Using a Clarity Card Abroad

[Deleted User]

Nebulous2 said:

Nebulous2 said:

I still like my Clarity. 

I've just been to Spain and used my Clarity to draw 100 euros cash at a cost of £88.40. After the charge appeared in the app I transferred the money from my recently acquired Halifax rewards account. I'll have a few pence of trailing interest when the bill is produced. Given the issues with most other forms of cash, including charges at ATMs in Spain, I regard that as a result. 

I used Chase for card payments for the 1% cashback. I don't want to swap out my Barclaycard, as I have a legacy one with 0.5% cashback. 

The other thing I like is that Clarity has been consistent. Santander has blown hot and cold, Barclaycard had a confusing system of short-term restricted offerings while Clarity has just continued quietly doing what it says on the tin. 

Just update this for anyone interested. 100 Euros withdrawn, charged £88.40, paid it off by transfer from my Halifax account in 5 days. My credit card bill has just landed, and I've been charged 16 pence in interest..... 

Santander UK debit is usually the best for Spain and Portugal cash withdrawals as excellent rates plus zero surcharges from Santander ES / PT ATMs unlike Halifax Clarity. 

Nebulous2

[Deleted User] said:

Nebulous2 said:

Nebulous2 said:

I still like my Clarity. 

I've just been to Spain and used my Clarity to draw 100 euros cash at a cost of £88.40. After the charge appeared in the app I transferred the money from my recently acquired Halifax rewards account. I'll have a few pence of trailing interest when the bill is produced. Given the issues with most other forms of cash, including charges at ATMs in Spain, I regard that as a result. 

I used Chase for card payments for the 1% cashback. I don't want to swap out my Barclaycard, as I have a legacy one with 0.5% cashback. 

The other thing I like is that Clarity has been consistent. Santander has blown hot and cold, Barclaycard had a confusing system of short-term restricted offerings while Clarity has just continued quietly doing what it says on the tin. 

Just update this for anyone interested. 100 Euros withdrawn, charged £88.40, paid it off by transfer from my Halifax account in 5 days. My credit card bill has just landed, and I've been charged 16 pence in interest..... 

Santander UK debit is usually the best for Spain and Portugal cash withdrawals as excellent rates plus zero surcharges from Santander ES / PT ATMs unlike Halifax Clarity. 

I do have a Santander debit card, but I've never used it abroad. 

ATM fees vary, depending which bank you use. Both Deutsche Bank and Banca March are fee-free in Spain. 

NoodleDoodleMan

Santander UK debit cards are only fee free at Santander branded ATMs in Spain - a few other countries recently added.

There will be a fee from Santander UK if used at other machines.

[Deleted User]

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Santander UK debit cards are only fee free at Santander branded ATMs in Spain - a few other countries recently added.

There will be a fee from Santander UK if used at other machines.

Quote

I've used mine in Santander Spain, Portugal and the United States.

The benefit being that they're surcharge free due to the group relationship.

Deutsche Bank and Banca March have zero relationship with Halifax and could change tact instantly.

TOP_CAT

Correct me if wrong but I was under the impression that the halifax clarity card had terms and conditions changes around 2017 2018 that mattered as far as paying off cash advances and stopping the interest clock ticking ?
I could be wrong on this as I havent used it since just before that time when it was the best .

I used to go away for months so would pass through billing cycles using it overseas with only pennys interest ... paying it off as I went and it was the best card from 2009 to 2016 .

Nebulous2

[Deleted User] said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Santander UK debit cards are only fee free at Santander branded ATMs in Spain - a few other countries recently added.

There will be a fee from Santander UK if used at other machines.

Quote

I've used mine in Santander Spain, Portugal and the United States.

The benefit being that they're surcharge free due to the group relationship.

Deutsche Bank and Banca March have zero relationship with Halifax and could change tact instantly.

It isn't about a relationship with Halifax. These banks don't charge for withdrawing money with a credit card. The advantage of Halifax Clarity is that you get the Mastercard rate without any exchange fees or commission added by Halifax. 

Nebulous2

TOP_CAT said:

Correct me if wrong but I was under the impression that the halifax clarity card had terms and conditions changes around 2017 2018 that mattered as far as paying off cash advances and stopping the interest clock ticking ?
I could be wrong on this as I havent used it since just before that time when it was the best .

I used to go away for months so would pass through billing cycles using it overseas with only pennys interest ... paying it off as I went and it was the best card from 2009 to 2016 .

My recollection is a bit vague, but they did try to tighten up on people front-loading the card, especially paying through their website. I remember being told that I had reached my limit for payments by debit card for that month. I found I could still pay by a payment from another bank account. 

Things have moved on though, most places I've been abroad recently are happy with contactless and I use Chase to get the 1% cashback. My recent week in Spain I only withdrew 100 euros and despite paying the taxi to the airport in cash I still have some left for my next holiday. 

TOP_CAT

If halifax changed the terms and conds around 2017 then some of the info from posters above "may" be not be up to date or the whole story.

The clarity card does charge cash advance interest .
Stopping the interest clock ticking and the bank adjusting the direct debit I believe had some changes .

zagfles

Nebulous2 said:

[Deleted User] said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Santander UK debit cards are only fee free at Santander branded ATMs in Spain - a few other countries recently added.

There will be a fee from Santander UK if used at other machines.

Quote

I've used mine in Santander Spain, Portugal and the United States.

The benefit being that they're surcharge free due to the group relationship.

Deutsche Bank and Banca March have zero relationship with Halifax and could change tact instantly.

It isn't about a relationship with Halifax. These banks don't charge for withdrawing money with a credit card. The advantage of Halifax Clarity is that you get the Mastercard rate without any exchange fees or commission added by Halifax. 

The point is those banks could easily add a charge, in fact I read somewhere (probably here) that Banca March have started charging recently.

10-15 years ago proper bank ATMs hardly ever charged anywhere in Europe, now most do. The way to go in the future might be to get a card with a bank/bank group that has branches abroad eg Santander. 

TOP_CAT

The way to go is have multiple overseas spend card options .
Know how they all work as the devil is in the detail Id suggest especially with the clarity card today as im sure its not what it used to be years ago in some respects.
The chase 1% is obviously one along with barclaycard reward .