Halifax Clarity Card still best for abroad?

MrMrMr

Back, worked absolutely fine, didn't take a backup CC either. Was little worried sometimes using it in the smaller "tat" shops but just kept an eye on transaction and then on statement.

Cheers for tips will keep it and use it just for holidays now as have other CC for home.

grumbler

unimaginative_user_name wrote: »

You'll get a better exchange rate with the Clarity (probably!)

Definitely, not probably (ignoring the rate fluctuation)

jennifernil

We have the Clarity Reward CC, we use it for all purchases and cash when abroad. We go for 2-3 months touring Europe, never buy euros before we go, sometimes have a few left from a previous trip. This year we arrived with 3 euros in cash! Once at our first stop, the ATM is the first port of call.

As backup we have Nationwide Gold CC, plus a few others that do charge for use abroad. For backup cash we stick £200 in our Nationwide Flexaccount and carry our NW debit cards, plus our main Halifax ones as backup.

All cards are set up to pay full balance via DD, so we just leave that to happen, much easier than needing to get internet access to pay.

I reckon we pay about £1 per month per £100 withdrawn in interest using this method. Not much in the total cost of the trip.

We have a Clarity card each, so spread the spending to ensure the £300 spend each month on both cards, thus getting 2 x £5 cashback every month, plus of course the £5 Rewards on our current accounts.

The cashback £5s on the CC accounts more than cover any interest charges.

We always tell them we are going abroad, dates and countries we will be visiting, not had a problem so far.

ult_2

What is the exchange rate on this card? I read it is lower than what is on the Master card website, but I cannot find information about the actual halifax exchange rate applied for transacations. Can anyone report an historical exchange rate on this card vs what is reported on oanda, or yahoo finance?

PeacefulWaters

ult wrote: »

What is the exchange rate on this card? I read it is lower than what is on the Master card website

Don't believe everything you read.

Try condition 7.9:
http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/low-rate-no-fee/clarity-card/terms/

Visa and MasterCard Transactions in foreign currencies will be converted into sterling the day they are added to your account. American Express Transactions will be converted the day the Transaction is processed by American Express, which may not be the same day the Transaction is added to your account.

We use a wholesale payment scheme exchange rate set by MasterCard, Visa or American Express, depending on your Card Type. You can find out the current payment scheme exchange rate by calling us.

When you make a Transaction abroad with an American Express Card and the Transaction is not in U.S. dollars, the conversion will be made through U.S. dollars, by converting the Transaction amount into U.S. dollars and then by converting the U.S. dollar amount into sterling. If the Transaction is in U.S. dollars, it will be converted directly into sterling.

Wammer

I have been using the Clarity abroad since it first came out. The rate they apply is the same or sometime better than https://www.xe.com

System

There is no 'Halifax exchange rate' .
The card uses the MasterCard exchange rate.

ult wrote: »

What is the exchange rate on this card? I read it is lower than what is on the Master card website, but I cannot find information about the actual halifax exchange rate applied for transactions. Can anyone report an historical exchange rate on this card vs what is reported on oanda, or yahoo finance?

reehsetin

Had a horrid experience with my Halifax clarity, if you get it just hope nothing goes wrong

grumbler

adindas wrote: »

Do you think it twice before asking people of doing this ??

Goshh If someone is asking me to write a report such as provided by oanda or yahoo finance, I will need those people who are asking me to pay me at similar level to people on yahoo finance/Oanda get.

Is it that big deal to post a few rates and dates from your statement? It would take less time than it took you to make this post that you don't ask to be paid for. I could've easily done this (and the OP would have compared it himself to Oanda/Yahoo), but I just don't see any point as one can just compare Mastercard to Oanda.

Also wonder why you create a new id just to post this query /comment ??

How do you know this? Are you a detective and have access to some information that we don't see?