Halifax Clarity Card - Best Way to Use it?

JumpJet

I've just applied and been accepted for a Halifax Clarity credit card. Until yesterday I had a Nationwide Flexaccount which was used solely whilst abroad on holidays. I closed the account because of the upcoming charges when used abroad.

What's the best way to use the Halifax Clarity credit card instead? Is it possible to avoid charges and interest by "loading" the card before travelling, in other words having a credit balance? I believe it doesn't attract charges for purchases abroad but does if used at ATMs for cash withdrawals... Am I right?

Your thoughts please?:question::question:

lisyloo

This has been discussed a million times (may I respectfully suggest using the search facility in future before posting).

It's against Ts&Cs to load your card.
Chances are your money will be refunded.
Worse case they stop your card whilst your on holiday.

Don't breach the Ts&Cs.

My advice is to pay when you get back and suffer tiny charges.
Alternatively you can set up payments in advance via internet banking or use an internet cafe or wifi whilst your on holiday.
Personally I prefer not to spend my holiday looking for internet cafes so my advice is enjoy your holiday and pay it off when you get back.

Willy_Heckaslike

Like Roger on the 1st post. I am with Nationwide and used there Flexacount abroad (Non Europe) because they did not charge for cash withdrawals. However I am getting fed up with Nationwide for starting to charge for everything like the big banks. Have they forgotten their customers.
I applied for the Halifax Clarity card and got one with quite a high credit limit at 12.9% which I was going to use next time I am in the far east. However as stated in the second post you are not allowed to preload it (T&C's) even though the lady from the Halifax said it was completey free to use abroad.( I think she was too busy on that stupid radio station they have on the advert) So a bit of a waste of time getting it. Still it might work out cheaper if I pay it off as soon as I get home or better still pay it off on line whilst on holiday. Thinking of leaving the Nationwide as they don't care about their customers anymore.

brian535

Everyone says it is against the T&C to load your card so you can draw cash abroad interest free but Clause 3.6 says ..."if you pay more than the amount shown on on you statement we will use any remaining payment to pay off transactions that have not yet appeared on your statement...". "transaction " includes "cash advance" "plus any interest, fees or insurance payment charged as a result of that transaction". So unless they charge interest on the cash even when you have a positive balance, you can load the card to draw cash?

Azrael_1701

7.7 You must not make payments or transfer funds from another credit or store card to your account that would leave a credit balance on your account. We may return any funds that exceed the balance owing on your account to the account from which the money was sent.

lisyloo

So a bit of a waste of time getting it.

I don't agree.
If you pay the card off in 2 weeks then the interest rate is 0.5%. For a month it's about 1%.
Do you know of any cards that are cheaper for cash?

lisyloo

Everyone says it is against the T&C to load your card so you can draw cash abroad interest free but Clause 3.6 says ..."if you pay more than the amount shown on on you statement we will use any remaining payment to pay off transactions that have not yet appeared on your statement...". "transaction " includes "cash advance" "plus any interest, fees or insurance payment charged as a result of that transaction". So unless they charge interest on the cash even when you have a positive balance, you can load the card to draw cash?

No I don't think your interpretation is correct.
What they are saying is that if you pay more that the statement amount then they will apply it to transactions that have already taken place but are not yet on a statement.

This is not the same as loading the card for future transactions that haven't happened yet.

Q. Is it worth the risk of having your card stopped and losing the benefits of using it? (which could be serious if it's the only card you've taken).
I always suggest taking at least 2 cards abroad in case one is stopped or mag strip fails. You don't have to always carry your worldly goods around with you. You can leave any spare cards in the safe at your hotel.

JumpJet

Many thanks for these replies, I'm very grateful. I've now closed the Nationwide account, because their attitude stinks... They've mareketed themselves as being different, but guess what, they're not!!

I'm going to keep this Halifax Clarity card solely for use abroad, and I'll set up a D/D to repay the total balance every month. No charges and a great exchange rate on purchases, and with a small interest charge for cash withdrawals at ATMs. Surely that's not too bad is it?

I'm such a dweeb as this subject has enthralled me for years. I've used a Post Office travel card, preloaded, but I've always suspected dodgy exchange rates with that one.

I've also got a Halifax debit card and have been hammered on charges for purchases and cash withdrawals abroad. The worst was when I booked a hotel in France on line using the Halifax debit card. For one reason or another there was an error which resulted in the hotel crediting me with what they'd debited less than half an hour later. Halifax's charges were eyewatering even though the same amount was credited (can't remember the exact sum). I grizzled like hell, without joy needless to say!

I'll let you know how I get on with the Clarity card...

lisyloo

No charges and a great exchange rate on purchases, and with a small interest charge for cash withdrawals at ATMs. Surely that's not too bad is it?

No. ti's very good.
It's one of the best deals around for cash.

You can also pay on-line (either from your bank end or Halifax end) as well as your DD.
Normally if you do it well in advance of your DD date then your DD should take account of your payment.
If you do it close to the DD date, then it's possible the DD might not get amended due to timescales (it's a batch process not real time).

Halifax's charges were eyewatering even though the same amount was credited

You would unfortunately face double charges here.
You would face currency charges both ways.
If it was the hotels error you could ask them for some compensation, but if it wasn't Halifax's fault then they still need to be paid for converting the currency at the rate agreed.

andys15

Roger_Hemming wrote: »

Many thanks for these replies, I'm very grateful. I've now closed the Nationwide account, because their attitude stinks... They've mareketed themselves as being different, but guess what, they're not!!

I'm going to keep this Halifax Clarity card solely for use abroad, and I'll set up a D/D to repay the total balance every month. No charges and a great exchange rate on purchases, and with a small interest charge for cash withdrawals at ATMs. Surely that's not too bad is it?

I'm such a dweeb as this subject has enthralled me for years. I've used a Post Office travel card, preloaded, but I've always suspected dodgy exchange rates with that one.

I've also got a Halifax debit card and have been hammered on charges for purchases and cash withdrawals abroad. The worst was when I booked a hotel in France on line using the Halifax debit card. For one reason or another there was an error which resulted in the hotel crediting me with what they'd debited less than half an hour later. Halifax's charges were eyewatering even though the same amount was credited (can't remember the exact sum). I grizzled like hell, without joy needless to say!

I'll let you know how I get on with the Clarity card...

Well I got the Clarity card, when I saw it on MSE, about a month before I went on hols. I have cancelled my nationwide CC which I used 2 years ago in Florida, but not used since. I think the clarity card is great. I have never used a CC to get cash before, but I was in a dilema on holiday where I had to get cash out. I was in Barbados and not all places accept card. Anyway, the first time I used it for cash, I check on the internet when I got back to my apartment to see what I would be charged. 12.9% and nothing else. Chuffed to pieces, I ended up using it 3 more times on hols for cash advances.

DJFearRoss

Couple of things...

I withdrew money on Sunday on my card (i'm abroad), I checked it on online on Sunday & Monday and it was still not showing. I wanted to pay it off immediately and I was ensured by the girl on the phone i could to keep my interest payment down.

Then today (Tuesday) it is now showing, says the Transaction date is Sunday (correct) and the Date Entered is Monday (incorrect!)
When I went to make payment it says I need to select a date in the future to make the payment i.e Wednesday!

Therefore, will i now be charged 3 days interest? I never read anything about this on any forum before getting the card.

Also, what is the maximum cash withdrawl? I assume it is the same as my Halifax debit card?