Best card on market for new borrowing (Tesco Personal Finance)

Member Name: goose55

Product:	Tesco Personal Finance
Date:	01/10/09 (34 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 12 months interest free rate on purchases

Disadvantages: If you use online account you lose paper statements

***Reason for applying***
Applied for a Tesco credit card recently because coming to the end of an expensive project (made mistake of watching too much Property Ladder and bought house at top of market with falling down roof, no electrics, no central heating...) and am using credit cards as an alternative to a short-term loan.

***Market comparison***
The card is the best I know currently on the market if you want to make lots of purchases and delay paying them for as long as possible - it offers 12 months interest free (as long as you make the minimum payment every month, don't build up other charges etc ). It's a Mastercard and I've never had any problems having it accepted - even though you might think you would be challenged by people thinking it was just a Clubcard.

***Application***
The decision on your application is made instantly over the internet which I found very useful as paying builders/ buying materials etc means I am constantly juggling my finances. Card also came through pretty quickly, although I did wait a couple more days for my pin number to come through.

***Rewards***
I am not a committed Tesco shopper - my husband and I tend to shop at whatever supermarket is most convenient whenever we realise we need something, but the idea of picking up some extra points we could exchange for supermarket vouchers when money is tight was an added bonus. However, I don't think the rewards are particularly generous - one Clubcard point for every £4 you spend anywhere, plus usual points picked up if you use it as you would a normal Clubcard in Tescos. We've spent a lot on the card (mainly outside of Tescos) and have only earnt about £5 so far.

***General ease of use ***
The statements are pretty clear, although if you want to pay online you have to set up an account and then as far as I can see you are switched automatically to paperless statements without an option to go back to paper ones. This is environmentally friendly but a bit annoying if like me you use the paper statements to organise your finances and as a trigger for payment. I've set up a direct debit now to make sure I didn't miss a payment.

***Obvious advice***
And of course if you are getting the card to benefit from the introductory period, make sure you pay off your balance within the twelve months!!!

Summary: Not that generous with rewards but with 12 months interest free on purchases who's complaining?