Overseas Spending On A Halifax Clarity Credit Card ~ Queries?

Taff

Hi There

I am due to go to Mexico end of May and have applied for a Halifax Clarity Credit Card (12.9%APR) and have a few queries please:~

A. If I spend £1600 on this card whilst in Mexico at ATMs, shops, restrauntes etc and I pay it off as soon as I get home how much extra will it cost me?

B. Will all places accept this type of card?

C. Should I set up a DD to pay off the money spend rather than trying to remember when to pay it off by?

D. How can I tell when my credit limit is getting close whilst abroad to avoid any charges of exceeding the set limit.

E. If I use all my credit limit on the Clarity card Ido have a Nationwide flexaccount. Whould it be wise to use this for card the same type of transactions? (I will ensure there are funds avialble in this account).

All this small print just confuses me.:mad:

Thanks in advance.:beer:

callum9999

Taff wrote: »

Hi There

I am due to go to Mexico end of May and have applied for a Halifax Clarity Credit Card (12.9%APR) and have a few queries please:~

A. If I spend £1600 on this card whilst in Mexico at ATMs, shops, restrauntes etc and I pay it off as soon as I get home how much extra will it cost me?

B. Will all places accept this type of card?

C. Should I set up a DD to pay off the money spend rather than trying to remember when to pay it off by?

D. How can I tell when my credit limit is getting close whilst abroad to avoid any charges of exceeding the set limit.

E. If I use all my credit limit on the Clarity card Ido have a Nationwide flexaccount. Whould it be wise to use this for card the same type of transactions? (I will ensure there are funds avialble in this account).

All this small print just confuses me.:mad:

Thanks in advance.:beer:

Completely depends on what you spend, when you spend it and where you spend it. You won't be charged anything for purchases (assuming you pay the statement off in full) and you will be charged interest on the cash withdrawals from the time you withdraw it until you pay it off.

Anywhere that takes credit cards should - no idea how widespread credit card usage in Mexico is. Reasonably high I'd imagine.

Surely that's a question you need to answer... I have no idea if you'll remember to pay it off on time or not.

Internet banking

Probably yes, there are charges on it but they are marginally less than the other banks.

rb10

Just to add to Callum's comments above...

C - I'd always set up a DD on a credit card ... just in case!

E - For the least cost, you ideally want to:
- Use cash as little as possible: paying by card will cost less.
- Try to put all your ATM withdrawals onto the Halifax Clarity Reward card, and as many of the purchases as you can fit with your credit limit. Then use the Nationwide card for any other purchases.
- If you've used up your Halifax credit limit and need to make an ATM withdrawal from the Nationwide card, remember that they charge per withdrawal (for cash, not debit card purchases), so one big withdrawal is better than several small ones. This is not applicable for Halifax, where getting cash as and when you need it is probably the best way forward.

Any

A - there is no interest on purchases if you pay your statement by due date. Interest on cash is charged from date of withdrawal. If you pay as soon as you return roughly 1% (depends on date of payment etc)

B - Depends on the place/shop. Most tourist places do though.

C - is that actually a question for us to answer??? How able are you with your money? If not, then do. But then don't forget that you will have to make sure you have enough money in your bank account instead.

D - add up in your head? Internet banking? Check balance over the phone?

E - ALWAYS take some type of card/money as a back up. There is charge 2% & £2 (&£1 in Europe I think) for each ATM withdrawall with Flexaccount - this is lower then many other banks still even since they started charging, and it gives you great exchange rate which goes a little towards the fees. But I wouldn't use debit card for shop purchases abroad - too easy to clone.

When I went to US earlier in the year I had some dollars in cash, credit card for purchases and my flex account card as a back up.