Halifax Clarity Card Zip Codes

Kred

Just returned from a holiday in the US and used my Halifax Clarity credit card as usual.
Unfortunately on a couple of occasions I was unable to buy petrol or buy things online whilst I was away as a ZIP code was required which was a bit of a surprise.

I contacted Halifax whilst I was away and could not get a straight answer as to how to use the card in these circumstances. When I got home, Halifax eventually told me they don’t support transactions that require a Zip code which again was a surprise.
USA like the UK are tightening up there security and the Requirement for Zip codes will increase overtime, so I find it strange that Halifax don’t support this and have no plans to support this!

Money saving expert have been promoting the Halifax Clarity card for some time to use abroad, but this card will be useless in the USA if the enhanced security requiring Zip codes is rolled out!

Please be aware of this and make sure you have a second card in case this happens to you!

From my point of view it looks like I will now have to look replace the Halifax card with another that supports zip codes!

System

Why would a card only available to for UK residents support a US postcode.
Perhaps post-Brexit England might become the 51st state.

[Deleted User]

Why would a UK based card issuer support USA ZIP codes?

They're not obliged to do so

DavyJones61

Try zip code 90218:rotfl:

dogleish

Tandem is a good alternative to Halifax's Clarity - plus you get 0.5% cashback.

EveryWhere

Kred wrote: »

Just returned from a holiday in the US and used my Halifax Clarity credit card as usual.
Unfortunately on a couple of occasions I was unable to buy petrol or buy things online whilst I was away as a ZIP code was required which was a bit of a surprise.

I contacted Halifax whilst I was away and could not get a straight answer as to how to use the card in these circumstances. When I got home, Halifax eventually told me they don’t support transactions that require a Zip code which again was a surprise.
USA like the UK are tightening up there security and the Requirement for Zip codes will increase overtime, so I find it strange that Halifax don’t support this and have no plans to support this!

Money saving expert have been promoting the Halifax Clarity card for some time to use abroad, but this card will be useless in the USA if the enhanced security requiring Zip codes is rolled out!

Please be aware of this and make sure you have a second card in case this happens to you!

From my point of view it looks like I will now have to look replace the Halifax card with another that supports zip codes!

Did you enter a Zip Code?

Nick_C

Sometimes, a Zip code of 99999 works for foreign credit card transactions (buying MTA tickets in NYC for example).

At gas stations, I usually try to pay at the pump which fails. I then go into the shop and give them my card. They will either charge it with $100 (any underspend is refunded once the transaction is completed) or keep the card while I fill up and then process the transaction in the shop.

It's an inconvenience, but not a major problem.

And it's a general issue that affects all UK credit cards - it's not unique to Halifax or Lloyds Banking Group.

bairn7

The only time I've had this issue is with automated credit card transactions (pay at the pump etc). One time a zip code of 00000 worked but other times it just fails and you go into the kiosk to use your card instead.

PRAISETHESUN

I recall reading somewhere a while back about this, and I seem to remember that someone was saying that for non-numerical/mixed post codes like UK ones, you basically omitted all non-numerical digits when entering your zip code (ie. SW1A 2AA becomes "12"). Otherwise make sure to always carry a backup card on the off chance this is likely to happen in future!

EDIT: See this:
https://www.mastercard.ca/en-ca/consumers/features-benefits/travel-tips/mastercard-pay-at-pump.html

It should be as above followed by as many zeros as required to make a 5 digit code, so the above should be "12000"

nick74

I've had this problem with a UK issued Amex card at pay-at-pumps and tried the above method of entering the numbers from my UK postcode, which seemed to work. However I subsequently tried entering any five random digits and that worked too!

stevenhp1987

When I'm in the US, I just use the numbers in my postcode, with 0s on the end.

Works with most of my cards without fail.

e.g. If your postcode as AB12 3CD then enter 12300