Barclaycard Rewards Visa review
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.9% APR (variable).
- Foreign transaction charge
- 0%
- Account fee
- £0
- Earn rate
- 1p per £4 spent
Our verdict
The Barclays Rewards Visa card lets you earn cashback on your day-to-day spending and benefit from waived fees on non-sterling transactions.We chose the Barclaycard Rewards Visa as our best credit card for spending overseas because it doesn't charge fees for making purchases or withdrawing cash abroad.
If you're new to credit cards, this Barclaycard could be a sensible card to start out with. It could earn you a few pennies while you spend and avoid currency conversion charges when spending abroad. The cashback you build up while spending on this card will be credited monthly to your account. Just bear in mind that if you carry a balance from month to month, then the amount you’ll pay in interest is likely to outweigh the amount you’ll earn in cashback.
If you have a limited or damaged credit history, Barclaycard might offer you a tailored (higher) interest rate. You can check your eligibility before you apply, and without affecting your credit score, at the Barclaycard site.
Provided you use it correctly (make at least your minimum repayment on time each month and stay within your credit limit, for example), then as with any credit card, you could also build your credit score over time.
Like all Barclaycards, this card comes with a few appealing extras, including pre-sale tickets and discounts on selected gigs and festivals through Barclaycard entertainment.
Pros
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No fees for foreign transactions
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No interest is charged on cash withdrawals if balance is repaid in full
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0.25% cashback on spending
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No annual fee
Cons
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Longer cashback deals on the market
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Strict eligibility criteria - you must be aged 21 and over, have good credit, have at least 4 years’ experience managing credit and have a personal income of more than £20000 a year
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Late payment fees apply
Details
Product Overview
| Issuer | Barclaycard |
| Network | Visa |
| Representative APR | 28.9% APR (variable) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Loyalty scheme | Cashback |
| Cashback details | 0.25% after £1 of yearly spend. Cashback paid On request into Card Account. Cashback paid annually or on request. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit. |
| Additional Rewards Info | Buy tickets for up to 3500 selected live events through Barclaycard entertainment and get 5% off tickets per year and exclusive pre-sale tickets on selected festivals with 10% off ticket prices. Save 10% on food and drink at all UK 02 Academy venues. Earn up to 15% cashback on selected retailers with Barclaycard Cashback Rewards. |
| Purchases | 28.9% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Balance transfers | 28.9% |
| Potential costs | 8.7Great |
| Doing its job | 8.8Great |
| Extras | 7.4Great |
| Overall Finder Score | 8.9Great |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 1% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges plus 1% of the outstanding balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfer fee | 0% |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 0% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 0% |
| Cash advance fee | 0% |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Replacement card fee | £0 |
| Duplicate statement fee | £0 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £0 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application Requirements
| Minimum Age | 21 |
| Minimum income | £20,000 |
| Availability | Available to new customers |
How does it compare?
Barclaycard's card
Finder Score for credit cards
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.
Read the full methodologyOther popular cards for overseas spending
Finder Score for credit cards
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.
Read the full methodologyApproval 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.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through Barclaycard's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0800 151 0900). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | |
|---|---|
| Fixed amount | |
| Fixed percentage | |
| Full amount |
How to apply for this Barclaycard
If you've compared cards and want to apply, completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes. Before you apply, it's a smart idea to quickly use the "eligibility checker", which can give you a good idea of your chances of approval before you apply. Crucially, because it uses a "soft" credit search, this tool won't affect your credit score.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the Barclaycard Rewards Visa?
If Barclaycard offers you this deal, it will specify a personalised credit limit based on Barclaycard's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £50, and Barclaycard does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown Barclaycard you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the Barclaycard Rewards Visa?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
There's no cash advance fee on the Barclaycard Rewards Visa.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 28.9%, which is the same as the standard purchase rate (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
How much does it cost to use the Barclaycard Rewards Visa abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 0% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£164.83), it'll cost you around £0.00 in fees.
What is the minimum payment on the Barclaycard Rewards Visa?
Each month, you must pay at least 1% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £450.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £2,000.00 outstanding, you'd pay £20.00.
Paying only the minimum required amount each month is generally not advisable as it tends to be a very expensive way to borrow money, which can lead to persistent debt.
Can I request an additional Barclaycard Rewards Visa?
Yes, in fact, you can request up to 4 more. There's no fee for additional cards. Plus, with additional cards, you could earn cashback at a faster rate. Bear in mind that card debt accrued by additional cardholders is the sole responsibility of the account holder – not the additional cardholder.
