Holiday Credit Card

TheChoralFiend

I've just successfully applied for the Halifax clarity card. We going to S. America for a long holiday and visiting Peru, Chile and Argentina. I was looking into prepaid cards, but they all seem quite expensive to operate outside the Euro or dollar zones. An alternative would seem to be to use the Halifax credit card as a preloaded card, by charging it in advance and using another card that doesn't levy a fee on paying in a foreign currency such as the post office card (which we already have) as a credit card. Is there a flaw in this rationale? Any thoughts? Is there a better way to avoid taking large amounts of cash around in a fairly insecure part of the world and also being able to move seamlessly to different currency areas.

[Deleted User]

Don't risk pre-loading a card.

Just use the Clarity - it's one of the best options for overseas use as it's fee free.

thebritishbloke

You know the Halifax Clarity card doesn't have any foreign currency fees or cash advance fees (except interest).

Halifax could close your account for violating the T&C's. If you're planning to use it for purchases and not cash, then just set up a direct debit to pay it in full and use the card as you normally would. You can even withdraw cash on the credit card and you'd pay a negligible amount of interest on it.

Biggles

I don't know how long a long holiday is, but I'd be inclined to heed the advice against preloading the Halifax card (nobody knows anyone who's had the funds returned or had their account closed, but it remains true that as it's against T&Cs they could do anything they liked) and just use it as you please. The interest rate is really not that high when you're looking at the cost over a few weeks, BUT have your DD set up to repay in full and it'll be pretty painless.

TheChoralFiend

Thanks, I didn't know that there was anything wrong with building up credit in a credit card. I was just trying to avoid paying interest. I'll take your advice and use the clarity. Is it worth thinking about preloaded cash cards in your opinion?

NiftyDigits

Look here..

For VISA cards, look to Nationwide and/or N&P BS or Cumberland BS.

TheChoralFiend

Thanks for the advice - Are you saying that it's not worth thinking about a pre-loaded cash card?

NiftyDigits

I'm saying that it appears that you may be subject to an ATM withdrawal charge when using a Mastercard, as opposed to a VISA card.

TheChoralFiend

Yes I just looked at your link. It's very interesting, so it looks like I'm going to need a Visa option too.

mk2112

Just some word of warning on the use of this card. Me and my wife obtained separate Clarity cards to use in Malaysia and despite advising them of our travel dates we had transactions declined (pin issue we were told) - although my Mastercard worked in the same reader and i hadn't even advised that cards issuer! I called Halifax twice (reversing the charges), had problems getting through to them and was cut off several times, it was only after the second long call that the card eventually worked. We started to wonder if this was a ploy to limit their exposure to risk with their 'popular' card being used by lots of MSE readers?