Halifax Clarity Credit Card

kirst2203

Hi all,

Firstly, apologies if this has already been discussed - I did look but couldn't find anything

So I have a Halifax Clarity Credit Card which I got for overseas travel. I have used it in Orlando last year for purchases (no cash withdrawals) - no problem, no charges.

I am going to Italy (Venice, Florence and Rome) next month and plan to do the same as I have read that most places accept card over there. I am taking a few euros for public transport etc. When I collected these the man at the exchange place asked me if I would be getting more euros before I travel. I said no and told him my plan to use the card. He said 'oh well be careful of charges'. I told him there shouldn't be any because that is what the card is designed for. He said 'Halifax might not charge you but the overseas bank will'. Is he correct? Or is he assuming i'm making cash withdrawals?

Thanks in advance

leylandsunaddict

kirst2203 wrote: »

Hi all,

Firstly, apologies if this has already been discussed - I did look but couldn't find anything

So I have a Halifax Clarity Credit Card which I got for overseas travel. I have used it in Orlando last year for purchases (no cash withdrawals) - no problem, no charges.

I am going to Italy (Venice, Florence and Rome) next month and plan to do the same as I have read that most places accept card over there. I am taking a few euros for public transport etc. When I collected these the man at the exchange place asked me if I would be getting more euros before I travel. I said no and told him my plan to use the card. He said 'oh well be careful of charges'. I told him there shouldn't be any because that is what the card is designed for. He said 'Halifax might not charge you but the overseas bank will'. Is he correct? Or is he assuming i'm making cash withdrawals?

Thanks in advance

Some ATMs may charge, but they will tell you before you do the transaction if they do. We've never been charged for cash withdrawals or purchases, and we only use a Clarity for both.

SW17

The only thing you have to watch out for, even with Clarity, is Dynamic Currency Conversion, i.e. if you are asked if you want to pay in GBP or local currency. Always pay in local currency to ensure that you get the exchange rate from the Clarity card (as DCC rates are always worse).

Same applies to ATM withdrawals if you make them, always decline the conversion and ask to be charged in local currency, letting your card issuer decide the rate. Of course on cash withdrawals there will be (relatively small) interest charges.

kirst2203

Hi,
Thanks for replies. It seems I was correct in my thinking then.
Just to clarify, I don't intend to make any withdrawals - just to use for purchases in shops and restaurants.

Many Thanks

hollie.weimeraner

I always use Clarity for cash withdrawals as well. Even if there are atm charges they are generally less than the exchanges.

The only time I have known any difference was last week with the BREXIT when it would have been cheaper to purchase currency at home before the vote:(

bigadaj

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

I always use Clarity for cash withdrawals as well. Even if there are atm charges they are generally less than the exchanges.

The only time I have known any difference was last week with the BREXIT when it would have been cheaper to purchase currency at home before the vote:(

Though not a fair comparison. That is just a function of exahange rate movements, if you had bought items or currency at the same time then clarity, or similar card, would have still been your best option.

hollie.weimeraner

bigadaj wrote: »

Though not a fair comparison. That is just a function of exahange rate movements, if you had bought items or currency at the same time then clarity, or similar card, would have still been your best option.

yes I should have clarified really. I'm off to America shortly and purchased some dollars at home prior to the vote. I therefore got a better rate than waiting until I went to the US. (I do wish I had bought more now though:rotfl:)

LeroyFox

Does anyone else use the MSE money changing app and has noticed that the Halifax Clarity credit card is no longer the cheapest card to use abroad? Most of my other cards are cheaper as a result of having better exchange rates. The Halifax Clarity card has always been much cheaper than my other cards, now I don't know what card I should use...

leylandsunaddict

LeroyFox wrote: »

Does anyone else use the MSE money changing app and has noticed that the Halifax Clarity credit card is no longer the cheapest card to use abroad? Most of my other cards are cheaper as a result of having better exchange rates. The Halifax Clarity card has always been much cheaper than my other cards, now I don't know what card I should use...

How can they have better exchange rates than the Mastercard rate, or do you mean they're preloaded cards, loaded when the rates were higher?

PeacefulWaters

LeroyFox wrote: »

Does anyone else use the MSE money changing app and has noticed that the Halifax Clarity credit card is no longer the cheapest card to use abroad? Most of my other cards are cheaper as a result of having better exchange rates. The Halifax Clarity card has always been much cheaper than my other cards, now I don't know what card I should use...

I think you're confused or the app is wrong.

Fortyfoot

The Clarity exchange rate on the 10th December 2016 was 1.18736642128e to the £.

Fortyfoot