Store cards are credit cards tied to a particular store or for a chain of stores.
You can only receive a store card after a credit check, and usually there is an introductory offer to entice you to take out a store card. The only situation in which a store card is beneficial is if you are purchasing something big, a one-off purchase, and want to take advantage of the discount – do so, pay the bill in full and cancel the card.
Disadvantages
There are numerous disadvantages to store cards:
- It's easy to get into debt if you are enticed by the thought of reduced products but forget to examine the interest charges on the card. In some cases this interest can be as high as 30%.
- Store cards are sold by sales assistants who are not fully aware of the dangers and impact these cards can have on people. Most are told to sell the card on the basis of the introductory offer, therefore details such as interest rates are not fully disclosed to the customer.
- Your credit rating will be affected in the same way as credit cards. Be wary of just how many store cards you are opening.
- Never borrow on a store card. If you are going to borrow someone else’s money (ie: the banks) do so as cheaply as possible
Store cards can be as much as 50% more expensive than credit cards with stores having high targets and demands placed upon them by a central head office.
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