Halifax Clarity card - how to increase the chances of approval

lanywender

Hello, my first time posting on MSE!

Looking for some advice: I'd really like to get one of the Halifax clarity cards that are recommended for use abroad (will be in a few different countries next year and it would save me a packet in fees / currency conversion / headache once out there). Would like to maximise my chances of being approved on first try, and wondering if there are things I can do to increase the likelihood of this?

I won't need the card for a little while, so was thinking of opening a current account with Halifax first and moving some money through it for a few months - get my wages (around 1500/month) paid into it, etc. (Perhaps transfer a few direct debits as well?) Do you think this would help? I thought this might give them some positive experience with me before I apply.

I like my primary account with another bank, so wouldn't want to transfer everything; would just like to do some actions to increase my chances of getting the card. Don't mind if it involves me using halifax as my primary current acct for a little while.

In a nutshell, if they have an ideal customer profile for the clarity card, I'd like to look like it

Have a bit of time to get things right before applying, so am all ears. (I know it sounds like a lot of hassle for one card, but it would be very useful to me abroad, so I think it's worth it to try and improve the odds). Very grateful for any suggestions!

bargainbetty

I was a Halifax customer for 16 years. Higher than average income, perfect mortgage, perfect payment history for six years, regular and controlled current account, received offers for credit cards once every three months, like clockwork.

Applied for a Clarity Card. Rejected. The staff member openly told me that he thought the application must have glitched, because I was considered a prime customer/A rated (in-house waffle). The application was lost, and the complaints manager sent me a letter personally offering a card. I'd gone to Nationwide by then.

If there is a perfect profile, no one this side of the moon could tell you what it is. Good luck though!

rb10

There's nothing published, of course.

But people's experiences tend to show that Halifax favour existing current account customers for their credit cards - as you correctly suspected.

To give yourself the maximum chance, it'd be used as a normal main current account - i.e. a monthly salary credit, a couple of direct debits (or more) and a few other transactions during the month. Remain in credit or within your overdraft limit.

If you transfer your banking to Halifax, they'll give you £100 instantly, plus £5 per month.

mucktub86

Don't know if this is any help but my friend got a very similar card from the post office for the same reasons.

Might be worth bearing in mind if your application for Halifax ends up rejected.

Lis

Yannis.

Hi, I am new to this country (3 years) so I couldn't get a good credit card.
If you want to consider an alternative, I got a Metrobank current account and have been using their MasterCard all around Europe , which offers transactions abroad with no load/fees and the rates are quite good (MasterCard sets the rates). If you are not after credit, but means to access your money abroad it could be an option.
Cheers

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Yannis. wrote: »

Hi, I am new to this country (3 years) so I couldn't get a good credit card.
If you want to consider an alternative, I got a Metrobank current account and have been using their MasterCard all around Europe , which offers transactions abroad with no load/fees and the rates are quite good (MasterCard sets the rates). If you are not after credit, but means to access your money abroad it could be an option.
Cheers

Good advice if you can easily get to one of their branches.

The OP was looking for a card three months ago. Too bad they didn't come back to tell us how they got on.