Metro card vs clarity

MiraculousM

Good morning

I am going away in a couple of weeks to visit a sick friend in the US. I have both the metro debit card and the clarity credit card. Am I correct in thinking that it is best to withdraw cash on the debit card and purchases made on the CC? Or is it different in the US? Also I don't need to put a minimum into the metro card to get the free cash withdrawal do I?

Neil49

I can't comment on the minimum amount on the Metro card but the general rule would be to withdraw cash using your debit card and put purchases on the Clarity.

If you withdraw cash on the Clarity then you will start to incur interest charges straight away. If you pay off the balance as soon as you return then it shouldn't be too much. Just remember that you need to advise Halifax that you will be using the card abroad with details of dates and location before you go.

Most US banks charge for atm withdrawals although when I was in NY last year I found that TD Bank did not (probably because they are a Canadian bank). When I came to use Chase I was warned of a $3 charge in advance and given the option to cancel.

Bob_the_Saver

I opened my Metro account with a hundred quid ish.

benjus

I opened my Metro Bank account with the £1.50 or so they gave me to cover what I paid for a coffee next door while I was waiting for someone to become available in the branch.

loobs40

Neil49 wrote: »

If you withdraw cash on the Clarity then you will start to incur interest charges straight away. If you pay off the balance as soon as you return then it shouldn't be too much. Just remember that you need to advise Halifax that you will be using the card abroad with details of dates and location before you go.

.

I withdraw cash from ATMs with my Clarity card, and then use internet banking almost immediately to repay the amount back to the card account. Cuts interest down to a minimum

SCROOGE

You can always pre-load the CC, though they don't like you doing it for obvious reasons!

ince_mon

SCROOGE wrote: »

You can always pre-load the CC, though they don't like you doing it for obvious reasons!

I didn't think you could pre-load the Clarity Card?

zagfles

ince_mon wrote: »

I didn't think you could pre-load the Clarity Card?

It's against the T&Cs but apparently people have done it successfully. I wouldn't rely on it.

Bob_the_Saver

loobs40 wrote: »

I withdraw cash from ATMs with my Clarity card, and then use internet banking almost immediately to repay the amount back to the card account.

Just use a Metro Bank debit card then you don't have to bother,

Polly_Esther

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

I opened my Metro account with a hundred quid ish.

Now that is quality!