Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

Geege

I plan to go to Australia this year, in September or maybe sooner to visit family. I currently shop with Nationwide (Flex account) and already have two credit cards, one with Barclaycard and one with Lloyds.

I'm thinking of applying for a Clarity card solely for use at ATMs and purchases in shops in FNQ (Coles, Woolys supermarkets etc).

I have a decent income and good credit rating (always pay my bills on time, never missed a payment for example, but not always in full of course as I have outstanding credit card balances)

Some of the reviews online for the Clarity card are quite poor, in that customer service is poor, it is difficult for pay your bills or do online banking and some places not accpeting it, despite being a Mastercard! Some people also complain of only getting very low credit limits despite having a good credit rating.

What are people's experiences of using the Clarity card in Australia and what do you think of the online banking aspect. How easy is it to pay bills? and what credit limit did you get?

The other option I have is apply for a Nationwide Select Credit card (not as good on fees I know), or even open a Suncorp Bank, Everyday Basic bank account and use their debit card for ATM and purchases, (I which I might do anyway as I'm a previous customer who used to live in QLD)

What are your thoughts?

zagfles

Geege wrote: »

I plan to go to Australia this year, in September or maybe sooner to visit family. I currently shop with Nationwide (Flex account) and already have two credit cards, one with Barclaycard and one with Lloyds.

I'm thinking of applying for a Clarity card solely for use at ATMs and purchases in shops in FNQ (Coles, Woolys supermarkets etc).

I have a decent income and good credit rating (always pay my bills on time, never missed a payment for example, but not always in full of course as I have outstanding credit card balances)

Some of the reviews online for the Clarity card are quite poor, in that customer service is poor, it is difficult for pay your bills or do online banking and some places not accpeting it, despite being a Mastercard! Some people also complain of only getting very low credit limits despite having a good credit rating.

What are people's experiences of using the Clarity card in Australia and what do you think of the online banking aspect. How easy is it to pay bills? and what credit limit did you get?

The other option I have is apply for a Nationwide Select Credit card (not as good on fees I know), or even open a Suncorp Bank, Everyday Basic bank account and use their debit card for ATM and purchases, (I which I might do anyway as I'm a previous customer who used to live in QLD)

What are your thoughts?

Get both - the Select card is fee free for purchases and it's always worth having at least two good cards (I also have the Flex Plus account which gives fee free cash withdrawals - there's a £10pm fee but that gives perks worth at least that much to me such as family travel insurance inc winter sports and European breakdown cover).

I've not used the Clarity in Aus but I have in NZ and it was fine everywhere except for one random decline, at a petrol station, very strange as it worked 30 mins later in supermarket! But I gave it a real good hammering and it worked everywhere else both at ATMs and for purchases.

Geege

Many thanks for the reply. I ideally didn't want to apply for another 2 credit cards in one go as that may damage my credit rating wouldn't it? It is reassuring to know about the good experience of the clarity card. If you don't mind me asking what was your credit limit?

~Chameleon~

I applied for Clarity the week before travelling and was accepted with a £5k+ credit limit. It operates exactly the same as Lloyds (they own Halifax now) so absolutely no problems.

eddiemacthedog

I have a couple of questions, I leave for Tenerife next Friday and have a clarity but would like some cash for general purchases any recommendations and also head to NY in June and again I have the clarity but if the rate goes down I'll lose out so with the highish rate just now where would be best to buy some dollars.

Thanks

alan_p_brown

raveydave wrote: »

and I'll be stung by debit card charges by the bank if I use that instead.

Used to have the same problem with collecting cash from Travelex (or now MoneyCorp) at the airport (pre-ordered needless to say).
But I am pretty sure that Barclays have now dropped the surcharge for buying foreign currency in the UK on their debit card. Not sure if any other banks have as well?

zagfles

Geege wrote: »

Many thanks for the reply. I ideally didn't want to apply for another 2 credit cards in one go as that may damage my credit rating wouldn't it? It is reassuring to know about the good experience of the clarity card. If you don't mind me asking what was your credit limit?

They gave me £8k, not sure why!

vix2000

zagfles wrote: »

Get both - the Select card is fee free for purchases and it's always worth having at least two good cards (I also have the Flex Plus account which gives fee free cash withdrawals - there's a £10pm fee but that gives perks worth at least that much to me such as family travel insurance inc winter sports and European breakdown cover).

I can't understand why the Flex Plus isn't mentioned in the Travel Money section of the main site???

zagfles

vix2000 wrote: »

I can't understand why the Flex Plus isn't mentioned in the Travel Money section of the main site???

Probably because it has a fee - it's only worth getting if you're going to make use of the insurances particularly European breakdown and family travel.

Geege

Just to throw a spanner in the works...

Nationwide Select Credit Card
(for existing customers, which I am)

Limited Time Offer: 0% for 26 months on Balance Transfers, with a fee of only 0.75% (minimum £5.00). This is a limited time offer, available on applications made before 31st March 2014. Nationwide reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

0% on purchases for 15 months

Cashback: 0.5% unlimited cashback on all your sterling purchases

Unlimited commission-free purchases abroad

Cash fee 2.5% (minimum £3.00) of the amount withdrawn on each cash advance.

Balance transfer fee
0.75% (minimum £5.00) of the amount of each balance transfer.

Foreign usage

"Yes, that's right, the Nationwide Select Credit Card features commission-free purchases abroad. Quite simply all purchases overseas will be free of any commission charges. That's great news for your holiday spending".

Compare the costs of using your card abroad - Visa Exchange Rate

Cash Fee 2.5% (min £3.00) of the amount withdrawn on each cash advance

It seems the only downside now in getting the Nationwide Select Credit Card over the Halifax Clarity is the Cash Withdrawal fee.

For the long term (considering I could benefit from the balance transfer deal), this new offer seems to be the best option, what do you think?