moneysupermarket.com: Abbey Zero card

Commenting on the return of the Abbey Zero card Kevin Mountford, head of credit cards at moneysupermarket.com, said: "This is good news for holiday makers. The lack of charge for use abroad is a key feature, especially as Nationwide, which was the key player in this market, recently began levying charges for transactions outside the Visa Europe region. Travelers may find this the cheapest way to spend when overseas. Other cards typically charge between 2.75 and three per cent, meaning a family spending £2000 on holiday could be paying their provider up to £60 just to use their credit card, with the Abbey Zero card no such charge exists.

"The introductory rates are impressive, though it's zero per cent on balance transfers period of nine months falls some way short of Virgin's newly extended 15 month offer as well as Abbey's own 15 month balance transfer card, and there are plenty of cards offering more than three months zero per cent on purchases. It really goes to show that competition within the credit card market remains strong.

"Customers should take full advantage of this competition by using their credit cards shrewdly. Ultimately, the Abbey Zero card is for spending abroad - if you want a card for balance transfers or purchases there are better deals out there."