Aqua Card review

The annual fee is £0 on the Aqua Classic, and the balance transfer version carries the same figure. The only regular cost is therefore the interest on a balance you carry, at a representative APR of 39.9%.

The representative APR is 39.9%, which is high for a UK credit card. It suits people who clear their balance each month rather than rolling one, since interest accrues on whatever you carry.

The balance transfer card gives 5 of interest free transferred balances, and each transfer costs 3%. That intro period is short, so it suits a balance you can clear inside it rather than one you move repeatedly.

The card is aimed at applicants with poor credit (poor), and it is issued in the UK by NewDay Ltd. Approval still rests on a credit check, so a poor credit file makes the card reachable rather than certain.

Aqua Card is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, and it also holds a Payment Services Regulations registration, 555318. The card is issued by NewDay Ltd, so the money in the account sits under UK regulation.

The app carries credit score checks, the Aqua Coach credit building tool, and offers and discounts from well-known brands, all listed as perks (24/7 fraud protection, Free credit score checks in the Aqua app and Aqua Coach credit building tool). It also handles instant spend with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and shows when a limit rises on a well managed account.

Support runs on phone, chat and help centre, so you can call, chat or use the help centre. The call centre is UK based, which matters when you are disputing a transaction or chasing a query on a UK account.

Fraud protection runs around the clock on the card (24/7 fraud protection, Free credit score checks in the Aqua app and Aqua Coach credit building tool), and the contactless Mastercard handles everyday spend. Instalment plans give some breathing room if a month is tight, and credit limit increases reward well managed accounts.