Money Advice Service

If you don’t have enough money in your account, credit card cheques might seem like a great option if the shop or tradesman doesn’t accept credit cards. However, they are likely to leave you in a worse financial position.

What is a credit card cheque?

A credit card cheque is similar to a normal cheque, only the money you write it out for gets added to your credit card balance.

Credit card cheques can be used as an alternative to the credit card itself.

However, using it will cost you a lot more than if you spent on a credit card, and you’ll have less protection.

How to get credit card cheques

Credit card companies used to send cheques out directly to their customers.

However, lenders are now banned from sending out unsolicited credit card cheques.

So, they’ll only send them to you if you explicitly ask for them.

Why using credit card cheques should be avoided

There are many reasons why you should avoid using credit card cheques:

High interest rates

The interest rates charged on credit card cheques can be extremely high - much higher than using the credit card normally because they’re treated as a cash withdrawal, not as a purchase.

It can be a very expensive way to borrow, which means your debt could grow rapidly if it’s not paid off in full straight away.

Processing fees

Credit card cheques are treated the same way as if you withdrew cash from your credit card via a cash machine.

This means you could be charged a handling fee when you spend with the cheque.

No interest-free period

When using your credit card, if you always pay off your monthly bill in full, you get between 45 and 59 days of interest-free credit.

This is not the case with credit card cheques, as you’ll be charged interest from the moment the cheque is used until the entire balance is paid off.

Money spent using credit card cheques does not have the same legal protection as money spent on a credit card.

When you make a purchase of between £100 and £30,000 using a credit card, you can make a claim against the credit card company for a refund if the goods:

  • fail to arrive
  • are damaged or faulty
  • don’t meet their description.

But if you buy something using a credit card cheque you don’t get this protection.

Can credit card cheques ever be useful?

Credit card cheques are only useful if:

  • you don’t have enough in your bank account

  • you know you will be able to pay off the debt quickly and in full

  • you want to pay someone who won’t accept card payments, like emergency plumbers or electricians.

However, you should only use a credit card cheque if you absolutely have to and make sure you repay it in full as soon as possible.

This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.