Should I get rid of AMEX if I take out Halifax Clarity?

MiseryChastain

Hi there,

I travel a fair bit and am sick of the fees I incur with my debit card.

I'm therefore thinking of taking out a specialist travel credit card and would like to take out the Halifax Clarity (I'm likely to be eligible).

I currently have a normal credit card (the BA Avios AMEX) which I've used to build up points although I have paid it off and I'm looking to get rid of it anyway.

My question is - if I apply for the Clarity, can I hold this at the same time as my normal credit card or will it affect my credit rating? Should I close down my AMEX if I take out the Clarity?

Is Clarity worth using when not travelling i.e. in the UK?

Thanks

[Deleted User]

If you only have the one card, hang on to it.

Ideally, have two or three cards as back ups and for different purposes.

WillPS

You don't have a credit rating, but it's generally not a good idea to close down a product with good history which you've held a while.

No harm having 2, just using the Amex occasionally.

Fred_Scutle

I expect other Halifax Clarity card holders have received a letter from Halifax announcing coinages to terms and conditions, my wife and I read the documents and formed differing views about if Clarity will be charging for foreign currency transactions from Sept. I could not endure hanging on their 'help line' asked the question of Facebook who simply referred me back to the call centre. My wife wet into a local branch was told 'Ask the merchant to make sure you pay in Sterling so you won't be charged' In another branch I was told this lunchtime 'No worries you can pay a Euro bill, like a Hotel bill, without charges'. Anyone got any other ideas ?

Vortigern

Fred_Scutle wrote: »

I expect other Halifax Clarity card holders have received a letter from Halifax announcing changes to terms and conditions.

I don't believe there are any changes to their foreign use rules, it's still a good travel card.

Main changes are to how they can increase the minimum payment if a cardholder is in persistent debt...

...and to how they handle the direct debit when you've made an interim payment.

eDicky

Fred_Scutle wrote: »

My wife wet into a local branch was told 'Ask the merchant to make sure you pay in Sterling so you won't be charged' In another branch I was told this lunchtime 'No worries you can pay a Euro bill, like a Hotel bill, without charges'. Anyone got any other ideas ?

It's really not advisable to ask bank staff for advice about this sort of thing. There's plenty of info in the MSE articles. Nothing has changed regarding use of Clarity card overseas, and with the absence of non-sterling fees being its main attraction it's unlikely to ever change.

Warslet

I have recently looked at the Halifax Clarity card but opted for another Bank's fee free card. Have another credit card I can use abroad which is fee free, as a back-up.

The recent T&C changes about persistent debt I believe is an industry wide initiative as my credit card provider has recently sent this to me and applies from September.

Always good to have a back-up card.