has anyone received this yet?

Just applied and got accepted £1500 limit. only needed around £500.

Going Amsterdam next month... but wanted to withdraw some cash too maybe I'll order some cash before hand at the airport.

Hiya, is there a reason why it was not a good idea to use the Halifax Clarity card on ATM withdrawals? I read that there is no feed for that as well?

And, how can one apply for a Monzo card? I just opened their page and there was a link to an Android app, I couldn't see links to apply for a card...

Better still, if you overpay the credit card before you withdraw the cash, then you can withdraw cash with no interest, no fees (except standard ATM fees - e.g. Las Vegas is $7.99 per withdrawal), and perfect exchange rate. Plus you are not restricted to a withdrawal amount if you've already overpaid, so you can withdraw as much cash as you have available. I doubt this offer is for existing card holders but it would be a nice bonus if it is as I spent abroad last month.

Had one of these cards for 7 years. think I've saved £100s on fees by now as I use it everytime I go abroad. thinking of switching to the Lloyds Avios soon though. That's free to use abroad too and you get 1.25 Avios for every £1 spent, plus fee free abroad. Although consider carefully, it has an annual fee of £24. well worth it if you spend enough but if you're a low spender maybe stick with the Halifax Clarity. Heat added

Its missing because they never had one, i'm sure one person on here would have realised when they clicked through rather then a lot of people leaving a message about it, anyway they may have got some enquires in regards to this and decided to update. Thanks anyway

Cashback offer valid on accounts opened between 8th May and 3rd September 2017

FYI, as that from date is strangely missing from op's listed t&cs.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/withdrawing-cash-abroad-credit-record

As credit scoring goes, pretty sure it's different for each person

Doesn't say it is new customer only, assume existing customers can also benefit?

How do you avoid paying fees? Thanks

I have one, used in Barcelona couple of weeks ago. The app is very handy! Handy to setup a direct debit for payments. If you wana withdraw cash abroad, id recommend getting a basic account also, so you can immediately pay the cash amount (via the handy app), to avoid paying fees. Thoroughly recommend this card for use abroad.

I have a Halifax Clarity and it has worked fine for use abroad (only used it for purchases not for cash/ATM withdrawls).

But as with any card I think it is sensible to have alternative cards with you in case you have problems with use or if you lose one.

I normally bring at least 2 credit cards (Gold Nationwide which has no fee in Europe but has elsewhere - so rarely use it abroad unless have problems with the Clarity card) and also have Revolut (used in Russia, Mongolia and China last year without problem for both purchases and cash withdrawls - (but that was when they had £400 monthly cash withdrawl limit; now only £200 or you pay an additional fee - which is still lower than other companies charge); Monzo (only got it recently and have used without problem for purchases but not yet for cash), and also a Supercard linked to one of my UK cards. Finally I also have FairFX US$ and Euro cards which I topped up last year when the rates were good - (but only use these in their respective regions as they have extra charges if used outside the relevant region, they also can charge for cash withdrawls and of course when you load them the rates aren't as good as the interbank rates).

Monzo and Revolut also have the advantage of almost instant notification of transactions to your mobile phone and the ability to top-up or temporarily stop cards on the go.

A bit of belt-and-braces approach - but I never just rely on having a single card.

I have a Halifax Clarity and it has worked fine for use abroad (only used it for purchases not for cash/ATM withdrawls).

But as with any card I think it is sensible to have alternative cards with you in case you have problems with use or if you lose one.

I normally bring at least 2 credit cards (Gold Nationwide which has no fee in Europe but has elsewhere - so rarely use it abroad unless have problems with the Clarity card) and also have Revolut (used in Russia, Mongolia and China last year without problem for both purchases and cash withdrawls - (but that was when they had £400 monthly cash withdrawl limit; now only £200 or you pay an additional fee - which is still lower than other companies charge); Monzo (only got it recently and have used without problem for purchases but not yet for cash), and also a Supercard linked to one of my UK cards. Finally I also have FairFX US$ and Euro cards which I topped up last year when the rates were good - (but only use these in their respective regions as they have extra charges if used outside the relevant region, they also can charge for cash withdrawls and of course when you load them the rates aren't as good as the interbank rates).

Monzo and Revolut also have the advantage of almost instant notification of transactions to your mobile phone and the ability to top-up or temporarily stop cards on the go.

A bit of belt-and-braces approach - but I never just rely on having a single card.

That's a good product stack and quite optimal. Revolut's free tier is a bit more limited than it was though and you have to watch the forex rate at the weekend so I put Monzo at the top of the stack as it takes the MasterCard spot rates 24/7 and has very reasonable allowances with no hidden fees. Transferwise is also an excellent to have on hand!

I suspect it rather depends on circumstance - for some people it could have a negative impact, for others it may have no impact at all.
The important thing when dealing with credit products is to understand them and be able to take educated decisions depending on circumstance.
I would view the discussion on credit rating as prudent rather than naïve and hope that the discussions in the thread help people to understand the financial product on offer and make the best decision for them.

I also have had credit on my Halifax card but only when I was given a refund on a sale, so that is no confirmation. And Winston I always use internet banking and that is how I was refused to pay a few pence over my balance.

All the stuff about cash withdrawals having a negative effect on credit scores is a little naive I think, as those of us who've done it on a regular basis can prove.

Is it really likely that sophisticated credit scoring algorithms can't distinguish between occasional overseas ATM withdrawals on a card such as this and the sort of withdrawals in the UK that suggest a desperate need for cash?

Sadly that's not the case either as I use an Amex card for anywhere that accepts it and is cleared in full every month. Probably counts against me also as these places don't make money from people paying their bills on time.

Same here. Been using many times, no issue with the credit score at all.

Agree with this comment, I have withdrawn many times without any detriment to my score. I think withdrawing on a credit card in the UK impacts your score, withdrawing abroad is deemed 'sensible' as typically, credit cards offer better rates and credit scoring agencies ignore cash withdrawals abroad.

I spent 12 months in SE Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, China, Indonesia, India, Japan, Myanmar (amongst others) plus three months in Canada and various European holidays and never had any major issues. Once or twice I tried to put through a payment too many times, blocking the card but a quick call to Halifax sorted it. In total, I probably put through £20k on that card (between me and girlfriend) over the year through various cash withdrawals and store purchases and can't recommend it enough. I was always able to pay off the cash withdrawals, including Myanmar where internet access is ropey and over the year was charged a total of around £33 interest; I know you can credit the account but I think it is against the T&Cs and although I'm sure a couple of times is fine, we didn't want to risk it considering we relied on the card.

Since they stopped the £5 cashback per month when usage was over £300, I only use it when abroad. It's also great because it works with Android Pay and so tapping works abroad

I don't have evidence personally as I don't use the Clarity card to withdraw cash. What I understand is that cash withdrawals on credit card are visible on your credit record and a lender could choose to compute these in a negative way. Your usage suggests it has had no impact in your case but it could potentially be different for others so it would seem worth knowing the potential effect and weighing up the risk/reward if for example someone is looking to take a mortgage out soon.

do you have evidence of this effect on credit scoring?

I have used my Clarity card for years and always draw cash from ATMs with it - at least twice per month - mainly in Euros but also in the far east and Africa - and I see no detriment to my credit score

EliTom

Of course, typically I have just got back from using my existing clarity card abroad...

You can get in credit

I've used this card many times in Thailand, never had an issue before..

good card to have, I have one purely for our yearly trip abroad. Nice extra perk with the cashback

For what it's worth, I've been using this card for cash withdrawals (abroad only) for several years without the slightest impact on my credit rating. It was used 5 times in less than a fortnight in Italy in 2012, for example - no impact.

There is a reward scheme but only for certain retailers, not a general percentage back on all spend.

I've done it using online banking many times, and never had an issue with overpaying.

See previous comments about using the Clarity Card to get cash out - you will be charged interest on cash withdrawals and it could impact your credit score so there are better ways of getting cash abroad. Credit Cards in general invariably have caveats for cash withdrawals.

You're very welcome - Happy to help :smiley:

for someone who asked, there are no exchange fees AND the exchange rate is really good. IMHO one of the best ways to get cash abroad. downside is no reward scheme?

Thanks for your help :smiley:

For normal transactions (not cash withdrawals), you should be ok to use the card as you would any other credit card - i.e. pay it off in full every month and you won't be charged interest. As always, it's worth speaking with the card provider and running through your usage scenario with them to ensure no surprises.

If you're at all unsure and have the funds available, there are options which require less "messing around" such as Monzo. Just load some funds to your account and use it for purchases or at cash machines (note that there are some usage caps) without having to worry about interest. If your balance gets low, just top up instantly. Hope you find something that works well for you. Good luck!

Thanks, if i did the same but for purchases, would that be fine, or would i still be charged?

Thanks. Been accepted for a pathetic £900 .My other cards are between £7-15k each but it will still save me money as I mostly spend abroad.

It is my understanding that cash withdrawals on a credit card can be bad for your credit score. I would personally use the Clarity Credit Card specifically for transactions abroad but not cash withdrawals abroad. Hope this helps!

The problem is that interest begins being charged as soon as you withdraw cash; even if you pay every month by Direct Debit, you'll still have to pay interest on your cash withdrawals up until the point of paying off the balance. This is why if cash withdrawals is important to you, choose a prepaid debit card option such as Monzo. That way, you can totally avoid this problem of interest on cash withdrawals or having to over credit the account which risks breaching the Clarity T&Cs. Hope this helps!

I too would like clarity on whether there are credit rating issues when withdrawing cash, as I know they show up on credit reports.

I tried to put an overpayment on my Halifax Credit card by a few pence to round up the figure into a round sum and it was refused. I was informed to pay the exact amount or lower.

I have used this card for a few years now and although I know that it is against their terms and conditions, I have always preloaded the card before going abroad. Supposedly the biggest problem with this is that if your card gets stolen or compromised then the positive balance will not be protected. They can of course refund your advance payment as stated above. I usually take the maximum amount of cash available to me at the ATM at start of vacation and then use credit card for rest of trip.

Don't forget to notify them that you are going abroad, which can now be done via online banking.

HTH.

I thought it's not too great on your credit rating if you take cash out from a credit card.

With anyone who had this card, could i set up a direct debit to automatically pay off the balance each month, in which case i don't get charged?

Thanks for the reply. I personally would be cautious as the advice you were given conflicts with their written terms and conditions. Here's the extract I'm referring to;

"Can I put money on my card to increase my available credit whilst on holiday?

Credit cards are not designed to be used this way. Using the card in this way breaches the product's Terms & Conditions, which state:

B7.3 Payment amount
You must make at least the minimum payment by the payment due date if there is a balance payable to us on your statement. You can always pay more than the minimum payment at any time, including repaying everything you owe.

You must not pay us more than you owe when you make payments to your account, or transfer funds from another credit or store card if this creates a credit balance on your account. If there is a credit balance on your account at any time, we may apply it to any recent transactions not yet shown on your account, or to transactions made after the date your account goes into credit. We may also return any credit balance to the account from which the money has been sent or pay the funds into a deposit account you hold with us. We do not pay interest on any credit balances or take them into account for the purpose of any reward schemes."

I wouldn't have thought online transactions would count as they can be done anywhere in the world.

I called Halifax about this a while ago and they assured me that you can overcredit the card and withdraw cash and it would not be an issue. Effectively free withdrawal at Mastercard rate.

I have been a Halifax customer for years and when I applied for this card after going through the application procedure I was told the APR would be 5% higher than my Platinum I have with them, so I put the phone down on them. It seems that if you don't pay of the balance each month that's how they get their charges. I do pay my card off every month and sometimes earlier, but I didn't like the double standard. The card that I use is Revolut which is MES's No1 card of this type, Monzo a close second, and if you have a bank account in a second country or more then I use transferwise the quickest and the best rates, and I've tried many at various times.

According to the "common enquiries" tab on their card information page
http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/landing/cards/clarity-card-all
It says you can't have a credit balance on the card. It put me off an otherwise, on paper, a really competitive card.

I`m going to visit Prague in October.Will I get cashback if I book theatre tickets online or is it only for chip and pin transactions ?

Have had this card for some time and its been great to use abroad as I travel a lot. Mastercard rates are the best you will get. However I am about to change the card over to the Lloyds Avios card. It does have a £24 annual fee, but it does allow me to earn Avios points, where as the Clarity card gives me nothing in return.
Lloyds Avios also has no fee to use abroad. You get 2 cards (Amex & Mastercard). So the Amex will get you the Amex FX rate but earn you more Avios, and the Mastercard will give you a slightlyyyyy better rate but less Avios.
Also just got myself the Monzo card to use for Cash Withdrawals as it has no fees, and get the Mastercard rate!

my husband always uses for purchases online in other currencies with no charges

Great card, even if you just use when abroad.

Tip to avoid interest on cash advances - you can keep your card in credit, it accepts overpayments.
Otherwise best travel card out there, highly recommended.

Anyone know whether there are likely to be any issues if the qualifying transaction is very close to the cutoff date? I don't leave the country until the 29th Sept, so if I use the card straight away, it might not appear on the statement at the same time. Sorry for awkward question, just thought someone might know from older offers they might have done.

It's not your perfect credit record. In this case being a little in debt is better for you as companies need to see that banks are willing to loan you money. Instead of closing down your cards start using them. You can pay them back in full when the bill comes thus avoiding interest rate charges and you will still prove that you're a viable prospect. Nuts, I know but that's how finance works!

Applied for it and got it.
Heading to the states in 3 weeks this will be handy thanks !

Just back from Japan, I used the Monzo card for cash ATM withdrawals, and the Halifax Clarity card for card purchases. No fees at all, both using the Mastercard base rate for currency conversion. A great combination.

yep, same here. Just transfer an amount in sterling to your card, say 24 hours prior to needing to withdraw currency locally from an ATM & the debit should get countered by this credit. Great card and superb exchange conversion rates, as long as you always do any transaction in the local currency and not accept the conversion to sterling at the time.

The card in principle is great, i have used it a lot.
but beware, i had a atm transaction show up twice when i was in Frankfurt. I asked halifax for help to rectify it but they refused claiming it was chip and pin.

It has worked well most of the time apart from the duplicate transaction. they seem to be very unhelpful

Where's the money, what's in it for them?

No fees i got and if dont pay in time you pay interest. But you pay conversion on each transaction? Right.

Got this card about a month ago, might drop them a call and see if I will be offered this.

Great card. Been using it for a year abroad with no problems.

I've had mine a few years now and still using it regularly as my de facto card abroad. (I spend a few months in Asia each year).

Never had an issue with it. They are tight on credit limit at first. Think they started me at £500 but now a more usuable £2k. I set up a direct debit to clear the balance each month. So I just use it and forget about it.

Used for hotel bookings, cash advances, online ticket purchases.

Doesn't need to be so complicated. Just withdraw the money and then use internet banking to do the payment on the same day. The amount will be paid first for cash advance credit and then only the purchases.

Tips: if you want to know what's the exchange rate u had, can simply check the pending transactions or use remaining credit to figure out.

Just came back from Thailand, I read all the reviews on this card and thought it sounded good. What a nightmare, worked with 2 retailers and then was not accepted for the rest of the 2 weeks. Made several phone calls to Halifax, which in itself was difficult and after promise after promise the card was still refused at hotels and retailers. Luckily I had another card for emergencies. You will be charged 220 baht for cas withdrawals at arm's whatever card you use in Thailand so be aware if you go because you will need cash if you visit the many amazing markets or if you venture off the beaten track.
Amazing country, Bad card

But with Monzo, you can top up via the app instantly and not have to make calls abroad which could cancel out the forex benefit and cost time. The clarity card is a credit card whereas the Monzo card is a prepaid debit card (at the moment) making is more suited to cash withdrawals.

The best bet is probably to have both so that you have options open to you and the benefits of using a credit card abroad in circumstances other than at a cash point.

If I buy things from Amazon.it, would it consider?

It's an option but there is always a risk of unexpected interest rates (e.g. if there is a delay in paying off the Clarity card) - a risk that isn't present with Monzo.
Security wise, I think that the ability to freeze the Monzo card instantly when using as a card abroad is a hugely - even if the card is used fraudulently after your return, you will know within seconds and can block further transactions immediately.

Heat, I've been using this since 2014... used it abroad for about 9 months and whenever I go on holidays now... cannot go wrong and £20 cashback is a sweet little bonus.

I find the rates for cash withdrawal from ATMs abroad are not too far off the normal exchange rate... at times it was even better in fact.. not sure what others have experienced or can advise to do with this.

Need a new credit card and going on holiday next month. Perfect timing!! Just what I needed!

If you're on your phone.... Just bank transfer/pay it straight off while there. I personally just loaded mine up with a small amount. Less than £100. But I know you're not supposed too. Either way, talking very little sums for the best exchange rate.

i got my card last week do, you think i will get the cashback or do you have to apply for the card from today onwards?

That's really annoying, since i applied for one Friday evening, and haven't even got my card yet!

I wonder if "transaction made abroad" would include dealextreme, eBay or similar?

If you need cash abroad with Clarity, just ring up and pay the balance as soon as you've taken cash out.

i got monzo card recently, they are pretty good i used it in Greece. Don't use euro bank cash machine you will get charge commission

Got accepted thanks OP. Fancied one of these for a while and the free £20 was a sweet biting point!

Awesome, going on a cycle tour soon. The card that keeps on giving...

Great card, highly recommended if your travelling abroad. Used mine at the beginning of the month, spent over a grand (multiple ATM cash withdrawals and purchases) and only got charged about £4 interest. No problems with any transactions, as opposed to when I used my Supercard last year.

definitely cheap to use abroad, I've had one for years. customer service nowhere as good as others like amex though. have had a few small issues like being overcharged and response was that I keyed in pin so there's nothing they can do to help. also credit limit got cut from 5k to 500 which made it less useful on holiday. bottom line is get a nw select card with no fees abroad as a back up....

Yeah wondering if this applies to existing customers - not that I'm going to fly abroad to get £20 cashback lol

I always get knocked back for one of these cards despite having a perfect credit record. The only thing I can think of is exposure as I have a lot of cards but none of them utilised.... Should start closing em down really.

Thanks op,had been meaning to apply for ages,and the £20 cashback PLUS the fees AMEX have just charged me for use abroad have made me go ahead and apply,cheers