Halifax aaaaaagghghg

Fen1

I opened a bank account with them, which they mucked up.
I have had Clarity card for years with which I've now had technical problems. They are mucking up that as well ( random cards, pins, dire telephone service ).

I have now had my fill of them and am cutting up the card and closing the account. However, the Clarity is the top foreign credit-card cash withdrawl. What is the next credit card that I can use for foreign withdrawl? I've looked at the rates on this site and they are fairly similar. I'm looking for good customer service - unlike the Halifax.

I am specifically looking for credit not bank account.

reehsetin

I was in a similar position as you - tried out the clarity, had a horrid experience and cancelled, sadly I wasn't able to find a good alternative. I hope you will have more luck than me

Fen1

I'm not the only one. Thank goodness. They've driven me gaga.

ColdIron

Have you had a look here?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/overseas-card-charges

eskbanker

Fen1 wrote: »

However, the Clarity is the top foreign credit-card cash withdrawl. What is the next credit card that I can use for foreign withdrawl? I've looked at the rates on this site and they are fairly similar. I'm looking for good customer service - unlike the Halifax.

I am specifically looking for credit not bank account.

As you say, once you're looking past Clarity there aren't any obvious credit cards for fee-free foreign cash withdrawals, so if you're starting from that list of those that charge are you essentially looking for subjective recommendations about customer service?

Fen1

Yes, customer service is important. It is important that both primary and secondary cardholders can talk to customer services. It is important that customer services actually do what you ask, rather than being hog-tied to a useless system. It is important, when stuck in the back of beyond, to have someone to talk to and will help, rather than cut you dead and tell you to phone back when you have the right paperwork ( n.b. when you are on holiday, not at home, with zero access to paperwork)

Given how dreadful Halifax have been I would gladly pay £3 to get my cash out if it meant that I would get a sensible human to talk to if things went wrong.

eskbanker

As above, I suspect that perceptions of which banks are best is ultimately pretty subjective, depending on individuals' experiences (and as ever unhappy customers make more noise than happy ones), but if you're looking to try to apply some sort of measure then there are ratings at sites like http://www.which.co.uk/money/bank-accounts/reviews-ns/bank-accounts/best-banks-for-customer-satisfaction/

SuperAllyB

Fen1 wrote: »

Yes, customer service is important. It is important that both primary and secondary cardholders can talk to customer services. It is important that customer services actually do what you ask, rather than being hog-tied to a useless system. It is important, when stuck in the back of beyond, to have someone to talk to and will help, rather than cut you dead and tell you to phone back when you have the right paperwork ( n.b. when you are on holiday, not at home, with zero access to paperwork)

Given how dreadful Halifax have been I would gladly pay £3 to get my cash out if it meant that I would get a sensible human to talk to if things went wrong.

I don't know everything about everything, but i've yet to hear of a credit card company that will speak to an additional cardholder.
Wouldn't that contravene the Data Protection Act?

SuperHan

Fen1 wrote: »

Yes, customer service is important. It is important that both primary and secondary cardholders can talk to customer services. It is important that customer services actually do what you ask, rather than being hog-tied to a useless system. It is important, when stuck in the back of beyond, to have someone to talk to and will help, rather than cut you dead and tell you to phone back when you have the right paperwork ( n.b. when you are on holiday, not at home, with zero access to paperwork)

Given how dreadful Halifax have been I would gladly pay £3 to get my cash out if it meant that I would get a sensible human to talk to if things went wrong.

As others have said, it's subjective.

Every issue I have had with Halifax have been dealt with swiftly, and where systems have let me down advisors have been apologetic and I have been fairly reimbursed for any issues. I couldn't recommend Halifax high enough.

On the flip side, I refuse to use Nationwide whatever their rates as they almost caused our house purchase to fall through from their sheer incompetence, but I know people who think they're far better than the big banks.

If customer service is your priority, First Direct do often come out top in such surveys. Their fees are as follows:

Cash Advances -2.99% handling fee, minimum £3.00 (includes cash withdrawals both in the UK and abroad, internal transfers, the purchase of foreign currency, travellers cheques and certain balance transfers, but not gambling transactions)

Foreign usage - 2.99% of the amount of the non-sterling transaction (a foreign currency) will be added as an adjustment to the exchange rate. Non-sterling transactions are converted to Sterling by VISA using wholesale market rates applying on the day conversion is made, usually the date the transaction is applied to your account. You can find out more information by visiting visaeurope.com/en/cardholders/exchange_rates.aspx

So if you wanna pay for the customer service, that's the option.

GingerFurball_2

Fen1 wrote: »

Yes, customer service is important. It is important that both primary and secondary cardholders can talk to customer services. It is important that customer services actually do what you ask, rather than being hog-tied to a useless system. It is important, when stuck in the back of beyond, to have someone to talk to and will help, rather than cut you dead and tell you to phone back when you have the right paperwork ( n.b. when you are on holiday, not at home, with zero access to paperwork)

Given how dreadful Halifax have been I would gladly pay £3 to get my cash out if it meant that I would get a sensible human to talk to if things went wrong.

Sounds like someone's failed security and is having a cry that Halifax (correctly) won't divulge account information to someone unable to verify their identity.