Don't rely on Halifax Clarity card out of the EU

MsHJS

Just a health warning about relying on the Halifax card for overseas travel. It  has served us well in many locations around the world over the last 10 years but in Cambodia and Vietnam where we have bought local sims it is useless. Despite being able to verify the transactions through the App because the first transaction was flagged  as suspicious and I didn't recieve or respond to a text they sent they blocked my card. No amount of reasoning with them through the free chat helped. I had to ring them- spending 18 mins at £2 per minute and get the card unblocked. We have tried to pay for the hotel this morning and of course it is again blocked. There's no longer any option to inform them of pending overseas travel so there's nothing I can do now unless I again ring and explain. But if they follow up every overseas transaction with a text asking you to confirm it's you via text - at a cost of 50p after you've already verified through the app you're likely to incur a lot of fees in areas not covered by your existing phone  deal.  Cut up the card and get a Chase card. 

Neil49

Just to point out that the Clarity card is a credit card whereas the Chase is a debit card. 

I have to agree that (through personal experience) they aren't that efficient in resolving issues like that. They tell you it's all sorted but in practice it isn't.

The moral is, always carry a backup card or two. 

jbrassy

If you want an overseas credit card, Barclaycard Rewards is a better option. Haven't had any issues verifying transactions overseas, including outside the EU. Also pays cashback on spending unlike Halifax. 

heatherw_01

I have used it for decades with no issues.

The thing is, ANY credit card can block your transaction if they think it is suspicious. All do this.
And for transaction verifications, again Mastercard and Visa both have versions of 3D secure which require you verify some online transactions.

Did you buy the sims in person or online? For online transactions, any card can need you to verify the transaction. But if you are paying in person, it can block the transaction if it thinks that it is dodgy, but they don't usually send texts for in person transactions.

Just as a side note, you can buy eSIMS online in advance. I always use aloSIM and as a new user you can get big discounts. 

eskbanker

MsHJS said:

Don't rely on Halifax Clarity card out of the EU

Just a health warning about relying on the Halifax card for overseas travel. It  has served us well in many locations around the world over the last 10 years but in Cambodia and Vietnam where we have bought local sims it is useless.

You do realise that encountering card issues when in countries you hadn't previously visited doesn't in itself mean that the issues were necessarily caused by being in those countries?

TheShape

heatherw_01 said:

Just as a side note, you can buy eSIMS online in advance. I always use aloSIM and as a new user you can get big discounts. 

You do still need a phone that is compatible with an eSIM though.  Whilst more new phones do support eSIMs, not all do and many older phones do not.

TheShape

MsHJS said:

Just a health warning about relying on the Halifax card for overseas travel. It  has served us well in many locations around the world over the last 10 years but in Cambodia and Vietnam where we have bought local sims it is useless. Despite being able to verify the transactions through the App because the first transaction was flagged  as suspicious and I didn't recieve or respond to a text they sent they blocked my card. 

Did you not receive a text because you have removed your SIM card and replaced with a local SIM and therefore, are not able to receive texts sent to the number registered with Halifax?

Nebulous2

Everyone's experience is likely to vary with something like this, but it's important to have a back-up plan. 

I'm currently in Malaysia, using an esim, and I'm up to £400 on my Clarity card. I haven't had a blocked transaction, nor even a request to authorise a payment. 

I think, with no proof, that it helps to keep the Clarity card awake with an occasional transaction at home. Not using it for months and then having a flurry of activity invites scrutiny. 

I have 2 other Forex free cards, Chase debit and the often overlooked Nationwide credit card, and a further 3 cards I'd be charged fees on, as emergency back-ups. 

jimi_man

Been using Halifax Clarity card for years all around the world (including Vietnam) and haven’t had a problem with it. Sorry you’re having issues but one user’s problem doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a good card. 

Of course the same could apply to my experience but it does seem like yours is an outlying experience. Having a backup card is obviously a good plan. However debit cards generally won’t let you hire cars so often you do need a credit card. 

DullGreyGuy

heatherw_01 said:

Just as a side note, you can buy eSIMS online in advance. I always use aloSIM and as a new user you can get big discounts. 

its not bad advice but it should be tempered for longer trips where the effort of getting a local sim may be worth it for the cost savings. 

aloSIM want us$30 for 5GB over 30 days, local sims there its more like us$5. The alo one is locked to digitel which gets no indoor reception and very little outdoor in the suburbs whereas other networks get decent coverage inside and out. 

jimi_man

DullGreyGuy said:

heatherw_01 said:

Just as a side note, you can buy eSIMS online in advance. I always use aloSIM and as a new user you can get big discounts. 

its not bad advice but it should be tempered for longer trips where the effort of getting a local sim may be worth it for the cost savings. 

aloSIM want us$30 for 5GB over 30 days, local sims there its more like us$5. The alo one is locked to digitel which gets no indoor reception and very little outdoor in the suburbs whereas other networks get decent coverage inside and out. 

We use Airolo. In Vietnam it’s showing $13 (US) for 5gb for 30 days. It may not be the cheapest but for sheer convenience that activates once you land I’d rather do that instead of messing around d with local sims.