Quick Clarity question

slinga

Do I have to inform Clarity that I'll be using the card overseas?

Ben8282

It would be prudent to do so.

Westminster

I never bothered and travel extensively. Not had any issues with the card in the 3 years I've had it.

Missus_Hyde

It would be prudent to do so.

Westminster wrote: »

I never bothered and travel extensively. Not had any issues with the card in the 3 years I've had it.

I think perhaps that because you travel extensively the activity on the card would appear to be "normal" activity and wouldn't flag up any problems if you're using it frequently.

It would be more likely to trigger a problem if it was unusual to use it abroad and so I would certainly notify Halifax just to be on the safe side.

They do suggest on their website that they be notified if the card is being used abroad.

Nebulous2

We've had threads where accounts have been locked when people are overseas and they have been unhappy about it. It meant using a more expensive method to pay and wasn't unlocked until the person got home. Trying to reduce the chance of that happening is indeed prudent.

I used mine abroad for the first time recently, touring from Spain through France and notified them in advance through the internet banking website.

Biggles

You can now just message them through online banking under 'Your Profile'.

PeacefulWaters

They say you should.

It can be done online, by phone or in branch.

slinga

Thanks all.
We are in Singapore at the moment where I don't need to use Clarity, but the phone charges to UK aren't as cheap as they are UK to Singapore.
But we are off to Australia for a month next Thursday so I'll inform Clarity through internet banking.

chattychappy

I didn't bother, even when I first had Clarity. It was OK for a long time - the first time it got blocked was when I made an ATM withdrawal in the UK. It's generally been fine, though I've had blocks pretty much everywhere by now.

I never bother to notify CCs in advance (I also use Post Office Mastercard, Nationwide Select and Santander Zero).

When the card(s) have been blocked I have phoned up, told them my plan, it's been unblocked but occasionally then got blocked again. Sometimes cards have become blocked, but cleared again (without a phone call) a day or so later.

"Unusual" spending behaviour doesn't always seem to be the trigger. Eg a particular branch of a chain store in Taiwan often causes a block on Nationwide Select, but not other cards - even though I've used this shop for years. For a while, HSBC ATMs at the airport in Saigon always blocked my Zero card, but not Clarity.

I've had a number of (friendly) conversations with CC staff about this.

My theory is this. Whether a block happens or not has little to do with whether you've told them in advance. (Plenty of threads here where people told their CC in advance, but still had their card blocked.) BUT, the "blocked" transaction triggers a review (electronic or manual) which might cause the card to unblock without a call from the cardholder if they have it on file that you said you would be there or it fits in with your previous travel habits. Hence regular travellers don't need to call them, but will sometimes get transactions blocked and then find it works again later. First time travellers can get the card blocked but will then need to call in to unblock.

So, for the OP: Do call them, but be aware you might still get transactions blocked. Take backups - standard charges on a CC are still less than taxi journeys, messing around with Western Union, or changing Sterling at silly rates. When doing an ATM withdrwal, draw enough cash to keep a buffer, in case the next withdrawal fails.

Katiehound

Yes, they like to know!
They list countries/trips and dates from my understanding so that your card won't get blocked!

eDicky

My solution is to tell Halifax, when I'm on the phone to them about something else, that my travel is often unpredictable and I need the card open for use in all countries. Apparently this can be set up for twelve months at a time. Of course, it may not suit everyone because fraud prevention is less effective if your card gets cloned or its details compromised somehow.

Notification of a country you will visit (or are already in), and the date range, can also be given very easily on the Halifax phone app, and is effective quickly, within the hour.