Compare Credit Cards for Bad Credit


This posting will compare credit cards for bad credit scores that will include all of the companies that have been introduced here in individual posts. This comparison will be split between 2 sections. This will include the credit card lenders such as Capital One and also the branded credit cards such as Luma where they have designed their own credit card, however Capital One will fund the cards. Obviously, if you already have a Capital One card then you wouldn’t likely qualify at Luma. Some credit card lenders have a range of individual cards available (Barclaycard and Capital One for example does), but those selected today are the basic editions that naturally attract the highest interest rates. The upgraded options aren’t catered since they require good, to excellent credit scores.

Compare Credit Cards for Bad Credit…

Section 1: Credit Card Lenders…

Aquis Credit Card (2009)

Account login and SSL: Yes
Available: £150 to £1000 (£3000)
Card Issued by: Vanquis Bank Ltd (part of Provident Financial Plc)
Card Type: Visa
Interest Rate: 29.8% APR
Name: Aquis Visa Card
Served: Not stated
Trade Association: No

+ Best credit card rate
+ Largest figure of £3000 possible (shared)
– Assumed to be more strict
– No membership

Barclaycard Credit Card (1966)

Account login and SSL: Yes
Available: £150 to £2500 (maximum estimated)
Card Issued by: Barclays Bank Plc
Card Type: Visa
Interest Rate: 29.9% APR
Name: Barclaycard Initial
Served: Over 11 million customers (UK) and 22 million customers (global)
Trade Association: No

+ 2nd best credit card rate
+ Most experienced service (1966)
+ Most UK customers
+ Multiple cards available (for better credit scores)
– Assumed to be more strict
– No membership

Capital One Credit Card (1996)

Account login and SSL: Yes
Available: £200 to £1500
Card Issued by: Capital One (Europe) Plc (part of Capital One Financial Corporation)
Card Type: MasterCard
Interest Rate: 34.9% APR
Name: Capital One Classic
Served: Over 3 million customers (UK) and 40 million customers (global)
Trade Association: CSA members

+ Most global customers
+ Multiple cards available (for better credit scores)

Aqua Credit Card (2002)

Account login and SSL: Yes
Available: £250 to £1600
Card Issued by: Progressive Credit Ltd (part of SAV Credit Ltd who owns Aqua)
Card Type: MasterCard
Interest Rate: 34.9% APR (can drop to 19.9% APR in time)
Name: Aqua Advance
Served: Over 200,000 customers
Trade Association: FLA members

+ Multiple cards available (Classic has higher APR)

Vanquis Credit Card (2002)

Account login and SSL: Yes
Available: £150 to £1000 (£3000)
Card Issued by: Vanquis Bank Ltd (part of Provident Financial Plc)
Card Type: Visa
Interest Rate: 39.9% APR
Name: Vanquis Visa Card
Served: Over 1.8 million customers
Trade Association: No

+ Largest figure of £3000 possible (shared)
– No membership

Section 2: Credit Card Branded (Issued by Others)…

Granite Credit Card (2010)

Account login and SSL: Yes
Available: £150 to £1000 (£3000)
Card Issued by: Vanquis Bank Ltd (part of Provident Financial Plc)
Card Type: Visa
Interest Rate: 34.9% APR
Name: Granite Card or Granite Credit Card (part of MI Money Ltd/Media Ingenuity Group)
Served: Not stated
Trade Association: No

+ Best credit card rate
+ Largest figure of £3000 possible (shared)
– No membership

Luma Credit Card (2012)

Account login and SSL: No SSL
Available: £200 to £1500
Card Issued by: Capital One (Europe) Plc (part of Capital One Financial Corporation)
Card Type: MasterCard
Interest Rate: 35.9% APR
Name: Luma Card or Luma Credit Card (part of MI Money Ltd/Media Ingenuity Group)
Served: Not stated
Trade Association: No

+ 2nd best credit card rate
– No SSL. The application is taken at Capital One that is secure though
– Relatively new service

Argos Credit Card (2012)

Account login and SSL: Yes
Available: £150 to £1000 (£3000)
Card Issued by: Vanquis Bank Ltd (part of Provident Financial Plc)
Card Type: Visa
Interest Rate: 39.9% APR
Name: Argos Credit Card (part of Home Retail Group Plc)
Served: Not stated
Trade Association: No

+ Largest figure of £3000 possible (shared)
– Likely to be stricter than others found on this page based on this competitive rate
– APR was 29.9% APR, but has now dropped to 39.9%
– No membership
– Relatively new service

Black Diamond Credit Card (2009)

Account login and SSL: Yes
Available: £150 to £1000 (£3000)
Card Issued by: Vanquis Bank Ltd (part of Provident Financial Plc)
Card Type: Visa
Interest Rate: 59.9% APR
Name: Black Diamond Visa
Served: Not stated
Trade Association: No

+ Largest figure of £3000 possible (shared)
– No membership

Rise Credit Card (2011)

Account login and SSL: No login
Available: £300
Card Issued by: R Raphael & Sons Plc
Card Type: Visa
Interest Rate: 303% APR
Name: Rise Visa
Served: Not stated
Trade Association: No

– Interest rate is based on the monthly balance. Minimum charge of £3.50
– Must pay £20 on activation that will later becomes available
– No account login
– No membership

Shout Credit Card (2012)

Account login and SSL: No login
Available: £300
Card Issued by: R Raphael & Sons Plc
Card Type: Visa
Interest Rate: 303% APR
Name: Shout Visa
Served: Not stated
Trade Association: No

– Interest rate is based on the monthly balance. Minimum charge of £3.50
– Must pay £20 on activation that will later becomes available
– No account login
– No membership
– Relatively new service

Notes:
– As noted in the initial passage, more branded credit cards will be covered here soon.
– The account login for the introducers is usually controlled at the credit card providers and not built within their site.