Halifax Clarity Card - Positive Balance?

twicebittennotshy

We're going on holiday in a few weeks and whenever I read about currency and foreign exchange the Halifax Clarity card seems to be highly recommended.

Having only recently become debt free (other than mortgage) after many years of credit card misuse, I'm cautiously thinking about applying for the clarity card due to its cost effectiveness, but don't like the idea of running up another card debt.

I could repay the expenditure in full on my return from holiday, but I'd still feel like I'm breaking the promise I made myself to never have a credit card debt again.

So, my question is this - if, for example, I planned to spend £1000 on the card during my holiday, could I make a payment to my card of £1000 before I travel, so that I start with a positive balance and run it down to zero, rather than starting at zero, running it to minus £1000 and then paying it off?

[Deleted User]

Putting the card in credit will be against the T's and C's and they may block the card and close the account.

If you pay it back in full then you won't be charged interest etc.

Ebe_Scrooge

No. This would break the T&Cs of the card, which could - worst case scenario - result in the card being blocked.

twicebittennotshy

Thanks for the replies - I think I'll stick with cash.

laingn

What I have been doing is using my card (creation) on holiday and using my banking app. If I spend say 100 euros popping a payment of £90 over to it that way the pending transactions cancel each other out and you know your not going to be hit with a big bill

PeacefulWaters

Starling Bank is probably your best alternative for overseas use if you don't like a few days of debt.

YorkshireBoy

twicebittennotshy wrote: »

Thanks for the replies - I think I'll stick with cash.

That decision could easily cost you between £30 and £50, depending on where you get your cash.

chattychappy

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

That decision could easily cost you between £30 and £50, depending on where you get your cash.

To be fair to the OP, since they've had problems running up debts, addiction or whatever in the past, £30 to £50 could be a bargain!

msallen

If you're adamant about not using a credit card (properly) then you should be looking for a 0% FX fee debit card instead. Sterling has already been mentioned above which is very good. I have that and the Nationwide one too as I always like to have two options just in case (although I don't think ALL Nationwide accounts have a fee free debit card so you'd need to be careful which account you had)