Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The APR shown represents 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.
Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Card review 2020
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Designed for businesses with frequent overseas travel and trade, the Premium Plus card offers a wealth of perks including lounge access, reduced foreign exchange fees and cashback on all your spending.
You say: ★★★★★We say: ★★★★★
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 14.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £150 per annum, your representative rate is 49.4% APR (variable).
Up to 56 days
Interest-free each billing period
49.4%
Representative APR
£150
Yearly account fee
6 months
0% interest on purchases
Details
| Issuer | Barclaycard Business |
|---|---|
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual/monthly fees | £150 per annum |
| Purchases | 0% for 6 months reverting to 14.9% |
| Purchases interest-free period | Up to 56 days |
| Cash advances | 27.9% |
| Min credit limit | £1,000 |
| Max credit limit | Subject to status: £25,000 |
| Incentive | 0.5% after £1 of yearly spend. Maximum of £400 cashback paid per year. Cashback paid Anniversary into Card Account. If less than £10 Cashback earned in any Cashback Year, it will not be credited to the account and will not be carried forward to the following year. |
| Lounge access | Two free visits a year (with additional visits charged at £20 each). |
| Cashback details | 0.5% after £1 of yearly spend. Maximum of £400 cashback paid per year. Cashback paid Anniversary into Card Account. If less than £10 Cashback earned in any Cashback Year, it will not be credited to the account and will not be carried forward to the following year. |
Expert review
Review by
Chris Lilly
chris.lilly@finder.comChris Lilly is a publisher at finder.com. He's a specialist in credit-based products including business and personal loans, mortgages and credit cards, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their borrowing. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more.
Expert review
If your UK-based business has a turnover or new business plan that exceeds £10,000 per year, you might opt to apply for this Barclaycard to help manage a fluctuating cash flow, or simply to enjoy the impressive perks it offers.
There are downsides to consider, such as an annual fee plus further annual fees for each additional cardholder, but these are offset by low introductory and standard rates on purchases (0% for 6 months reverting to 14.9%) and significant value in features like business travel insurance, Priority Pass lounge access, access to collaborative work spaces, cashback and reduced fees on non-sterling transactions (see table below).
Provided you clear your balance in full and on time each month, you won’t be charged interest on your purchases. The card comes with up to 56 days of 0% interest on sterling transactions, although this won’t apply to cash advances (withdrawing cash from the card). For businesses whose income depends on timely payment of invoices, this can be a lifeline. Just bear in mind that if you don’t clear your balance in full – say if you only make the minimum required payment one month – you’ll be charged interest on each transaction from the day on which it occurred.
As well as an introductory offer of 6 months 0% interest on purchases (handy if you need to spread the cost of a large upcoming expenditure), this card can unlock discounts at Barclaycard’s Business Rewards partners which include Amazon Business, Experian and booking.com. You can also use your card to secure discounts on event tickets when you spend at Barclaycard Entertainment.
You can request additional cards for any eligible employee, which you’ll be able to manage online with a range of spend controls. The Premium Plus card also comes with Purchase Protection and Cardholder Misuse Insurance. However, as the account holder you will always be responsible for paying the total outstanding balance on the account. You can tell Barclaycard to cancel an additional card at anytime.
What's in this review?
The Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Card is issued on the Mastercard network so it's accepted at nearly 53 million merchants across more than 210 countries and territories.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Up to 56 days to spread the cost of purchases (provided you pay off your balance in full each month)
- Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with Barclaycard Business
- Six months to spread the cost of purchases
- Airport lounge access
Cons
- £150 annual account fee
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
- You may be offered an opening credit limit as low as £1,000
How does this deal compare?
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through Barclaycard Business's app, by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0800 029 4864). Alternatively you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates 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 want to apply, completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes. To help speed up your application, it’s a good idea to have a few key details to hand.
You’ll need your business address, trading address (and registered address if different), and company number if you have one. You’ll also be asked for financial information such as your business turnover, net profit before tax and bank details. Finally, Barclaycard will need details of each business partner/owner, including their date of birth and three years’ UK residential address history.
If you want to add additional cardholders, you can add the details of these individuals too. This will include their personal details and what financial limits you’d like to add onto your card.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Card?
If Barclaycard Business is able to offer you this deal, the offer will specify a tailored credit limit based on Barclaycard Business's assessment of your situation and your business. The minimum limit offered on the card is £1,000, while the maximum is £25,000. Once you've had the card for a while and shown Barclaycard Business that you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Card?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino, buying currency, etc.) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
The cash advance fee on the Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Card is 3% (min. £3). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £3.00. Withdraw £250, and you'll incur a fee of £7.50.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 27.9% (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
How much does it cost to use the Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 0.99% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£180.67), it'll cost you around £1.79.
What is the minimum payment on the Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Card?
Each month you must pay at least 1% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the two 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 get additional Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Cards for my team?
Yes. Barclaycard Business doesn't specify a maximum number of cards you can request. There's no fee for additional cards. Plus, with additional cards, you could earn cashback at a faster rate.
Finder credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our experts score business credit and charge cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like the flexibility it offers, any rewards you can earn through company spending, account management tools, 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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