We like higher rate alerts

Many credit card customers will now be alerted when cheap deals such as zero per cent end, and they move to the far higher "go-to" rate.

Borrowers whose credit card issuers subscribe to the Banking Code, will be notified when introductory promotional interest rates are about to come to an end.

This is useful for rate tarts who want to roll their debts over to the next cheap deal. Any credit card company can come up with this facility, only those Banking Code subscribers have to offer it.

Some smaller organisations may not bother - they stand to lose interst payments from forgetful customers. They might argue their systems will not cope - the big banks put off the move for several months using this excuse.