Halifax Clarity - Travel Cash Abroad WARNING

ProfDarkart

A max of around £17 on 1k for a month. (1.667% pm). Peanuts to some, not to others.

virgo17

To be honest, and someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you would pay interest immediately if you draw cash on a Clarity card in the UK, never mind abroad.

seriousDFW

ProfDarkart wrote: »

@TakeThis: Thanks for your constructive comments, I'm sure you're a regular nice guy who has a lot of time to read everything in full, never has external time pressures or other distractions, never makes a mistake and certainly would not like to share knowledge of their mistakes in case there's anyone else imperfect in the world. If you've anything to add of value, feel free to reply.

If you had just written the story of your discovery that you had to pay interest as a warning to others who may not have read the summary box, then fair enough. But you did come on all guns blazing blaming Halifax for 'tricking' you. I'm sorry, but that did make me smile. They haven't tricked you, and the suggestion that they have means people will invariably criticise your post.

Thank you for highlighting this, because it may make people read their Ts and Cs in more depth. Please don't make out that this is 'hidden' in the small print - it is very clearly stated on the summary box.

And no, Halifax should NOT have pointed this out when you rang. Should they read the whole of the Ts and Cs whenever you ring? How ludicrous to suggest this.

Also, how churlish to not use this card in future because you believe they tricked you. This is silly - keep the card because it IS a great card for travel, especially now you know how to use it wisely.

seriousDFW

ProfDarkart wrote: »

A max of around £17 on 1k for a month. (1.667% pm). Peanuts to some, not to others.

If you can afford to withdraw £1k on holiday, £17 should be peanuts.

Bravehearted_2

Dude, this isn't "buried" in the terms. It's clearly written in the summary box. Blame your lack of attention to detail.

I think I'm going post a thread reminding folks to exhale when breathing.

scottishblondie

It's a fairly obvious thing - it says it on the Halifax website, and all over this site too.

Withdrawing cash on a Clarity card is still far cheaper than most other methods. Most debit cards will carry a fixed charge plus a currency conversion fee. If you make frequent withdrawals (and it sounds like you did) this would have added up to far more than using the Clarity.

tomsco

So if you cancel it, what card will you be taking next time you go on holiday? Because I'm guessing if you take another card it will probably charge a cash withdrawl fee.

YorkshireBoy

ProfDarkart wrote: »

It is NOT an interest free and charge free way to get travel money, contrary to representation from Halifax.

I don't believe Halifax present the card as charge and interest free do they. I'm happy to be proved wrong though, so over to you.

I'm not sure when the cycle ends as interest will be charged daily on the cash interest as it is classified in the same category too!

It will end once you've paid 2 consecutive statements in full by their due date, proving all you make are purchases from now on.

This one is being destroyed after the interest is finally paid

That would be the second silly thing you'll do with this card! You'll pay more than the 1.7% quoted for almost every other method of getting cash abroad. Still...it's up to you!

opinions4u

ProfDarkart wrote: »

A max of around £17 on 1k for a month. (1.667% pm). Peanuts to some, not to others.

Better than the £47 or so you'd have paid on most other cards.

The Halifax Web site represents the position on cash advances as clearly as you could expect.

Interest free period
The interest free period applies only to purchases if you pay your balance in full and on time each month. See section 3.5 of the terms and conditions for full details.

There's no interest free period on cash advances, balance transfers or cheques.

[Deleted User]

ProfDarkart wrote: »

A max of around £17 on 1k for a month. (1.667% pm). Peanuts to some, not to others.

But if you can't afford £17, should you be going on holiday?