While it is always better to pay off credit card debts in full each month, there will be times when that won’t be possible. You should therefore ensure that you are paying the lowest level of interest if you have an outstanding balance.

Generally, credit providers won’t allow you to transfer your credit debts onto a BTC product they themselves offer, so moving your credit debt to a BTC means you’ll incur a switching fee.

However, this is a one-off expense – and it could be a price worth paying if the new card offers you the freedom to repay your debt without the amount owed multiplying due to interest.

Few BTCs offer a 0 per cent rate in perpetuity, although most offer it for periods of up to two years. You may, of course, wish to transfer your debt to another BTC before the interest rate rises.

While there may be some stigma attached to constantly juggling credit liabilities between different cards, it is a tactic endorsed by some industry commentators. Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, suggests those with decent credit scores who need to pay off debt at a slower rate become “credit card tarts”, “shifting debts to a new card a month before a 0 per cent deal ends”.

Below are some of the the best BTCs on the market in our view.

• Santander 123 card

This card offers a number of incentives. Holders enjoy 23 months of 0 per cent interest, and receive some cashback on many everyday purchases (including public transport, fuel, and supermarket spending), in return for an annual fee of £24.

• Tesco Bank Clubcard BTC

This card offers a year-long 0 per cent interest period, and holders accumulate Clubcard points for all spending on the card. There is no fee for joining (although a one-off fee equal to 2.9 per cent of the total debt transferred is incurred if the holder wishes to extend the 0 per cent period).

• Barclaycard Platinum

This card offers three years of 0 per cent, the longest interest-free period of any BCT yet offered to the general public. However, this comes at a price – holders pay a one-off fee equal to 3 per cent of the total debt they transfer. This card is suitable for those with sizeable credit card debts.

• Sainsbury’s Nectar BTC

This card allows holders to accumulate nectar points for all shopping they do using the card – with double points granted for purchases made at Sainsbury’s. 0 per cent interest is offered for33 months; holders pay a one-off fee equal to 2.9 per cent of the total debt transferred.

• Halifax BTC

This card offers 0 per cent for almost as long as the Barclaycard Platinum, at 34 months. Holders pay a one-off fee equal to 2.8 per cent of the total debt transferred.