Halifax Clarity card not working in Mallorca

Annathome

We’ve had Halifax Clarity cards for years, mostly for using abroad because recommended by Martin Lewis for good exchange rates and no additional charges.
From 4-11 June 2025 on many occasions our cards would not work….. not declined as such just not compatible with card readers in restaurants despite being loaded with cash before we left so we could make free cash withdrawals if needed.
we turned detective and found each merchant banked with Banca March, any other bank I.e. CaixaForum the cards worked fine. 

All four of us had a Halifax Clarity and on these occasions not one card worked, whether swiping or entering chip and pin.
today I reported this problem to Halifax (who gave me £20 compensation for my trouble but said it was the fault of the Spanish bank).
This was not the point…the point is we were all unable to rely on our Halifax Clarity card working, being embarrassed when it didn’t, having to go to ATM and withdraw cash at a cost.  Even boarding a bus which was card only our Halifax cards were refused and fortunately I had a card for a different bank (incurring a transaction fee).  

Surely Halifax should be investigating why their system is not compatible with Banca March.
We are now applying for an alternative card for overseas use.

born_again

Annathome said:

We’ve had Halifax Clarity cards for years, mostly for using abroad because recommended by Martin Lewis for good exchange rates and no additional charges.
From 4-11 June 2025 on many occasions our cards would not work….. not declined as such just not compatible with card readers in restaurants despite being loaded with cash before we left so we could make free cash withdrawals if needed.
we turned detective and found each merchant banked with Banca March, any other bank I.e. CaixaForum the cards worked fine. 

All four of us had a Halifax Clarity and on these occasions not one card worked, whether swiping or entering chip and pin.
today I reported this problem to Halifax (who gave me £20 compensation for my trouble but said it was the fault of the Spanish bank).
This was not the point…the point is we were all unable to rely on our Halifax Clarity card working, being embarrassed when it didn’t, having to go to ATM and withdraw cash at a cost.  Even boarding a bus which was card only our Halifax cards were refused and fortunately I had a card for a different bank (incurring a transaction fee).  

Surely Halifax should be investigating why their system is not compatible with Banca March.
We are now applying for an alternative card for overseas use.

These things can happen overseas if connection gets broken.#

You should not be loading a CC as it is a breech of T/C as you are not supposed to put in credit balance

daveyjp

Always have a back up.  If you want free cash withdrawals don't pre load credit cards, the provider could close the account.  Starling Bank debit card is easy to apply for, run and offers free cash withdrawals overseas.

Loading Clarity to Apple or Google pay may get around the immediate issues you are experiencing.

NoodleDoodleMan

Unfortunately Halifax have no control over Banca March operational practices - they can seek to have this resolved of course, however may not be successful.

Deliberately preloading a credit card with funds is against terms and conditions - maybe that was a factor in this failure ?

TELLIT01

Only having a single card as a method of payment isn't a good idea, even in the UK.  Card machines can and do breakdown.  Bank systems fail too.

Your bank has absolutely no control over which systems are compatible with foreign banks.

Westin

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Unfortunately Halifax have no control over Banca March operational practices - they can seek to have this resolved of course, however may not be successful.

Deliberately preloading a credit card with funds is against terms and conditions - maybe that was a factor in this failure ?

I did wonder this as well.

la531983

Probably not, because they would have been told this on return. And clearly they havent had their "wrists slapped" by the Halifax for doing so.

Doshwaster

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Deliberately preloading a credit card with funds is against terms and conditions - maybe that was a factor in this failure ?

I have pre-loaded in the past but I decided that it wasn't worth it. You may save a tiny amount in interest fees but you could easily run in difficulties getting the money back if there was fraud on the account.

NoodleDoodleMan

Doshwaster said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Deliberately preloading a credit card with funds is against terms and conditions - maybe that was a factor in this failure ?

I have pre-loaded in the past but I decided that it wasn't worth it. You may save a tiny amount in interest fees but you could easily run in difficulties getting the money back if there was fraud on the account.

Indeed - if you are adroit settling cash withdrawals via online payment you can minimise the interest to pennies.

I've only once taken cash fom an ATM using Halifax Clarity card - by the time we got back to the hotel the amount debited in GBP was showing using the app, it was the only transaction that month to date, so I paid it off online and avoided any interest.