Would paying a utility bill still count under 0% spending?

thisNameIsTaken

I'm looking to pay a utility bill on a new 0% on spending card and wondered whether that would count as spending, or is it limited to retail purchases?

Furthermore, could someone enlighten me as to the difference between the following two statements here:

# money.marksandspencer.com/cards/credit-card/landing/credit-card-offer

=> 15 months' shopping with no interest to pay
=> Up to 55 days' interest-free credit – when you pay your balance in full and on time each month

I'm a bit confused by this. Isn't the 15 months' shopping, interest-free credit anyway? What's the 55 days' thing about? There's obviously something I'm missing, so if a more credit-savvy person could let me know, it'd be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

sdavies13

I've paid my council tax via a 0% purchases card without issue so should be the same for utility bills (if they accept payment via a credit card (some accept via debit but not credit cards) without extra processing charges).

The 0% on purchases is a special offer for a limited period (15 months in your case).

Up-to 55 days interest free is part and parcel of the credit card's operating structure, so does not end after your 15 month 0% period ends.

Fact of the matter is both sections run in parallel for the 15 month period. However some cards can do 0% on purchases but not other forms of transactions (such as cash withdrawals), whereas the 55 days interest free may also apply to non-purchase transactions (barring any fees levied for such transactions).

thisNameIsTaken

Thanks for the quick reply. Your answer makes sense, so - much appreciated.

bengal-stripe

thisNameIsTaken wrote: »

I'm looking to pay a utility bill on a new 0% on spending card and wondered whether that would count as spending, or is it limited to retail purchases?

That would be a purchase, not a cash withdrawal. But the utility company is likely to charge you a premium (about 2 - 4% extra) for using a CC.

thisNameIsTaken wrote: »

=> 15 months' shopping with no interest to pay
=> Up to 55 days' interest-free credit – when you pay your balance in full and on time each month.

The 15 months is a promotional offer: You must pay every month at least the minimum and on time, or the deal might be withdrawn.

The second sentence is the regular deal: you must pay in full and on time, otherwise interest will be due from the day of purchase.

Careful_ly

I have paid N Power by credit card, leaving the direct debit in place to get the better prices, and have not been charged any fee. It was treated as a purchase.
I have also made payments to BT by credit card and not been charged.
My local council accepts payment by credit card too without any additonal fee.

HTH

sol198

Sorry to hijack but I'm in a similar position but it's with the wife's catalogue,

She currently has 2 with very and isme with a grand total of 1100 between them, she runs them meticulously with payments and has never had any penalties in 4 years of these accounts,

We have just had a baby and I'd like to free up the 50-60 quid per month she pays on them to have a wee bit more disposable income in her account for when SMP starts, she said no as it's her debt but as she does so much I really don't mind, we are both teachers and I have been on a money drive lately to trim down all our outgoings into just one wage and I'm about 200 quid away from this goal of living off one wage and saving the other.

I have recently got a purchase card at 13months at 0%

I offered to take on the direct debit from her but was wondering If paying the bill in full with my purchase card would be accepted as a purchase and qualify for the 0%

Basically at worst it's gonna be 39.9% dropping down to my card rate of 19.9 so even if it's not accepted it's still gonna save money just paying it all with the card

It's the same predicament as the original post but just with a catalogue account,

Many thanks in advance and apologies to original poster.

YorkshireBoy

sol198 wrote: »

I have recently got a purchase card at 13months at 0%

Which one?

daveboy

I was under the impression utility bills could only be paid for either by direct debit, debit card, online banking or possibly through the Post Office.

I pay my gas and electricity by direct debit, and my water through Santander's bill payment site. I cannot pay my water bill with a credit card at all. Same with the council tax as that is also done on there.

Maybe you can do so if you phone them up, and maybe I am wrong, but I've never seen the option to pay utility bills by credit card.

Looking at my water bill, on the back the option isn't there.

Even if you could, I bet they would levy a 2% charge which means it would be stupid to pay that way.

YorkshireBoy

daveboy wrote: »

Same with the council tax...

Even if you could, I bet they would levy a 2% charge which means it would be stupid to pay that way.

Not that I pay this way, but my Council accepts payments by credit card for Council Tax, and doesn't charge a fee for doing so.

There is, of course, a school of thought that says if they operate like this, ie absorbing the 2% or whatever merchant fee, we all end up paying more!