Before we start talking about free credit cards, it is necessary to define somewhat what is meant be free in this context. While there are some credit cards out there that will charge you a monthly or annual subscription fee to become one of their customers and receive their credit card, these deals are becoming far less common than they used to be and therefore it is by far the norm now not to have to pay a subscription fee for a credit card. Therefore, a credit card being free in this sense will be assumed.

Not long ago, Robin Amlot posted a bit of a rant about the charity credit card craze at MSN Money. The rant was on target, as far as it went. If your intent is to donate to a charity, your favourite charity will certainly get far more from your gift if you make the donation directly. Under various charity schemes, your donated loot will actually be worth more to the charity than the amount that you contributed. But that rant rather misses the point of using a charity credit card, doesn’t it?