Halifax removes option to tell them you're abroad

tripled

freelancepuddle wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it's done automatically by their system. I just don't see why go through the extra hassle of them calling you and checking your account when you can just fill in a quick form telling them where and when you're going. Why have they added extra steps?

I often forgot to fill in the form and never had my Clarity blocked or had "the hassle of them calling me". So it would seem they've never relied on that, it was just one piece of information they used to form a fuller picture that they've decided they no longer need.

glider3560

freelancepuddle wrote: »

When you were abroad were you paying it off regularly or at the end of each month?

On the due date, in full, by direct debit. I made no payments whilst abroad.

PeacefulWaters

freelancepuddle wrote: »

The Clarity Card is literally a travel credit card. So what, it's now useless and false advertising because you have no way of telling them you'll be abroad?

It's a generic credit card with very competitive overseas usage costs.

I have no idea what you're waffling about in your second sentence. Transactions overseas occasionally failed when you filled in their form. Nothing changes.

glider3560

When they do block a transaction, you get a text message. Just reply with "yes" and the card is instantly unblocked. The reply number is a normal UK phone number, so won't cost any more than texting your family/friends back home.

freelancepuddle

glider3560 wrote: »

When they do block a transaction, you get a text message. Just reply with "yes" and the card is instantly unblocked. The reply number is a normal UK phone number, so won't cost any more than texting your family/friends back home.

Thank you for clarifying this. I still find it strange when at no cost to me or them I could advise them before I go. Whereas now I need to pay international fees to text back an automated number. Seems backwards.

PeacefulWaters

freelancepuddle wrote: »

Thank you for clarifying this. I still find it strange when at no cost to me or them I could advise them before I go. Whereas now I need to pay international fees to text back an automated number. Seems backwards.

Except people who had advised them of travel also, on rare occasions, had to do the same.

The only difference now is no need to tell Halifax where you are travelling. That's a benefit.

pmduk

Vortigern wrote: »

Boots Meal Deal - cheaper than a meal on the plane, and more choice.

Last time I looked at Boots' prices they were hardly MSE!

No_6

Just got back from a nice 8 days in Spain, nice and warm day time
but really cold at night, so take coats with you folks. just in case.

Clarity worked fine, without telling HF that we were going OB,
nice rate and the statement is not due till MAY for our spends.

AnotherJoe

freelancepuddle wrote: »

Thank you for clarifying this. I still find it strange when at no cost to me or them I could advise them before I go. Whereas now I need to pay international fees to text back an automated number. Seems backwards.

Because the number of times you'll need to do that is lower than the number of times you'll have to do it because you forgot to fill in the form before . For the average customer.

takman

freelancepuddle wrote: »

Thank you for clarifying this. I still find it strange when at no cost to me or them I could advise them before I go. Whereas now I need to pay international fees to text back an automated number. Seems backwards.

But filling in the form and telling them your abroad doesn't mean that all transactions will go through while your abroad without any issues, they will still block transactions they think are fraudulent.
Also if you forgot to fill it in they also wouldn't automatically block a transaction just because it was in a different country.

So whether you filled the form out or not suspected fraudulent transactions are blocked. So they probably came to the logical conclusion that it wasn't very useful and got rid of it.

But if your travelling for 3 months you should really have a mobile contract that allows you to use your phone abroad at no extra cost (depending on where your going) and also backup travel cards to use as well.