Can I use clarity card to get Euro's in UK

quickoldfart

I have a Halifax clarity card but I am travelling later in the summer, does anyone know if it is possible to buy euro's using the card in the UK now & make the most of the excellent current exchange rates. (which may well drop before we travel)

Many Thanks

Pete

antenna

For it to make sense you must pay off the credit card as soon as possible.....this being the case,then,you might as well buy the euros asap for cash.

antenna

I thought the whole point of the Clarity card is that you use it abroad instead of cash,but this does not guarantee todays rate should it drop in the future.

benjus

There used to be a NatWest Euro ATM on Bishopsgate in the City of London that would actually charge your card in EUR rather than converting it. Don't know if it's still around, and I haven't come across any other ATMs in the UK that do this.

antenna

Buying euros with a Clarity card involves instant interest charges on the cash advance.......

benjus

antenna wrote: »

Buying euros with a Clarity card involves instant interest charges on the cash advance.......

Just pay it off as soon as the transaction hits the account, then.

antenna

You cant make a killing on the currency markets with a credit card.

benjus

antenna wrote: »

..
If you dont have the cash now......will you have it in 2 days?

The OP wants to lock in the current Euro exchange rate without paying any charges or spreads at an exchange house. There's no mention of not having the cash to cover it.

benjus

antenna wrote: »

If you have the cash to cover it,then,you buy euros with cash.....simples

Then you'll lose a % of it to the exchange house you use. Maybe not a lot, but some. Using the Clarity card in a UK EUR ATM and paying it off quickly would be better.

antenna

Thye best walk in rate at this exact time is 1.4066....this is from an "exchange house".....where do you get euros from without any charges whatsoever?......and if so,how much more would you get?
even the "pure" mastercard or visa rate includes some element of profit for them
the clarity card would still include a profit for Halifax

R34GTT

Here's what Natwest say:

https://supportcentre.natwest.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1606/~/do-any-of-your-atms-dispense-euros%3F

Also buying Euros with cash is nearly always more expensive than using a Clarity card to withdraw it. When I withdrew cash in Spain last year I was able to check my reduced available credit online the same evening and repay the amount I'd just withdrawn. No forex fees, no transaction fees, no interest and the best conversion rate possible (the current Mastercard rate).