Borrowers urged to use common sense

People should exercise common sense when using credit cards at Christmas, one debt organisation has advised.

Consumers must avoid spending more than they can afford to over the festive season, said James Ketchell from the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS).

He explained that Britons "traditionally" spend a lot of money on credit cards over Christmas, but added that it is important to take stock of finances before going shopping.

"We need to make sure that people do not put too much of the Christmas spending on their credit cards and that they do repay it over the course of the year," the expert advised.

He sympathised with borrowers, suggesting that spending on credit cards over Christmas is often done "in good faith and for good reasons", but highlighted the need for "common sense too".

CreditExpert recently predicted that the majority of Britons would not reduce their spending this Christmas.