Halifax Clarity Credit Card

AlanElsworth

I have used this card for many years while abroad. It's the best card moneywise, but it's totally useless as they just suspend your card for no reason.

Australia - Halifax suspended my card (and my friends at the same time). I had a heated call for over 30 mins for them stating it was the vendors fault, utter rubbish!!!

New York - Text message & calls stating unusual activity. What is unusual about going on holiday?

New York - Suspended my wife's card for no reason!!

What is the point of having a credit card for travel when it just gets declined for using it? I thought the idea of using a credit card abroad was to make things easier, obviously not Halifax!!!

MSE, please look into this & stop rating it as a top credit card for abroad when it doesn't work.

Ps. Santander worked fine.

[Deleted User]

It works fine for me.

It would be unfair not to a recommend a card that seems to work for everyone else but you.

onashoestring

Having had this happen to me in the past - I now always notify my bank where I am travelling to and the dates before travelling so that any “unusual activity “ is explained . Since doing this  I have never had a problem.

Westin

No problems with Halifax Clarity when overseas so far. 

A few tips from Halifax here, including contact numbers to call if you get stuck - 
https://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/help-guidance/using-a-credit-card-abroad.html

They also say on their website -

Before going abroad

• Ensure your cards do not expire when you are away. Please check your expiry date.
• Take another form of payment in case of emergency.
• Ensure your contact details are up to date so we can contact you if we are concerned there may be fraudulent activity on your account.
• Take note of our overseas number to call in an emergency: +44 (0)113 242 1984.

Neil49

I always make a point of booking my airport car parking with my Clarity card and also using it inside the terminal before departure just to indicate that I'm traveling abroad. 

Similarly, when checking into a hotel I always hand over my Clarity card at reception when they want a card to earmark funds. 

I don't know whether this works or not but if they have some sort of data analysis going on it may just indicate that I'm overseas and give my transactions the benefit of the doubt.

They used to let you register your travel locations on your account prior to leaving but withdrew that facility some years ago. 

Doshwaster

Never had a problem with Clarity when travelling. It is very popular as a travel card so they must expect a lot of international use.

photome

never had a problem with Clarity...Post office ( now ja ja)  different matter entirely so much so i have stopped using it

NoodleDoodleMan

Halifax recently sent me a warning letter that my card would be concelled due to dormancy - I wonder if this was the root cause of the OPs drama ? Perhaps he didn't get such a letter ?

I used it soon thereafter and called the bank - they were happy to let me continue holding the card.

Halifax no longer have an online option to advise them when a card holder is travelling abroad.

As above, there is no reason for MSE to withdraw their recommendation for Halifax Clarity - base on one individual's experience.

The OP should take this up with Halifax and get to the bottom of the problem - them maybe clarify (no pun intended) the issue here.

Doshwaster

photome said:

never had a problem with Clarity...Post office ( now ja ja)  different matter entirely so much so i have stopped using it

The only time I've ever had a card blocked when travelling was about 10 years ago with HSBC who thought it was "suspicious" that my card was used in London and New York on the same day. Fortunately, even then, I always travelled with backup cards.

grandadgolfer

Used mine all over Europe and USA in the last 10 years never had a problem and never informed them I was going away

NoodleDoodleMan

"New York - Suspended my wife's card for no reason!!"

Did your wife have her own card account - or was she an additional card holder on your account ?

The latter would explain why it was cancelled.