Credit Card Overview
Fact: there are more credit cards than people in Britain and the country's debt problems are amongst the worst in the world.
When choosing a card provider, its policies on responsible lending and debt advice provision are of key importance. The green and ethical concerns you bring to who you bank with, concerns about equal opportunities or the environment, are just as applicable to who you get your credit card from.
This section also looks at the green or ethical worth, as well as the practicalities of charity affinity cards.
Does your credit card provider treat its customers responsibly?
What are charity affinity cards and how do they work?
Does your credit card provider treat its customers responsibly?
Responsible lending
According to the British Banker's Association (BBA), responsible lending means 'providing credit, based on background checks and professional judgement, to people who can accommodate repayments without getting into financial difficulty'. As the sheer number of people in debt today shows, these principles are not always well applied by credit lending institutions. In 2008 our credit card debt hit £54.4bn and continues to rise.
Transparency is key - credit card customers should be presented with the terms and conditions attached to their card up front and in plain English. It is important to check whether your provider has a responsible lending policy in place, and how it is implemented if it does exist.
Debt management
Credit card debt is all too common in the UK. Some financial institutions offer basic in-house debt advice services, the scope of which can vary greatly. Often providers will refer customers to free advice services including the Consumer Credit Counselling Service, the Citizens Advice Bureau and others.
Use our search tool to find details of your provider's debt management services. Information on this subject can be found under 'Responsibility toward Customers'. Alternatively contact your provider directly for further information.
What are charity affinity cards and how do they work?
Affinity card providers make a small donation on behalf of the card holder to the charity it is associated with.
Such charity donations average around 25p per £100 spent. So, in order to donate £100 to your charity of choice you'd have to spend £40,000 with the card. Most providers also make a one-off donation of between £5 and £25 on each new card account.
In their analysis of charity affinity cards moneysavingexpert.com suggest that a more effective way to donate money is to use cash back cards. Cash back cards operate in much the same way as affinity cards except that instead of a charity, additional money goes to the card holder and this money is usually considerably more than a standard charity card donation. The cash back card holder can then donate the money they have earned to the charity of their choice and if eligible, Gift Aid it, so rather than £1 the charity will receive £1.28. Donations on affinity cards are not eligible for Gift Aid.
Your next steps
See our guide Next Steps - Credit Cards for more suggestions on how to find out about your credit card provider's green and ethical policies, how to contact them and how to find the right credit card for you.
Credit Card Search
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Credit Card Provider
The AA
Green/Ethical Products
No evidence of specifically green or ethical products found.
Ethical Lending or Insurance
No evidence of an ethical insurance policy found for The AA.
Human Rights
No policy was found to indicate that The AA avoids lending to or insuring companies that directly contribute to human rights violations.
Financial Exclusion
AA provides a Disability Helpline and publishes information about products for disabled customers (including Motability car insurance) in the AA Disabled Traveller's Guide.
Offers wheelchair users, with Roadside with any other breakdown options, the AA Onward Mobility Network of accessible vehicles that allows you to travel in comfort and safety should they need to relay your vehicle home.
Offers Typetalk and textphone calls.
.
Environment
Carbon Neutral
No commitment to become fully carbon neutral was found.
Equal Opportunities
No public information found on the company’s diversity policy.
However the AA states it is an equal opportunities employer and they welcome applications from all members of the community.
Women on the Board
Not able to determine from information available.
Voluntary Standards & Initiatives
No membership of any relevant charters or initiatives found.
Charitable Giving
Acromas Holdings Ltd parent company of The AA donated £715,000 during 2012 which included:
“The AA Charitable Trust for Road Safety and the Environment which promotes safer and more responsible driving through education and training. The Drive Smart initiative offers free training for new drivers and Drive Confident is aimed at lapsed drivers. To date more than 6,000 free courses have been provided.” (Link Here)
The AA
- Insurance (Home, Motor, Life, Private Medical, Travel, Pet, Holiday Home, Learner Driver, Leisure Home, Student Car)
- Savings
- Loans
- Credit cards
The AA
The Automobile Association Limited.
The Automobile Association,
Fanum House UG,
Basing View,
Basingstoke,
Hampshire,
RG21 4EA.
