Aqua offers a range of credit cards for those with poor or limited credit histories, who might struggle to get approved for more mainstream cards.
Aqua Classic Credit Card review 2023
By Chris Lilly
- Representative example:
- Assumed credit limit £1,200, representative 34.9% APR (variable), purchase rate 34.95% p.a. (variable).
- Minimum credit limit
- £250
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 48 days
- Account fee
- £0
Our verdict
A “credit-builder” card aimed at people with a poor credit ratingLike other cards in Aqua’s range, the Classic card is a "credit builder". That means it's specifically designed for those with a limited or damaged credit history, and comes with features tailored to protecting and building your credit score. They're also generally a bit easier to get approved for.
With the Classic Card you'll get a relatively low, personalised opening credit limit and a relatively high standard rate (which can also be tailored to the applicant). On the plus side, however, if you clear your balance in full each month you’ll be able to take advantage of up to 48 days of 0% interest on your purchases each billing cycle – potentially making that high interest rate irrelevant.
To protect credit scores, cardholders will benefit from text alerts and a decent mobile app, plus free access to CreditView services.
Ultimately, this card can be considered a fairly safe stepping stone to other cards or loans with better rates, including others in Aqua's own range.
Please note: you can’t have two Aqua accounts or open an Aqua account within 12 months of opening a Marbles, Fluid or Opus account, issued by New DayPros
-
Applicants with low credit scores may be eligible
-
No annual fee
Cons
-
Although the rate is good by credit builder standards, it's not a card you'd want to carry a balance on for months and months
Details
Product overview
| Issuer | NewDay Ltd |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Minimum credit limit | £250 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status: £1,200 |
| Credit limit note | Subject to status |
| Purchases | 34.95% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 48 |
| Balance transfers | 34.95% |
| Potential costs | ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | ★★★★★ |
| Extras | ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder rating | ★★★★★ |
| Overall customer rating | ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 1% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges plus 1% of the outstanding balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Money transfer fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.95% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.95% |
| Cash advance fee | 5% (min. £4) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £12 |
Application requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Residency | UK resident |
| Availability | Available to new customers |
| Additional Criteria | You must not have taken out an Aqua, Marbles, opus or Fluid card in the past 12 months. You must not have received a County Court Judgement (CCJ) in the past 12 months. |
The Aqua Classic Credit Card is issued on the Mastercard network so it's accepted at more than 50 million merchant locations across more than 210 countries and territories.
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How does it compare?
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Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
The bottom line
The Aqua Classic credit card is a fairly standard “credit-builder” card aimed at those with limited or poor credit history. As is standard with these types of card, this means you’re likely to get a low credit limit and high interest rate. It also means you won’t get any fancy bells and whistles in the form of rewards or cashback schemes.
But by paying off your balance in full each month, you can slowly build your credit score and qualify for more premium cards.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through aqua's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0333 220 2691). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and damaging your credit score – making it harder and more expensive to borrow money in the future – and getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) as a result.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | Fixed amount | Fixed percentage | Full amount |
|---|---|---|---|
How to apply
If you've compared cards and settled on the Aqua Classic Credit Card, completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes. Before you apply, check that you meet the eligibility requirements and have the information and documents you'll need to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the Aqua Classic Credit Card?
If aqua is able to offer you this deal, the offer will specify a personalised credit limit based on aqua's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on the card is £250, while the maximum is £1,200. Once you've had the card for a while and shown aqua that you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the Aqua Classic Credit Card?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
The cash advance fee on the Aqua Classic Credit Card is 5% (min. £4). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £4.00. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a rather painful fee of £12.50.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 39.94%, which is 14% more than the standard purchase rate (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 48 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
How much does it cost to use the Aqua Classic Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.95% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£171.53), it'll cost you around £5.06 in fees.
What is the minimum payment on the Aqua Classic Credit Card?
Each month you must pay at least 1% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £450.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £2,000.00 outstanding, you'd pay £20.00.
Paying only the minimum required amount each month is generally not advisable as it tends to be a very expensive way to borrow money which can lead to persistent debt.
Can I transfer money from the Aqua Classic Credit Card to a bank account?
Yes. That's what's known as a "money transfer" (rather than a "balance transfer") in credit card jargon. You can arrange this from your online banking or using aqua's app. This part of your card balance will incur interest of 37.95%. The fee for a money transfer is 3% (min. £3).
Finder credit card ratings
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★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our experts score credit builder credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like interest rates, credit limits, features to help you track your credit, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.
You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.
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