More than 5.9m people switched their credit card provider in the past six months, according to comparison site MoneyExpert.

Research carried out by the website revealed 394,000 more people switched cards during the second half of last year compared to the first six months. A further 13% of credit card customers moved provider in the past six months compared to 12% in the first half of 2007, MoneyExpert found.

Sean Gardner, chief executive of MoneyExpert.com, said: “The increase in credit card switching means that people are concentrating more on reducing debts and are less concerned about other product areas. And with bills increasing across the board, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see further rises in credit card switching in the next six months as consumers struggle to cope.

“Credit card companies still offer lengthy zero per cent deals – some as long as 15 months – which means that so-called ‘rate tarts’ will be here to stay.”