introductory offers

Introductory zero per cent deals are a no-brainer, providing you have the discipline to set aside sufficient money to pay off the bill in full at the end of the nil irate deal.

Interest free deals typically last from 6-12 months, but these offers have become less prevalent since the onset of the credit crunch. Card issuers are also becoming more choosy as to whom they will lend to so you may have difficulty obtaining one of these deals, unless you have a squeaky clean credit history.

The latter means that you have no history of defaulting on loans, credit cards, mortgages, hire purchase deals or even mobile phone bills.

At the end of the interest free period, you may be able to transfer to another zero interest rate deal with another credit card provider. Otherwise, the interest rate will jump to the standard rate charged by that card provider. This is known as the 'revert to' rate.