Confused about Halifax Clarity

macaud

We used to always use our Nationwide card abroad as you could pre-load it or charge meals and purchases to it. Now that card has been done away with we are looking for a new one but can't see one that does both functions like our old card. I applied for a Halifax Clarity card, but on reading the threads I'm worried I'll only get a small credit limit which won't last for our 2 week holiday. I thought we could pre-load it but again reading the threads it seems we can't.
Can anyone suggest the cheapest way we can do this. I have gone all "Google eyed" trying to compare all the different cards and which ones charge ATM fees and which have zero loading etc etc.
Any advice would be really appreciated.

unimaginative_user_name

Not everyone gets a small credit limit. I got a Halifax Clarity in August and the limit was £1750. The secret might be to apply a few months before your planned holiday, use it sensibly for a while and then request an increase to your limit.

If you set up online banking with Halifax Clarity you could check your balance half way through your holiday and pay it off with online banking, then carry on spending.

callum9999

You're also far more likely to get a higher limit if you bank with Halifax. I do and got £1850 (far higher, I'm sure, than if I didn't bank there).

Have you still got a Flexaccount with Nationwide? If so, and you use it, it could be worth applying for the Select card from them (almost as good as the Clarity - it just has an ATM withdrawal fee). Even if that turns out to be a low limit as well, at least you'll have 2 low limit cards with a hopefully decent limit before them.

Though if you want to stick to Halifax, as the person above said, just pay it off as you go along.

macaud

Thanks Unimaginative and Callum for your swift replies.
If I had been sensible that's what i would have done was apply a while ago for this clarity card, but we go next month and i only applied for it today.
I have spent so much time dithering. I got a message back saying my request for a card had been accepted and the credit limit would be roughly £500.
That's a good idea about Nationwide too. I still have Nationwide account with a few pounds in it but haven't used it since last holiday abroad two years ago so don't know if that will count but worth a try.
We have always paid off our bill in full so thought we would have a good credit record but now not sure if thais will stand against us.
Ah what a minefield this credit malarkey is!

thumperrabbit

We got a limit of £8k and do not bank with them.

Fingerbobs

I got a weird limit of £9850, although I have banked with them for more years than I care to remember.

Gromitt

I requested a card a month after opening a current account with them and got denied a card, then applied to AA in the same month and got 6K.

Apparently Halifax do internal scoring if you have any other Halifax products, but just use your credit report otherwise (so I would have probably been accepted if I hadn't of opened the current account! Ah well, got it now, but 1K limit!).