Halifax Clarity or Cash Passport?

eDicky

Fitzmichael wrote: »

Is using the Clarity card (I have others credit and debit) the best way to do this and does it make any difference if I withdraw here (more convenient) or in France?

Clarity will be better for withdrawing euros than using most other cards. Where would you more conveniently withdraw euros in UK?

zagfles

Fitzmichael wrote: »

I'm not clear on this. I'm going to see family in France and will use Clarity if I want to buy anything but I want a couple of hundred euros to give to the grandchildren. Is using the Clarity card (I have others credit and debit) the best way to do this and does it make any difference if I withdraw here (more convenient) or in France?
Thanks.

Most UK cashpoints that dispense Euros will convert the currency at a really rubbish rate, even worse than changing cash. I think there are some exceptions eg some MoneyCorp ones, there was a thread on here, have a search.

But why is it more convenient to get them in the UK? Do your family in France live in the middle of nowhere with no ATMs and your route to get to them won't take you anywhere near any ATMs? Sounds very unlikely.

Fitzmichael

Yes, zagfles, they live in a village with no commerce but there is a larger one with a single bank and ATM about 25 mins away, but I would have no other reason to go there. Here, there's a Halifax and several other banks 2 mins away.
What difference is there in withdrawing here or overseas? MSE says "There's no fee for cash withdrawals," and "Exchange rate fee: Europe: 0% | Worldwide: 0%" Does 'Europe' already exclude Britain?
And what is implied by "Interest rate on ATM withdrawals: 18.9%"? Does it mean if I use my card in a bank or travel agency here I'll be charged higher interest? Surely it is Mastercard that charges the interest.
We're talking 200-odd euros, so the difference would be small, but I'd like to know for larger amounts in future.
Thanks

zagfles

Fitzmichael wrote: »

Yes, zagfles, they live in a village with no commerce but there is a larger one with a single bank and ATM about 25 mins away, but I would have no other reason to go there.

How are you getting there? Nearly all airports have ATMs. If you're driving, won't you drive through towns with ATMs? Or visit a supermarket while you're there (good for cheap petrol too and obviously wine) - most supermarkets have ATMs

Here, there's a Halifax and several other banks 2 mins away.

Which have Euro dispensing ATMs? The vast majority of UK ATMs won't dispense Euros and most that do are a rip-off as below...

What difference is there in withdrawing here or overseas? MSE says "There's no fee for cash withdrawals," and "Exchange rate fee: Europe: 0% | Worldwide: 0%"

That doesn't apply to most Euro dispensing ATMs in the UK. Most impose their own rubbish exchange rate and charge you in GBP.

And what is implied by "Interest rate on ATM withdrawals: 18.9%"? Does it mean if I hand my card over to a teller (still necessary in some other places I've been to) I'll be charged higher interest? Surely it is Mastercard that charges the interest.

No, why do you think that? It's the bank that charges you interest. Mastercard set the exchange rate when you use the card abroad. https://www.mastercard.com/global/currencyconversion/index.html

Minimise interest by paying the card off asap. 18.9% APR is less than 0.05% per day. Withdrawing 200 Euros will cost about 8p per day till you pay it off. You do not need to wait for the statement, just check your balance and pay it off as soon as you can.

We're talking 200-odd euros, so the difference would be small, but I'd like to know for larger amounts in future.
Thanks

See above. Sometimes foreign ATMs will try to use their own exchange rate rather than charge you in Euros, but they will always ask before they do, take the "without conversion" option if they do. But they won't force it on you like they usually do in the UK. Having said that I've never known a French ATM to try this on.

eDicky

Fitzmichael wrote: »

What difference is there in withdrawing here or overseas?

Zagfles explained twice already, but to get the MasterCard rate on euros with your Clarity card it needs to be charged in euros, not pounds as it would be in any UK ATM.

The only exception, if you happen to be flying from Stansted or Gatwick, are the Moneycorp multi-currency ATMs located there, but you must make sure that you select 'Without Conversion' when the screen presents a choice.

Fitzmichael

I hadn't connected drawing cash with paying for a purchase and following MSE advice to refuse the offer to do it in pounds. Now I see: foreign ATMs will issue euros and charge in euros and Halifax will use their rate to convert, while a UK ATM which issues euros will charge in £s and use their less favourable conversion rate. Boy, I hadn't realised I was getting so dumb in my old age. Thanks

skins_2

Hi guys,


Been searching and searching now, but no real answer to the following...


Going to Abu Dhabi at the end of November, I'm thinking of getting either


The Halifax Clarity 18.9%apr (I bank with Halifax, would there be any advantages?)


Creation Everyday 12.9% apr


The MBNA Everyday Plus 7.4% apr (Issue is, this card is American Express).


Main questions, have peeps used the MBNA card? Is it any good? Is AMEX widely used over in Abu Dhabi?


What are the differences (if any) between the Clarity and Creation?


Soz for the questions

NiftyDigits

skins wrote: »

Hi guys,


Been searching and searching now, but no real answer to the following...


Going to Abu Dhabi at the end of November, I'm thinking of getting either


The Halifax Clarity 18.9%apr (I bank with Halifax, would there be any advantages?)


Creation Everyday 12.9% apr


The MBNA Everyday Plus 7.4% apr (Issue is, this card is American Express).


Main questions, have peeps used the MBNA card? Is it any good? Is AMEX widely used over in Abu Dhabi?


What are the differences (if any) between the Clarity and Creation?


Soz for the questions

Creation Everyday has a weekly ATM withdrawal limit of perhaps £500. So if you'll need more cash than that, get the Clarity.
The interest rate should make no difference, as long as you cover your ATM withdrawal with an online payment asap and you pay your statement purchases when due.

skins_2

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Creation Everyday has a weekly ATM withdrawal limit of perhaps £500. So if you'll need more cash than that, get the Clarity.
The interest rate should make no difference, as long as you cover your ATM withdrawal with an online payment asap and you pay your statement purchases when due.

So probably easier just to get the Halifax one as I bank with them etc anyway!


Cheers!