Currently, the longest interest free period for balance transfers comes with a Virgin credit card which is offering 0% interest for a staggering 15 months with a 2.98% handling fee. The card also offers 0% on purchases for 3 months and you'll also get 50 days interest free on your card purchases, providing you pay your statement balance in full and on time every month.

Both theBarclaycard Platinum Visa and the Barclaycard One Pulse Visa with balance transfer Egg Visa's latest offer is 0% on balance transfers until October 2009 which at the moment is just below the 15 month mark. The APR is 16.9%, the handling fee is 3% and the card also gives you 3 months 0% interest on purchases. are offering 0% interest on balance transfers for 14 months and purchases for 3 months, but there's a slightly smaller handling fee of 2.9% for any balance transfers. (N.B. you have to watch out with this card that you're not tempted to buy more at 0% and stop yourself paying off the debt).

Natwest's Classic Credit Card has 13 months 0% interest on balance transfers with just a 2.9% transfer fee.  They will also give you a bonus in the form of 6 months 0% interest on purchases from the date you open your account.  The Royal Bank of Scotland is also offering exactly the same deal with it's classic credit card. HSBC are seeing the Abbey offer but not raising the stakes sticking at 13 months 0% AER on balance transfers and 3 months 0% AER on purchases for their HSBC Mastercard. Their typical rate is 16.9% and a 2.5% fee applies. The Mint Mastercard

Another one to look out for is the MBNA Platinum Plus visa card. This card offers 0% on balance transfers until August 2009 (3% fee applies), and 0% on purchases until the 1st of October 2008. As a little extra, you can transfer money to your current account at 0% (2.9% fee applies) until July 2009 as well. The normal interest rate is 15.9% APR.

The Citi Platinum Master Credit Card is also a good card for long-term use. For balance transfers there is 0% on all balance transfers for 13 months, with a 2.9% balance transfer fee. The typical APR is a little higher than the other two at 16.9% however, so you’ll have to work out which card will suit your needs the best. is offering 0% AER on balance transfers until July 2009. The handling fee is 2.9% and the purchase APR after June is 12.9%.

Also have a look at thePost Office credit card. It is now offering 10 months at 0% with a 2.75% transfer fee. Unusually, after you’ve had the card for a year you’ll get another 5 months of 0% on balance transfers and the same again for the second year. You’ll also get 3 months of 0% on purchases too which is nice and you don’t have to pay commission when you use this card abroad. Ideal if you’re always travelling!

If your credit rating is good then you might be able to get your hands on the Capital One Platinum Card. They'll give you 0% AER on balance transfers until September 2009 and on purchases as well. That's roughly 15 months completely interest free and definitely worth a look - click here for all the details. Don't worry if the window takes a bit of time to open - it will work and take you through so you can apply.

Another one worth a look is the Abbey Zero credit card. Although they are only giving 6 months 0% AER on balance transfers, there's no admin fee and you get 0% AER on purchases for 6 months. You also don't have to pay any commission on foreign currency exchange. The typical rate at the end of the 6 months is 18.9% APR.


0% Charity credit cards

There are a few charity credit cards out there that will offer you some great 0% introductory deals. TheHalifaxoffer two separate charity cards, one for Cancer Researchand one for NSPCC, both offering 6 months 0% on purchasesand balance transfers (3% balance transfer fee applies). As an added bonus, Halifaxwill donate £20 the first time you use one of the cards, and will donate a further 0.25% of all your spending thereafter.