Using Halifax Clarity credit card in Greece

ironman1

Hi all,

Hope this is the right place. I am going to Corfu to visit family on Saturday and have a clarity card. I have never used this abroad although I know it has 0% foreign transaction fee.

I usually buy euros but according to the home page this credit card is good for using abroad. Could anyone please advise the best way of using the card. I mean if I shop in a supermarket or restaurant for example will the majority accept it and how do I know I am getting a good rate as obviously the Euro is at 1.40 use at the moment? I will log into Halifax online to pay off the card everytime I use it just feeling a bit sceptical if that makes sense!

Any advice very welcome thanks in advance

mchale

Ring them & tell them you going abroad & always choose the option for the exchange rate to be in local currency (ie euros).

grumbler

ironman1 wrote: »

...Could anyone please advise the best way of using the card. I mean if I shop in a supermarket or restaurant for example will the majority accept it

Yes, if they accept Mastercard (most do, I am sure).

and how do I know I am getting a good rate as obviously the Euro is at 1.40 use at the moment?

You are getting the best rate on the day of the transaction. It can be better or worse than today.
Make sure you pay in €, not in £: Martin Lewis' Blog… | Using plastic overseas? Always PAY IN ...

I will log into Halifax online to pay off the card everytime I use it just feeling a bit sceptical if that makes sense!

For purchases you don't pay any interest if you pay the balance in full and on time after the statement is produced. So, you can enjoy up to ~55 interest-free days.
For cash withdrawals the monthly interest is just ~1% (for 12.9% APR), so it doesn't make much sense to rush paying every time after making a withdrawal, although you can make payment(s) before the due date to make the interest on cash advances even smaller.

cashbag

Bear in mind that Greece is still very largely a cash society. Smaller shops & tavernas may not be happy to take plastic payment as the banks take a sizeable cut on transactions & in the current economic climate as businesses try to keep costs down this can eat up a large amount of an already meagre profit. Best to be prepared by making sure you use your card to draw cash Euros from an ATM. The Clarity card will give you the best rate on the day & even though the cost of withdrawal is very small, if you access your account when the transaction shows you can indeed pay it off to save a few more pennies on the interest charge.