Managing Halifax Clarity Credit abroad ?

Yellowvest23

 I want to pay off my Halifax clarity card immediately after any purchase or atm withdrawal when  abroad.
Would I still need access to the UK mobile number I have  registered wilt Halifax to log on to the app ? since at the moment they send an access code when i login to it.
Or is there a better way of managing the account whilst abroad?
TIA

eDicky

If HSBC send an access code by SMS for logging in to the app, you can receive it with your regular UK phone SIM connected in roaming mode. Receiving such an SMS is always free.

My HSBC app does not require this, but I have not updated it recently.

Why would you want to pay off purchases immediately..?

Ebe_Scrooge

There's no need to pay off purchases immediately - just pay the statement in full as usual when it arrives and you won't be charged interest.  If you want to repay cash advances, then do make sure they've hit your account before you make the payment - it can take a day or two.  Otherwise your payment will go towards items that are currently on your account, rather than the cash advance.

Having said that, bear in mind that the interest on a few hundred pounds for 1 month won't be much - probably the cost of a couple of pints.  So unless you're withdrawing thousands of pounds, there is an argument to say just enjoy your trip and don't worry too much about it :-) I know this is MSE, but within reason.  And the interest you'd pay will be more than offset by the fees you would have ordinarily paid had you withdrawn cash on an ordinary debit card.

floppydisk1

If I remember correctly Halifax send SMS when you access account from a new device for a first time, once device is authenticated you should not need another access code. At least that's what I had last year, every time I accessed from  say a tablet or laptop that was not authenticated, they sent me new SMS code, once I logged in first time I could use it in the UK or all over europe with no more access codes. Your setting might be different, but you can receive SMS on any UK registered phone for free when abroad so it should not be a problem even if you need it

Yellowvest23

Thanks for the great replies.
Its more for an extended stay (4 months) rather than a holiday and will be to used for ATM withdrawals.I know interest is minimal but I prefer to clear the debt ASAP.

ic

Perhaps take a look at getting a card like Currensea or Curve for your cash withdrawals linked back to your existing current account, or perhaps opening a current account that provides fee-free withdrawals such as Starling?  There are other current accounts such as Nationwide FlexPlus that offer fee-free withdrawals, but they do carry a monthly fee.

Yellowvest23

ic said:

Perhaps take a look at getting a card like Currensea or Curve for your cash withdrawals linked back to your existing current account, or perhaps opening a current account that provides fee-free withdrawals such as Starling?  There are other current accounts such as Nationwide FlexPlus that offer fee-free withdrawals, but they do carry a monthly fee.

Halifax clarity card is fee free and no monthly charge when paid off straight away.
Nationwide were OK up and until about 6 years ago when they decided that the customer was not important and everything was directed to enable them to pay the directors and chairman their huge salaries and obscene bonuses.Mutual ? my backside.