Free credit cards online: caution when it comes to promises in adverts

Has someone called you to offer you a free credit card? Did you find "instant credit" or credit "without a credit investigation" on the internet? It might seem appealing but could end up being expensive for you. Our tip: Be cautious when it comes to offers you find online.
Verbraucherin sucht online Kreditkarte

Has someone called you to offer you a free credit card? Did you find "instant credit" or credit "without a credit investigation" on the internet? It might seem appealing but could end up being expensive for you. Our tip: Be cautious when it comes to offers you find online. We explain what you need to bear in mind here.

Off

A credit card without a credit investigation: How can you identify untrustworthy providers?

Untrustworthy providers try to get new customers using modern websites with a familiar-looking design, fake reviews and quality labels. Then there are the popular advertising slogans: "fair", "transparent", "guaranteed pay-out", "free", "no credit check". Ultimately, consumers who are looking for financial support are lured into taking out credit and paying hidden costs.

Loans purporting to be free and credit cards without credit checks are generally associated with hidden costs!

Hidden costs: An expensive pre-paid credit card in the post

"Free" credit offers like these are usually not trustworthy. If you don’t realise that you are being ripped off in time and you sign a contract, you will probably receive an expensive pre-paid credit card in the post. What does that mean? You have to load a pre-paid credit card with money before you can use it to make payments. What is particularly frustrating is that the cards are not actually free at all. You have to pay for the credit card quickly, which is often "cash on delivery", i.e. when you receive the letter in the post. You are often sent other bills subsequently too.

What can you do about that?

If you have already ordered a credit card purporting to be free from an untrustworthy website, you should refuse to accept "cash on delivery" post. You will not find a credit card or confirmation of credit in the envelope but a pre-paid credit card. It is important that you cancel the contract immediately to avoid further bills or debt collection letters.

Are you unsure how to do this? You can get personal advice from the Consumer Advice Centre.

Refuse to accept any cash on delivery post and cancel the contract immediately!

Verbraucherin sucht online Kreditkarte

Kostenlose Kreditkarten im Internet: Vorsicht bei Werbeversprechen

Bietet Dir jemand telefonisch eine kostenlose Kreditkarte an? Entdeckst du im Internet einen "Sofortkredit" oder einen Kredit "ohne Schufa"? Das klingt verlockend, aber es kann für dich teure Folgen haben. Unser Tipp: Sei vorsichtig bei Angeboten im Internet.

Verbraucherin sucht online Kreditkarte

Ostrożnie z bezpłatnymi kartami kredytowymi w internecie

Zaoferowano Ci telefonicznie bezpłatną kartę kredytową? Natrafiasz co rusz w internecie na oferty szybkich kredytów albo kredytów bez tzw. niemieckiej Schufa? Brzmi zachęcająco, ale w ostatecznym rozrachunku może dużo kosztować. Nasz wskazówka: zachowaj ostrożność w przypadku takich ofert.

Schmuckbild

Abzocke auf online-wohngeld.de: Hier wird kein Wohngeld beantragt!

Auf der Website online-wohngeld.de könnten Verbraucher:innen den Eindruck bekommen, dass sie dort Wohngeld beantragen können. Das ist jedoch nicht der Fall und kostet auch noch Geld!

Lunch & Learn

In ihrem digitalen Vortragsformat „Lunch & Learn“ vermittelt die Verbraucherzentrale Bayern die wichtigsten Infos in der Mittagspause.

Musterfeststellungsklage gegen Kreissparkasse Stendal

Die Kreissparkasse Stendal hat vielen Prämiensparern nach Ansicht der Verbraucherzentrale jahrelang zu wenig Zinsen gezahlt. Deshalb klagt der vzbv für die Kund:innen der Sparkasse Klage. Kunden:innen sollen ihre Zinsen in der Höhe erhalten, die ihnen zusteht.

Der vzbv führt die Verfahren vor dem Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) nicht weiter. Kund:innen können die ihnen zustehenden Zinsen nun einfordern.