Consumers should ask card providers to reduce their interest rates

Whilst the Bank of England has cut the base rate three times by 0.25% each time since December, credit card customers are still paying extortionate rates of interest on their outstanding balances. However, one financial group is urging consumers to contact their card providers and try to negotiate a lower rate of interest with them, stating that the interest rates on credit cards are not ’set in stone’.

Officials from Fool.co.uk state that just a small cut in interest could save consumers millions of pounds collectively, which could help to ease the effects of the global credit crunch, which has resulted in many households dealing with strained finances. One official from the site stated: "The Bank of England has trimmed interest rates three times since December 2007. But, despite the cuts, interest charges on outstanding credit-card balances remain disgustingly high."

He added: "The typical Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on popular credit cards is around 16%, which is over three times higher than the Bank of England base rate. Consumers carry about £64 billion of outstanding credit-card debt, of which three-quarters is interest bearing. This means we are forking out £7.7 billion in annual interest payments - around £250 for every credit-card holder a year. But APRs are not set in stone, and are open to negotiations. Every 1% reduction in APRs represents an extra £74 million that go into consumers’ pockets to ease the credit crunch. It is a fraction of the £50 billion bailout that lenders are grabbing from the Central Bank, which is, after all, our money."

He went on to state: "Fool.co.uk therefore urges card holders to ask their providers for a reduction in interest rates. Banks may want their cake and eat it, but we deserve a slice too, since we are paying for it."