Ditching Nationwide Card for what?

Lad

Thanks for your replies and giving me an idea of what I can do.

I had a quick read on the Post Office site and from what I can see, both Halifax Clarity and the Post Office offer fee free use abroad on purchases. For cash withdrawal, I can't see it being fee free as well but their interest rate is higher. So am I right thinking Halifax Clarity is the one to go for as its 12.9% APR opposed to 16.9% APR? I'm not sure if I've missed something if you guys are using a Post Office card (unless you got it before the Halifax Clarity came out).

If I get the Halifax Clarity card, it sounds like there's no point with a FairFx card. I suppose I can have it as a back up but it will mean costing me 1.5% to get my money back if I don't use it for its intended purpose. Will this really be the only benefit of getting one?

Thanks for pointing out Crown Currency for hard cash. They are a reputable company? I normally go to travel agents so this will be new to me and feels daunting to go outside what I normally do :shocked:

ferf1223 wrote: »

It probably depends on where you go - we go mainly to the US and no way would this be the best option

I'm going to China and this was the case when I went to Thailand a few years back. Back then I didn't have a Nationwide card so don't know if it would have been better with a debit card.

luci wrote: »

Be aware that if you are going to be using the Clarity card abroad, you need to call them and complete a "holiday form".

Thanks for the warning. Is this a quick thing or the normal 7-10 working days to get it all sorted out? Or is it an electronic form you fill online?

CountryGoose

Lad wrote: »

If I get the Halifax Clarity card, it sounds like there's no point with a FairFx card. I suppose I can have it as a back up but it will mean costing me 1.5% to get my money back if I don't use it for its intended purpose. Will this really be the only benefit of getting one?

FairFX is free and a good standby. Keep one with £100 loaded and you can get cash if your main card is blocked (it happens) or nicked.

Should there be a problem with your main card, you can load the FairFX quickly and be spending again.

xegec

switch to Metro current account, no fee for withdrawal money abroad and foreign currency purchased
https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/


Important Information Summary


If make a debit card payment in a foreign currency, we will change the amount of the transaction to sterling on the date we pay it out of your account using the rate for the transaction which is set and provided to us by MasterCard.

just opened one last week and got the metro master card and online details within 30mins in holborn branch. Excellent!

photome

Lad wrote: »

Thanks for the warning. Is this a quick thing or the normal 7-10 working days to get it all sorted out? Or is it an electronic form you fill online?

I am not convinced that you have to tell them (halifax) but I rang them and told them, it took 2 minutes.

luci

Sorry, I should have been clearer, it was done on the phone with the CSA. They just asked the dates I would be away and where I was going and it was set up instantly. I think "holiday form" is what they call it internally.

I have used it a few times in Vegas over the past few days, but today will be the real test when we intend doing some serious shopping so it will be used (hopefully) for a lot of transactions in one day.

Last trip in May, Nationwide blocked their credit card after a few transaction all on the same day which had never happened before. When I called they said it was because I hadn't informed them I was going away, despite their website still showing that this isn't necessary.

Any

I personally am going to go for combination of Halifax Clarity and Nationwide debit card.
+ some cash for the journey.

I was very upset about the sudden charging on Nationwide debit card, but I think the 1% and £1 fee I can survive - still the cheapest debit card cash withdrawal option around. (Appart from having the Halifax Zero current account I think, but I don't fullfill the requirements).

The reason for that is that I don't want constant reccuring interest on my credit card, because that is what cash withdrawals generally do to credit card (because interest is charged daily, when you pay off the card there is still some interest to be added for the days before you paid.. ).. my way it might be few pennies more expensive, but no hassle.

I never take much cash out anyway.

apt

It is 2% plus £1. Cheaper options include Metro Bank, Cumberland BS (both 0%), Fairfx (1.5%), Coventry BS (2%).

Any

It's just 1% in Europe isn't it?

No disrespect, but Metro bank is a bit far from Manchester... :-)

Even 2% is not going to make much difference in my all in all cash withdrawal of maybe max £200.. (I mean difference between credit card 1% interest and 2% fee on debit card)..

Donnie

Any wrote: »

It's just 1% in Europe isn't it?

No disrespect, but Metro bank is a bit far from Manchester... :-)

Even 2% is not going to make much difference in my all in all cash withdrawal of maybe max £200.. (I mean difference between credit card 1% interest and 2% fee on debit card)..

It will be 2% everywhere, plus another £1 for withdrawals.

Regardless of Metro Bank's location it still trumps your claim of

still the cheapest debit card cash withdrawal option around

. It just won't be. It's even beaten by some of the Prepaid Mastercards.
Seems Ryanair did some a favour by making those cards more popular.

izzitme

luci wrote: »

...
Last trip in May, Nationwide blocked their credit card after a few transaction all on the same day which had never happened before. When I called they said it was because I hadn't informed them I was going away, despite their website still showing that this isn't necessary.

I had the same problem with their credit card last year. When I contacted them to get the card unblocked, the advisor said that I should have told them I was going abroad. I said that the website stated that this wasn't necessary but he said that this only applied to the Flexaccount debit card.

I complained that the website did not make this clear. He replied that a lot of customers said that & that they were going to change the site to make it clearer :mad: