fees actually mean. To make it easier, here are some simple examples of the kinds of costs you might see with different cards.|
Type of cost |
Example |
Notes |
|
Interest |
£200 per year on £1,000 unpaid balance at 20% APR |
Only applies if not paid in full; monthly cost would be around £16.67 |
|
Annual fee |
£0–£150 |
Depends on card type |
|
Cash withdrawal |
£3 + 25% interest |
Charged immediately |
|
Foreign transaction fee |
2–3% of purchase |
When spending abroad |
|
Balance transfer fee |
2% of transferred balance |
Usually applies with on 0% offer |
These are only examples, but they give you a clearer idea of what you could be charged depending on how you use your card.
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APR Representative (variable)
Intelligent Lending Ltd (credit broker). Capital One is the exclusive lender.
How to keep costs low
The good news is that many of these charges can be avoided with a few simple habits:
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Always pay the full balance each month if you can.
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Take advantage of 0% purchase or balance transfer offers.
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Avoid cash withdrawals unless absolutely necessary.
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Choose a card with no or low annual fees if rewards aren’t important.
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Track your spending with alerts or apps to avoid late payments and extra charges.
Key things to remember
A credit card doesn’t have to be expensive — it all comes down to how you use it. If you pay your balance in full every month, most costs can be avoided altogether. If you carry a balance, make cash withdrawals, or travel abroad, that’s when fees and interest start to add up.Understanding the common charges means you can choose a card that fits your needs, avoid surprises on your statements, and use credit confidently and affordably.
Disclaimer: We make every effort to ensure content is correct when published. Information on this website doesn't constitute financial advice, and we aren't responsible for the content of any external sites.
Fiona Peake
Personal Finance Writer
Fiona is a personal finance writer with over 7 years’ experience writing for a broad range of industries before joining Ocean in 2021. She uses her wealth of experience to turn the overwhelming aspects of finance into articles that are easy to understand.
