New(ish) to Credit Cards... Halifax Clarity

Pulse

Sorry everyone, complete idiot here... I have rarely used a credit card in my life, so would like to check some things.

I have a Halifax Clarity card, and I used it last year abroad, and was very happy with it, but I want to check:

1. How long do I get to pay the money back? Is it always 58 days, or can it sometimes be less?
2. I used it the other day to make a purchase in the UK. Does that still have the same 58-day time period to pay it off with no charges incurred?
3. I used it the other day to buy tickets in the US. It was paid in US dollars, so I'm guessing that will charge as if I were in the US? Are there any implications to this?
4. How do I know when to pay the bill? Is it when the bill comes through the door, or just pay it off ASAP and call them? In the past, I've done this, but it has been painfully slow.
5. How do I set up a Direct Debit to pay it off instead? This would be far easier for me if this is an easy process. That way, it's always paid straight off (I always have enough in the bank).

Thanks in advance. :beer:

grumbler

Pulse wrote: »

I have a Halifax Clarity card, and I used it last year abroad, and was very happy with it, but I want to check:

1. How long do I get to pay the money back? Is it always 58 days, or can it sometimes be less?

Your statement will tell you the due date for the minimum payment, but if you make ATM withdrawals and want to cut interest you can pay earlier. In fact, you can pay almost instantly after a withdrawal if you wish.

2. I used it the other day to make a purchase in the UK. Does that still have the same 58-day time period to pay it off with no charges incurred?

Yes.

3. I used it the other day to buy tickets in the US. It was paid in US dollars, so I'm guessing that will charge as if I were in the US? Are there any implications to this?

Yes; and no implications.

4. How do I know when to pay the bill? Is it when the bill comes through the door,

About 20 days after the bill is produced - it will tell you.

or just pay it off ASAP

For cash withdrawals this would be better

and call them?

Why call?

5. How do I set up a Direct Debit to pay it off instead? This would be far easier for me if this is an easy process.

For this you indeed have to call them.

Pulse

Grumbler, that is perfect, thank you. I couldn't have wished for a better response!

luci

Pulse wrote: »

Sorry everyone, complete idiot here... I have rarely used a credit card in my life, so would like to check some things.

I have a Halifax Clarity card, and I used it last year abroad, and was very happy with it, but I want to check:

1. How long do I get to pay the money back? Is it always 58 days, or can it sometimes be less?

Thanks in advance. :beer:

Note that it is UP TO 58 days.

If your statement date is the 1st and you buy something on the card on the 3rd, you have up until the payment due to before it becomes payable, possibly the 28th of the following month which could be 56 days.

However if you buy something on the 28th, it will likely appear on your statement dated 1st, payable on 28th so will only be around 31 days between purchase and payment.

Steph312

Hi

I've never had a credit card before but i am interested in getting this Halifax Clarity one as it's suggested best for travel money for this purpose. If i don't use the card for long periods of time can i incur charges from dormancy of inactivity fees or would this increase the variable apr to a higher percentage 12.9, 17.9 to 21.9%? Many thanks

pqrdef

luci wrote: »

Note that it is UP TO 58 days.

In normal English, this would imply that it's your choice. To indicate that it's the bank's choice they'd tell you the minimum, e.g. "at least 10 days".

But it isn't normal English, it's BankSpeak.

Scrounger

Steph312 wrote: »

If i don't use the card for long periods of time can i incur charges from dormancy of inactivity fees

No, though they may close it down eventually if it is too inactive (say - not used for a couple of years).

Steph312 wrote: »

...or would this increase the variable apr to a higher percentage 12.9, 17.9 to 21.9%?

No, this rate will be set at the start and generally won't change.

Scrounger

Steph312

I have another question, what's the cheapest way to use these cards. Is their advantage through spending on them with DD set up, or withdrawing cash from hopefully a free ATM machine (which of these cheapest)?? Or both somehow in a way i don't fully understand yet. As it says 12.9-21.9% apr for widthdrawals interest how is that better than a barclays debit card that says 0%, but 2.99% exchange load and 2% ATM charge???

grumbler

Steph312 wrote: »

As it says 12.9-21.9% apr for widthdrawals interest how is that better than a barclays debit card that says 0%, but 2.99% exchange load and 2% ATM charge???

12.9% is p.a.
2.99%+2% is per transaction.
Even 21.9% p.a. is 1.8% p.m., but you don't have to wait until the due date and can pay soon after making withdrawal(s). It's just 0.006% per day.

Re a DD, it's up to you. If you are likely to make interim payments it's probably better to have it set for a minimum payment.

aaj123

I am interested in getting a Halifax Clarity card too. I already have a Halifax 'All in one' credit card with a decent credit limit and I would ideally like to just switch over to the Clarity credit card (because I like the idea of 0% foreign exchange fees).

Does anyone know if Halifax are able to do such switching from one card to another easily without having to go through a credit check like a new application would?