Independent Australian credit journal · General information only
Plenty Valley · Melbourne
Plenty CreditPlain-English guides to credit, loans and household money in Australia.
Topic hub
Guides to Australian credit cards: how interest and interest-free periods work, when a balance transfer helps, and how to close a card without a nasty surprise on your score.
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Pay the card to a confirmed $0, redeem rewards, then close in writing. Utilisation and the age of your file can move when a limit disappears, but a closed account still sits on the report for a time.
9 min read · 14 August 2026
A 0% transfer can cheapen existing card debt if you stop spending and actually clear it before the promotional cliff. Fees, eligibility and new purchases are how the same product becomes more expensive.
9 min read · 1 July 2026
Purchase rates, cash advances and residual interest are different machines. Miss a full repayment and the interest-free window can vanish, while minimums keep the balance alive for years.
10 min read · 22 March 2026
Start with how you will repay, not with points. Interest-free days, annual fees, rewards and eligibility all change the cost. A card is a poor “credit building” project without a repayment plan.
10 min read · 28 February 2026
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