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Zero pc purchases / bills

I've got a 0% purchases credit card and a loan running. Is there any technical reason why I can't pay my council tax bill on my credit card then pay the equivalent onto the loan to reduce term / interest. Is this still a "purchase"? 

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 35,383 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Does your council accept credit cards for council tax? If they do, you'll need to check how it's processed, whether as purchase or cash.
  • They do accept credit cards but the liklihood of getting an answer to your second question is pretty slim given my recent experience with them
  • born_again
    born_again Posts: 24,872 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper
    Pay it once and see how it shows on your CC bill.. One payment will not be a lot of interest if taken as a cash payment.
    Life in the slow lane
  • Stuart_W
    Stuart_W Posts: 1,868 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    This works for me.

    I have a 0% card that I have used to get a new bedroom fitted out. I then also used it to pay my council tax for the year and I now pay my monthly council tax amount to my credit card, meaning the bedroom purchase is 0% and no repayments until next year, when a savings account will mature to clear it all.

    It may depend by card and by local authority but for me it was definitely a purchase. No fees and 0%.

    Authority is Huntingdonshire and the card is M&S. Also got a spare bra for my wife with the M&S points the council tax purchase generated!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    500 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 13 October 2021 at 2:16PM
    Does your council accept credit cards for council tax? If they do, you'll need to check how it's processed, whether as purchase or cash.
    The OP would be advised upfront.

    The Council will be charged the same merchant fees for debit cards, so the they would charge for both or neither. From a practical standpoint, the reputational damage of hidden cash advance fees would prohibit the Council anyway.
  • Ebe_Scrooge
    Ebe_Scrooge Posts: 7,320 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 13 October 2021 at 2:55PM
    Does your council accept credit cards for council tax? If they do, you'll need to check how it's processed, whether as purchase or cash.

    The Council will be charged the same merchant fees for debit cards

    Wrong.  Whilst it's true that any merchant gets charged a fee for accepting a debit card, it's much less than what they get charged for accepting a credit card.  That's why a lot of very small businesses (as well as lots of car dealerships) will accept debit but not credit cards.
  • MasterG83
    MasterG83 Posts: 807 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Stuart_W said:
    This works for me.

     Also got a spare bra for my wife with the M&S points the council tax purchase generated!
    This made me laugh sorry :-:smile:
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