Aqua’s range of credit cards is designed specifically to help those with a low credit score, or those with little or no credit history, to build up their credit records.
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.
Aqua is part of the London-based NewDay group of companies, which was the credit card provider for retail giants past and present, including Debenhams, Topshop, Laura Ashley and Amazon. Aqua credit cards are also on the Mastercard network, which means they can be used in more than 35 million places worldwide.
Aqua offers customers a range of tools designed to help borrowers run their card accounts. The company is open about the fact that it aims to help people move to other finance products as their needs evolve, with the intention to “help all customers be better with credit”.
What benefits can I expect from an Aqua credit card?
Customer support. Aqua operates a local call rate customer helpline with staff available between 8am and 8pm daily.
Online account management. You can register online to make payments, check the available balance on your card, update your details and carry out a range of other tasks involved in servicing your account.
Free unlimited credit report access. The Aqua credit checker gives you a monthly-updated picture of the state of your credit record, which you can access through your online account, or by calling the Aqua customer services hotline.
Access to a range of credit-building tools and advice. Aqua’s “road to good credit” is all about helping consumers on their journey to accessing more competitive rates and services.
Applying for an Aqua credit card
The easiest and most convenient way to apply for an Aqua credit card is online – you can get an instant indication of the likelihood of your application being successful by using Aqua’s “FastCheck”, and it won’t leave a “footprint” on your credit file so you don’t have to worry about your credit score.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify for an Aqua credit card, you must:
Be 18 or over
Have a permanent UK address
Not have been registered bankrupt in the past 18 months or have bankruptcy proceedings against you
Have a current UK bank or building society account
Not have received a county court judgement in the past 12 months
Not have an existing Aqua card or have taken out another card issued by NewDay in the past 12 months
Why might your application not be approved?
If you meet the broad criteria outlined above, but have a history of bad debt, you could be rejected. Also, if you have been made the subject of a CCJ you may not be accepted, and you are unlikely to be given a card if you have ever declared bankruptcy.
Can I transfer a balance to my Aqua credit card?
Previously, Aqua had a balance transfer card (the Aqua Classic Balance Transfer credit card), however this is no longer available. But that’s not to say that your Aqua card can’t be a balance transfer card. You can do this by:
After activating your card, use either the Online Account Manager or Aqua App to request a balance transfer.
Log in, select ‘Balance Transfer’, then specify the amount and details of the card you’re transferring from. Aqua will then “handle the rest”.
Aqua customer reviews
In our 2024 customer satisfaction survey, Aqua received a relatively low score of 73% of customers who would recommend the brand to a friend. While some customers stated that the app was good, others referred to high fees, with one survey respondent saying that there was “no flexibility with payment”.
Frequently asked questions
You can get an instant indication of the likelihood of your application being successful by using Aqua’s “FastCheck”, and it won’t leave a “footprint” on your credit file. You’ll be able to see this “soft search” when you check your credit history, but other lenders won’t.
As well as using the latest online technology to ensure transactions are secure, Aqua also has dedicated teams monitoring day-to-day transactions and intercept any suspicious activity on your account.
The Aqua Secure online security suite monitors all transactions carried out using most current web browsers (e.g. Internet Explorer 5.5 and higher, and Macintosh Safari). The Aqua Secure information box appears when you enter your account details on many retailers’ e-commerce sites to show you that its security is compatible with Aqua Secure.
You can call the customer services helpline on 0333 220 2691, or from overseas by calling +44 113 244 8986.
All Mastercard credit cardholders are entitled to use their Priceless Cities rewards programme which offers access to exclusive experiences and discounts.
Before you start using it, your card obviously needs to be activated. To do this, call Aqua’s automated service on 0800 028 7777 or activate your card online via its website. Remember to sign your card as soon as you get it!
Finder credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We also show reviews from users, where we've received more than 10, with a score in yellow. We gather more reviews from customers every year in Finder's customer satisfaction survey.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio
Chris's expertise
Chris has written 609 Finder guides across topics including:
A “credit-builder” aimed at applicants who have a poor credit rating. Compare live rates and alternatives.
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