Halifax Clarity Card

darkidoe

I have the Aqua and Clarity. Aqua will probably be my Purchases card and Clarity the Cash Withdrawal card. Will get a Nationwide Select next as you can't have too many back up travel credit cards!

slopemaster

darkidoe wrote: »

I have the Aqua and Clarity. Aqua will probably be my Purchases card and Clarity the Cash Withdrawal card. Will get a Nationwide Select next as you can't have too many back up travel credit cards!

Yes, you definitely don't want to draw cash on the Aqua card.
I've been using Clarity for cash, and Aqua for purchases as far as the low credit limit allows, but now replacing it with the MBNA Amex.
Also good from the backup PoV as I now have visa, mastercard, and Amex.
After a long-ago trip to Australia when my only credit card stopped working, I agree you can't have too many back up travel credit cards!

darkidoe

slopemaster wrote: »

Yes, you definitely don't want to draw cash on the Aqua card.
I've been using Clarity for cash, and Aqua for purchases as far as the low credit limit allows, but now replacing it with the MBNA Amex.
Also good from the backup PoV as I now have visa, mastercard, and Amex.
After a long-ago trip to Australia when my only credit card stopped working, I agree you can't have too many back up travel credit cards!

Just curious. Which of the MBNA Amex card did you go for?

slopemaster

MBNA Everyday Plus, no fees on spending or withdrawing cash abroad.

I gave up on Amex years ago as nowhere seemed to accept it, but thought it might be time to try it again.

darkidoe

slopemaster wrote: »

MBNA Everyday Plus, no fees on spending or withdrawing cash abroad.

I gave up on Amex years ago as nowhere seemed to accept it, but thought it might be time to try it again.

How does the forex rate compare to Mastercard or Visa? Does it use the Amex Exchange Rate?
If it does, is suspect it might have the worst rate as they seem to change all foreign charges to USD before changing to Sterling.

SnowTiger

darkidoe wrote: »

How does the forex rate compare to Mastercard or Visa? Does it use the Amex Exchange Rate?
If it does, is suspect it might have the worst rate as they seem to change all foreign charges to USD before changing to Sterling.

It was discussed here.

slopemaster

Thanks for that, useful info.
I'll probably use the MBNA card mostly in US, and use other options for euros.

One point though is the MBNA Amex has a much lower interest rate than the Halifax clarity, so assuming a few days interest before the balance is cleared, it might even out?

wacko911

I've noticed on my credit files they keep a record of all your cash withdrawals. This can make you look desparate for money lifting cash on a credit card (even if you pay it off in full). I wonder if lenders score you on this now?

SnowTiger

wacko911 wrote: »

I've noticed on my credit files they keep a record of all your cash withdrawals. This can make you look desparate for money lifting cash on a credit card (even if you pay it off in full). I wonder if lenders score you on this now?

It's probably one of many factors they take in to consideration.

If you think it might be a problem you could use an N&P current account to withdraw money from cash machines.

slopemaster

wacko911 wrote: »

This can make you look desparate for money lifting cash on a credit card (even if you pay it off in full).

Didn't know it showed on credit file.
Certainly there seems to be an assumption about being desperate for money. When I took out #500/day for several days it got blocked a couple of times by fraud dept even though I'd warned them. Then I ran into the half-credit-limit-in-cash ceiling and asked for a credit limit increase but was turned down. They specifically asked whether I was in financial difficulties, even though at the time I was requesting credit limit increase I had already paid off the balance.

I can sort of see why, as I would never use a credit card to get cash in UK, but when abroad it is different, as it's certainly the easiest way to get local currency.

(I was paying for a bathroom refurb. In the end I had to transfer money to my French bank account and then go into town to get cash out, and it was a right pain, as all banking operations here in France seem to be...)