Clarity vs Pre-paid card?

Englishian

Hey all!

I'm going travelling soon for a year, to Australasia & South America. I currently have the Halifax Clarity Credit Card but my partner doesn't.

Is it worth me getting a pre-paid card as back up? By reading through several threads I spotted that the Travelex Cash Passport Globe seems to be the best one.

My partner was originally looking at getting the Caxton FX card but it seems the above is better.

Any help is much appreciated! Many thanks.

apt

As you are going away for a year I would get a debit card with no foreign use charges rather than a more or less mediocre prepaid card. Norwich and Peterborough current account might be best as it is a VISA card to go along with your Halifax mastercard.

stilltheone

It is not fair to label all Prepaid cards as mediocre. Some are actually quite good. Having one as an emergency backup is not a bad idea.

Certainly if you are able to apply for a Metro Bank/N&P Gold Lite/Cumberland BS account, that will be better as your main solution.

Englishian

stilltheone wrote: »

It is not fair to label all Prepaid cards as mediocre. Some are actually quite good. Having one as an emergency backup is not a bad idea.

Certainly if you are able to apply for a Metro Bank/N&P Gold Lite/Cumberland BS account, that will be better as your main solution.

Thanks so much for your help apt & stilltheone!

I will look into the accounts you've mentioned & if I'm not able to get any of them, I'll go with the Prepaid card as a backup!

zagfles

Englishian wrote: »

Thanks so much for your help apt & stilltheone!

I will look into the accounts you've mentioned & if I'm not able to get any of them, I'll go with the Prepaid card as a backup!

MetroBank only has branches in London, and I think for the other 2 require you to deposit a certain amount each month or you get charged - but that should be fairly easy to arrange - you could just set up a standing order from your main account.

free_korps

the N&P lite gold is mentioned as it does not require monthly deposits just that there are at least 5 transactions per month. the N&P gold classic requires £500 per month.
(sadly my credit report with equifax wasn't good enough for a N&P lite gold a/c, well not while they have "information" that I have owned an Amex card since I was 1 years old & have joint accounts with my mum....oh the joys of being a junior!)

stilltheone

zagfles wrote: »

MetroBank only has branches in [STRIKE]London[/STRIKE] Greater London, and I think for the other 2 require you to deposit a certain amount each month or you get charged - but that should be fairly easy to arrange - you could just set up a standing order from your main account.

Edited.

It doesn't stop anyone from opening an account.

Caveat with Cumberland is that it is area specific. Not impossible to get around.

free korps has highlighted for you that it is transactions that are important with the recommended N&P account, not deposits.

free_korps

not wanting to hijack this thread but... :-) ... just wanted to ask one further question, there are so many with similar topics I've read, certainly helped me choose which cards i wanted, just annoying that N&P & my own bank(for clarity) rejected my applications... anyway I ordered the pretty much next best thing in the globe passport for forthcoming trip to thailand, cambodia & australia. I'm also going to get a Kalixa card for purchases, not ideal way of doing things but my hand is kinda forced. My question is that I would still like the option of a Visa, other than the previously mentioned are there any others out there worthy of an application / purchase? (heaven forbid i'll stumble upon the same problems opening a bank account for a nice visa debit, if i lived in london i'd be giving the metrobank a chance!) All the pre-paids seem to be mastercard & i like the idea of a reasonable option rather than ever need to resort to a "card from hell" halifax visa debit...

stilltheone

free_korps wrote: »

not wanting to hijack this thread but... :-) ... just wanted to ask one further question, there are so many with similar topics I've read, certainly helped me choose which cards i wanted, just annoying that N&P & my own bank(for clarity) rejected my applications... anyway I ordered the pretty much next best thing in the globe passport for forthcoming trip to thailand, cambodia & australia. I'm also going to get a Kalixa card for purchases, not ideal way of doing things but my hand is kinda forced. My question is that I would still like the option of a Visa, other than the previously mentioned are there any others out there worthy of an application / purchase? (heaven forbid i'll stumble upon the same problems opening a bank account for a nice visa debit, if i lived in london i'd be giving the metrobank a chance!) All the pre-paids seem to be mastercard & i like the idea of a reasonable option rather than ever need to resort to a "card from hell" halifax visa debit...

The only decent option of which I know is the O2 Cash Manager/Load & Go

2.75% forex charge, but that's it.

OldGreyFox

Englishian wrote: »

Any help is much appreciated! Many thanks.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cards/prepaid-cards

The Travelex Cash Passport card is covered in some depth

and the Travel Money/Currency Sub Board is here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=193 your find previous discussions about prepaid cards.

stilltheone

OldGreyFox wrote: »

www.moneysavingexpert.com/cards/prepaid-cards

The Travelex Cash Passport card is covered in some depth

and the Travel Money/Currency Sub Board is here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=193 your find previous discussions about prepaid cards.

The Travelex Cash Passport Globe is not covered at all.

I know you were trying to be helpful, but the Prepaid article needs work(Translation: It is very poor).