It looks like the writing’s on the wall for 0% credit card deals.

The credit card companies give with one hand and take away with another. They’ve been forced now to be a bit fairer with their charges (i.e. they can’t put their rates up overnight, they have to give you a month’s warning, and they can’t hike up their rates just because you’ve missed a few payments).

Now, also, they’ve agreed to include an option for customers to transfer deals, or freeze the account and pay off debts at the current interest rate if the company wants to raise its Annual Percentage Rate (APR).

But…and this is a big but…they’re going to want to claw back that cash some other way. Oh yes, we don’t get away with it that easily!

So, don’t be surprised if we start to see credit cards actually charging us an annual fee for the joy and thrill of owning one. Remember those annual charges – even monthly ones in some cases? It seems incredible now, as we’ve got so used to practically being paid to have a card (literally in some cases – I’m still using a DVD player I got for free with an MBNA card!).

Not only that, but it’s highly likely that we’re coming to the end of the 0% balance transfer and 0% on payments credit cards. Nightmare! I love those cards and I’ve used them a lot.

There are still a few good deals around which you can find in this article and this article but in particular, if you haven’t already, go and apply for the Virgin credit card now (20 months at 0% for balance transfers) so that you have it in time for the sales. Grab it while it’s there because, mark my words, the days of the 0% deals are numbered.