Is there anything Halifax Clarity does better than Barclays Rewards?

vikkiew

Thanks. I was not expecting some of the points raised. I did also read the MSE article about Barclays abruptly slashing card limits. I think I will apply for Barclays as a backup option. In rare times I need to withdraw cash it is better than Clarity. The 0.25% Barclays cashback is less than the savings from Clarity's better rate which looks to be between 0.5% to 1% so for my main use Clarity would be cheaper.

eDicky

vikkiew said:

The 0.25% Barclays cashback is less than the savings from Clarity's better rate which looks to be between 0.5% to 1% so for my main use Clarity would be cheaper.

I very much doubt that there's that much difference between MasterCard and Visa rates overall, where do you see the indication..?

In any case, no need to limit yourself to one or the other, the more sources of funds the better when traveling.

zagfles

eDicky said:

vikkiew said:

The 0.25% Barclays cashback is less than the savings from Clarity's better rate which looks to be between 0.5% to 1% so for my main use Clarity would be cheaper.

I very much doubt that there's that much difference between MasterCard and Visa rates overall, where do you see the indication..?

When I checked a few years ago that was about the difference between MasterCard and VISA for some non European currencies I checked, see the discussion linked from the article I posted above. It was cheaper to use my Clarity for cash even paying a week or two's interest than using Barclaycard with no interest, but not a lot in it. But as you say best have both, in case a card gets blocked etc.

Just checked NZD at random at looks like the MasterCard markup is around 0.7% and VISA is around 0.85% (using same technique as before - ie reverse the currencies on same date).

All a bit academic at the moment. But I'm bored.

jbrassy

vikkiew said:

Thanks. I was not expecting some of the points raised. I did also read the MSE article about Barclays abruptly slashing card limits. I think I will apply for Barclays as a backup option. In rare times I need to withdraw cash it is better than Clarity. The 0.25% Barclays cashback is less than the savings from Clarity's better rate which looks to be between 0.5% to 1% so for my main use Clarity would be cheaper.

Personally, I would not use a credit card to withdraw cash. It shows up on your credit record which may be unhelpful when applying for mortgages etc. Maybe I'm hyper-sensitive about it, but I have a Starling Bank account for overseas ATM withdrawals. I only use my Barclaycard Rewards for overseas spending,

vikkiew

Here is my update. I ran the eligibility check and it could not guarantee I would get it. I applied anyway. The next day I received an email which had the last 4 digits of a card at the top implying I had been accepted but with only a limit of 200 and that I needed to submit bank statements or payslips. The message recommended submitting these to increase the limit but at the same time threatened to cancel my card if they were not submitted. So no choice really. I submitted immediately. Over the next few days I received 2 more of the same emails despite me already submitting. I was starting to doubt if there was a problem. Then today I received an email saying the limit is now 2000. This will do but it is still very much lower than any of my other cards. For comparison my Clarity has a 12000 limit. All my cards are 10000 to 20000. Still no card or welcome pack or even a welcome email. Barclays communication has been unimpressive so far.

vikkiew

Further update. The card arrived nearly 2 weeks after my application. Barclays communication is a mess. Overall I fear I may end up regretting getting this card. I would certainly NOT recommend getting this over the Halifax Clarity. I felt informed and assured with Halifax at every step.