19 August 2008
UK consumers spent £92.6 billion on credit cards and debit cards in the second quarter of this year, an increase of 7.5% on the same period in 2007. Figures from the UK payments association Apacs show that 1.8 billion purchases were made using plastic between April and June 2008, up 7.8% year-on-year. The statistics also show that in the 12 months to the end of June, total outstanding credit card balances increased by £1.8 billion. According to Apacs, there are now 30.8 million credit card holders in the UK. Last month, Apacs said the raiding of a counterfeit credit card factory by police in Birmingham had been a "significant development" in the fight against credit card fraud. The Head of the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit stressed: "Together with the banking and retail industries we are working to ensure this figure is minimised." Sandra Quinn, Director of Corporate Communications at Apacs, said Chip and PIN is still the safest method of payment for goods and services.
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