Cash withdrawals abroad

ballyboley

Does anyone know if it would work to pre-load the Halifax clarity card so it has as positive balance and then go abroad and withdraw cash from that positive balance? Would that have the effect of free cash withdrawals without a loading or a fee?

Thanks

lisyloo

I've just tried to make a debit card payment to Egg through Egg's website for a transaction that I know will be going through.
It will not allow me to pay more than the balance, so until it's registered I can't pay it off.

I don't think BACS will know your CC balance, but it could get returned at the other end.
I personally think it's going to be difficult to avoid interest altogether.

EW1

Is it possible to preload the Halifax clarity credit card with cash to avoid interest charges on cash withdrawals

KingL

Nope.

Covered in more detail posts 42-44 in this thread

lisyloo

Is it possible to preload the Halifax clarity credit card with cash to avoid interest charges on cash withdrawals

No, it's against Ts&Cs.
Your money will be returned or you card could be stopped meaning you'll have to find a alternative (more expensive) way to pay.
Your money is also probably not insured against theft/fraud.

I don't think there are any cards you can preload anymore.
You used to be able to do it with Egg Money but that has changed recently.

KingL

I've had an old HSBC Mastercard in credit for about 5 months now following a holiday pre-load that I didn't use. Not sure if it's officially allowed, but nobody told me off for it..... I guess their foreign currency rates are horrendous tho'

dzug1

KingL wrote: »

I've had an old HSBC Mastercard in credit for about 5 months now following a holiday pre-load that I didn't use. Not sure if it's officially allowed, but nobody told me off for it..... I guess their foreign currency rates are horrendous tho'

No - reasonably good as these things go.

lisyloo

Actually foreign currency has never been horrendous on credit/debit cards cards.
It's about 3%which is really quite good compared with say changing cash on the high st abroad or in a hotel.

It's always been quite reasonable, just that MSEs like to save this money if it's not necessary to pay it (and quite right too).

Obviosuly I'm talking about conversion rates.
Clearly you have to pay on top if you borrow someone else's cash.

trevorh

I have applied for the Halifax Clarity Reward card and have been accepted on typical 12.9% APR but credit limit unknown at the moment (as I didn't pick it up from the form I returned as advised elsewhere in this thread!)

However on reading the Agreement I can't find any mention of the £5 cashback (I have a Current a/c with Halifax and pay in over £1000/month). I rang their call centre (0131 549 8050) and was assured that I had applied for the correct one and would be receiving the cashback as the conditions. They said they were aware of this 'error' in the agreement and had advised the 'higher ups'

I'll have to wait and see if I get the £5 but I'm not happy that it doesn't form part of the agreement. Has anyone else got an Agreement with the cashback mentioned??

Moneysaversbandc

I have read the replies saying that it is not possible to pre-pay into Clarity card in advance so that cash withdrawals can be made abroad, but has anybody actually tried to do it yet?

Likewise with Nationwide credit card which currently has no charges - would it be possible to pay more funds into the card in advance of going abroad so that cash withdrawals could be made without interest?

Martin, please can you test this possibility.

I really think that Nationwide have lost the plot with this one, I can understand that they do not want people just using the free facilities abroad, but surely they could have applied rules of having a current account. I thought that a mutual society was owned by members for the benefit of members!!!!!