4 reasons to pay with your credit card

Not sure when, or why, you should bother with a credit card? Here's four reasons why paying by card could benefit you now and in the future.

In the UK, credit cards are regarded by many with a degree of suspicion as an easy way to get into debt. Recent figures show that debit cards are still by far the most used payment method.

Although we tend use credit cards for bigger purchases, using a credit card does not always mean that you are spending money you don’t have. Used responsibly, it can simply be seen as an alternative method of payment with its own benefits and drawbacks. So why might you choose to pay with your credit card?

If you use your credit card to pay in full or in part for goods and services valued between £100 and £30,000, you are protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This means that if the item you bought never shows up, you won’t be left footing the bill. You may even be able to claim for a faulty or damaged product.

Credit cards also give you protection against anyone else using your card without permission. If your credit card is stolen or cloned, or you find rogue purchases on your monthly statement, you can let your credit card provider know and they should refund you immediately.

Using your card responsibly and paying the balance in full each month will help you build your credit score. The older the credit card, the more reliable you will appear, and the age of the account also factors positively into your credit score.

Different cards offer different kinds of perks. These include Avios points that can be exchanged for plane tickets, points that can be exchanged for goods or services, and even tax-free cashback, which means you get a small percentage of your spending back.

Whilst these perks are a great way to get a bit extra from your everyday spending, they can be easily outweighed by bad habits such as missing payments or withdrawing cash. These not only incur fines, but can also damage your credit score.

You can also benefit from checking your eligibility for a new card before you apply. You can do this in the Offers section of your ClearScore account where you’ll find credit cards selected for you, with eligibility scores that show you your likelihood of acceptance.