What with Egg seemingly dumping credit card customers they clearly see as unprofitable, and other credit card companies clamping down, you could be forgiven for thinking that the end of low-rate plastic credit is in sight.

But, while some lenders are pulling their deals because of the credit crunch/financial fiasco/monetary madness, you can still get some very attractive 0% card offers; and they are pretty good if you have a top-notch rating.

A note of caution before you get too excited, as it can be trickier than Lionel Messi to work out which credit card offers you the best deal for your personal circumstances!

While 5.9 million of us have switched credit cards in the past six months, research from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) suggests that only 3 in 10 of us shop around for the best rate before choosing our card provider.

Recently, the OFT published a report slamming card firms for making it difficult for consumers to compare deals, and calling for banks and lenders to use standard terminology and to simplify the "summary boxes" they use to provide basic product information.

• So, who offers me the best rates?

Some lenders, including Halifax, HSBC, and Barclaycard, are pushing interest-free introductory offers on purchases and balance transfers, while American Express gives 5% cashback on purchases in the first three months.

The best deal for you will depend on how you use your credit card, though, so here are some of the market-leading offers, for whatever type of cardholder you are:

• What if I clear my balance?

Well, you are clearly not the kind of customer that Egg wants....

Cynicism aside, if you are the type of person who pays their credit card debts in full every month, you stand to benefit from a cashback deal.

This bodes well if you are planning on spending a large amount over the next few months, as the American Express Platinum card will give you 5% of all spending back in the first three months of your contract. After that, the amount you receive is tiered, depending on how much you spend.

Abbey's cashback card could prove a better bet if you spend a lot on groceries as it offers 5% back on supermarket spending of up to £1,000 until July 31.

Those looking for a longer-term deal may prefer Capital One's 1% offer of cashback for life as it has a very competitive 9.9% interest rate on purchases, so it might be a better choice if there is a chance you will occasionally be unable to clear your entire balance.

• What if I have debt to transfer?

If you are paying interest on card debts, Virgin's 15-month, 0% balance transfer offer looks good.

Egg's 0% until May 2009 is also good value, but its purchase rate is 1% higher than Virgin's at 16.9%. And let's face it, Egg's recent behavior hasn't proved popular with many of you...

You also have to take into account balance transfer fees, which are generally 2.5% to 3% of the amount being moved. If it is unlikely you will clear your debts within 15 months you will probably end up paying to switch again once the 0% deal ends.

It could therefore be more sensible to opt for Goldfish's 4.9% for 5 years balance transfer deal, which imposes a 3% initial charge but should allow you enough time to clear the account before the rate leaps (much like a goldfish does or is that a salmon..?)

Other longer-term offers to consider include HSBC's 2.9% for two years deal, which has a 2.5% balance transfer fee, and Barclaycard's 6.3% for life package. This deal has the bonus of carrying no balance transfer fee; which is good news to those of us with very large debts to pay off.

• What if I have a poor credit score?

Most credit card companies price their deals according to risk, so if you have a poor credit rating, you will unsurprisingly have to pay a higher rate.

However, if you are trying to improve your credit score, it can be a good idea to take out one of the higher-rate cards and pay it off every month, as this will enable you to build up a more favourable credit history for yourself.

However, before opting for one of these deals, it is worth checking that your credit rating is really as bad as you think it is.

The Moneysupermarket comparison site includes a search option called Smartsearch which matches you to card providers based on the answers you give to a series of questions. Applying, and being turned down, for lots of cards will have a detrimental effect on your credit score, but this service should show you what you will qualify for without you having to approach the lenders.

So while credit card lenders are getting a bit more hardline over their lending, do not fear, as we have clearly shown that there are some great credit card deals still available out there.

You just have to do a bit of research!

Claim back your credit card and mortgage exit fees

Are you wasting £137 a year on your credit card?