If consumers consider credit card rates too high and too expensive to pay back they should not use these products, the director of a charity that offers financial advice and training has stated.

Director of Credit Action Chris Tapp added that consumers should have sufficient financial knowledge to be able to make sensible decisions about whether to use certain credit cards or not.

He added that investing in a credit card is in some ways no different to buying any other product.

"Imagine if you went to the supermarket and were charged five pounds for a bag of pasta. You would refuse to buy it because it is too expensive," he explained.

He added that it is true that credit cards are more expensive than they were a couple of years ago, but this is because lending is more risky than it was in the past.

Mr Tapp stated his belief that credit cards are not just profiteering by increasing their rates.

The average credit card rate has hit a 12-year high or 18.8 per cent according to Moneyfacts.co.uk.