Halifax Clarity Card - T&Cs change means no longer free to use?

JLOFRO · 13 January 2020 at 1:53PM

I've just had a letter from Halifax announcing T&C changes, and buried deep within the accompanying leaflet is a note saying that they are adding a non-sterling transaction fee to purchases and cash transactions made abroad. You have to flick from the covering letter to the booklet and then be referred onto table B5 to find that info but it does seem to be a fundamental change in the proposition, given I only have this card as it was exchange fee free for purchases and withdrawals abroad. Wondering if this is the conclusion others draw or whether I've read the material wrong? Thanks!

Neil49 · 13 January 2020 at 10:09PM

The booklet appears to refer to all Halifax card products and doesn't differentiate between Clarity and standard cards.

I'll study it further but I doubt they would remove the current fee free facility without stating it in the main document.

Thomas_Crown · 13 January 2020 at 10:57PM

Read Page 3, Section A5, Fee Description : Non-sterling transaction fee (any non-sterling transaction, including cash withdrwals) : Amount N/A

Thomas_Crown · 14 January 2020 at 9:59PM

adindas wrote: »

It is still free from their website

Halifax Clarity Card

"- We don't charge fees when you spend abroad.
-We don't charge fees to withdraw cash with your Halifax Clarity credit card."

The new T&Cs don't come into force until the 27th February 2020, so the website won't have been updated yet. The new T&Cs are in the letter and accompanying leaflet, sent to cardholders.

The T&Cs for foreign usage are not changing, so the OP has nothing to worry about and has no need to close their account.

JLOFRO · 15 January 2020 at 12:18PM

Thanks for taking the time to respond! I did read the literature quite closely but I still think the wording in B5 is ambiguous (and I'm a copywriter by profession) - in your opinion what scenarios *would* attract the non-sterling transaction fee? Ones made in the UK from overseas suppliers? Or is this a generic booklet sent out to all card holders as Neil49 says? Can see this issue in a couple of other threads so glad it's not just me!

adindas · 15 January 2020 at 12:46PM

JLOFRO wrote: »

Thanks for taking the time to respond! I did read the literature quite closely but I still think the wording in B5 is ambiguous (and I'm a copywriter by profession) - in your opinion what scenarios *would* attract the non-sterling transaction fee?

In many scenarios it is actually a loss leader for them. In the past there were quite a few similar product when burst. A few to name Nationwide debit card, Loots, Metro has changed from worldwide to EU only for free non sterling transaction and cash withdrawal. Monzo has changed their T&C to restrict the amount of cash you could withdraw and the number of withdrawals.

But Halifax Clarity is one of halifax iconic credit card that and widely known one of the earliest CC to introduce no fee for foreign cash withdrawal, so it has become on their icon. They might want to sustain that small losses in exchange of maintaining their market leading position.

JLOFRO wrote: »

Or is this a generic booklet sent out to all card holders as Neil49 says? Can see this issue in a couple of other threads so glad it's not just me!

I believe the one sent was not specifically refer to Clarity Card but general Halifax clarity card. Shall they inted to stop that perks, they would have stopped people to apply the new one.

AlexMac · 15 January 2020 at 3:35PM

I too am a great Clarity Card fan, but agree the recent letter is an ambiguous and over-complex way to communicate with customers. A letter and two lengthy annexes with triple cross-referencing confuse me (and I'm no dummy- I used to write complex reports and make funding applications to EU and Government sources against opaque guidance and criteria!)

On balance, I think it's still a cost effective way to pay holiday and currency bills? But it's ironic that they call it a "Clarity Card"!

Maybe they've never heard of the Plain English Campaign or Crystal Mark for written communication;
http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark.html

NoodleDoodleMan · 15 January 2020 at 5:33PM

Thanks for taking the time to respond! I did read the literature quite closely but I still think the wording in B5 is ambiguous (and I'm a copywriter by profession) - in your opinion what scenarios *would* attract the non-sterling transaction fee?

The B5 "Fees and charges" as on page 9 of the A5 size Credit Card Terms and Conditions booklet ?

I'm thinking that guide is a generic publication which covers all Halifax credit cards - however the covering letter clause A5 overrides that specifically, and exclusively, in respect of the Clarity card.

In which case there would be no non sterling transaction fee scenarios.

That's how I read it - other opinions may differ.

PS - should this not be in the credit card forum ? :question:

adindas · 15 January 2020 at 6:41PM

What we have said previous is now confirmed. Thanks to kl9952
The specific clause in T&C does not apply to Halifax Clarity. So we could still enjoy the fee free cash withdrawal in foreign currency.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76724853#Comment_76724853

kl9952 wrote: »

I also noticed that and had a "Chat" with them, they say those Terms and Conditions section B2.2 and section B5 is "default information" and doesn’t apply to the Clarity card.

fivealive_2 · 17 January 2020 at 9:21AM

Thanks everyone for helping out here :T I was about to ditch my card thinking I could no longer use it abroad!

vacheron · 17 January 2020 at 10:07AM

I saw the same thing in the letter which seemed to conflict with the booklet until I realised the booklet was generic It is the table in the letter that is important.

What also confused me was that it had a 3% fee for "promotional" balance transfers and cash withdrawls, but 0% for "non-promotional" transfers, making me briefly think "great, unlimited free balance transfers as long as there is NOT a promotion!" until my temporary brain fog cleared and I realised that the non-promo transfers would need to be paid off in full on the next months bill! :doh:

Halifax Clarity Card - T&Cs change means no longer free to use?

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