Halifax Clarity Card Zip Codes

HogMan

Agreed.

Chip and pin is sloooooowly getting rolled out in the US. I think that chip and pin will eventually replace the zip code requirement at pumps.

The work around I use if I am in an area with Walmart stores (many of which have associated gas stations) is to use a credit card to purchase a gift card (with a magnetic stripe) which can then be used to purchase fuel. You can then top up the gift card as necessary.

The added benefit being there is often up to 10 cents per gallon off the pump price if you use a gift card.

freeganneist

This isn't just an issue with using petrol pumps, it also prevents online purchases when travelling. For instance, when getting the Flyaway bus from LAX you can't buy a ticket before boarding but you can buy one online from Metrolink once on the bus, which is checked at the other end. But the Metrolink app requires a zipcode in order to complete the payment.

It seems perfectly reasonable to me to ask our UK credit card issuers what we should use in these circumstances, and for them to be able to provide advice. Especially if they're promoting the card as good for travel.

It's not rocket science. We just need to know how to use our cards in different countries. Someone in the card company must know what we need to enter.

born_again

freeganneist wrote: »

It's not rocket science. We just need to know how to use our cards in different countries. Someone in the card company must know what we need to enter.

It should be the Post code as registered on the card account. So your home address. If they are checking the card details, then it has to match.

If a app requires a ZIP code then the issue is not with your card provider it is with the APP and the company providing the service.

freeganneist wrote: »

Especially if they're promoting the card as good for travel.

Then APP provider needs to make it work with your postcode. Especially if they are Travel related. As clearly they are not just for local people....

chattychappy

Kred wrote: »

The issue here is that Halifax have decided they will not support any transactions that require a Zip code validation and their policy is not documented or communicated anywhere which is shocking.

Shocking? But in the event, they did communicate it when you asked them.....

freeganneist

As an update to my post above about buying a flyaway ticket online from Metrolink, I spoke to Amex and they've advised me to change my account address to a US address while travelling in the USA, then back to my UK address when I get home. A USA hotel address should work.

I hadn't thought of this and haven't tried it yet, but will report back after I've tried it.

I'm now going to contact my other credit card companies. I don't usually use Amex when travelling abroad due to their fees, but if I desperately need to use a card it's nice to know I can.

chattychappy

freeganneist wrote: »

As an update to my post above about buying a flyaway ticket online from Metrolink, I spoke to Amex and they've advised me to change my account address to a US address while travelling in the USA,

I'm a tad surprised by this advice. Unless their systems cleverly distinguish between where you are resident and a simple mailing address, I can see their could be some regulatory issues flagged up.

It could also mess up your CRA files if address changes are reported.

freeganneist

chattychappy wrote: »

I'm a tad surprised by this advice. Unless their systems cleverly distinguish between where you are resident and a simple mailing address, I can see their could be some regulatory issues flagged up.

It could also mess up your CRA files if address changes are reported.

I was surprised, I must admit. This was via their chat. I may phone them for clarification.

In the meantime, Starling have advised me to use 99999 for their mastercard.

freeganneist

freeganneist wrote: »

I was surprised, I must admit. This was via their chat. I may phone them for clarification.

In the meantime, Starling have advised me to use 99999 for their mastercard.

OK, I phoned Amex and the phone rep was horrified by the advice I'd been given by their chat rep, and said don't change your account address!!!!

They've suggested using the hotel zip code.

I'm just going to have to wing it because if it's down to the merchant (which is what my last Amex rep said) then it seems they may all have different authorisation rules.

Abbey1991

The right moneysaving answer to this thread is pay cash for fuel in the US because it's cheaper (perhaps 10 cents per gallon).

es5595

This isn't new! I was travelling in the US in 2007 - 2009 and lots of places asked for a zip code then.

I always used 00000 or 99999 and it worked with no issues, it wasn't a Halifax clarity card, probably a BA amex. It would be interesting to hear more recent examples of what has and hasn't worked.