eldavo69 Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 Ahead of this year's holiday I got a Halifax Clarity credit card as recommended by Martin Lewis for the best rates and no fees on purchases. He also bangs on about using it to withdraw currency from foreign cash machines as again you get a great rate and no fees. Using Internet banking I could transfer the money immediately to the credit card so as to minimise/negate any interest BUT . . . I recall Booster saying that withdrawing cash on a credit card hurt your credit file so would like some pointers please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 Withdrawing cash on a credit card isn't the best thing for your credit rating as traditionally, if you are doing so it means that you are skint! However, if you clear the balance in full on receipt of the statement it won't have an impact. How about one of those cards that you pre-load with money and can withdraw at a fixed exchange rate? https://www.travelex.co.uk/services/supercard?c=MSE-Email&pid=MSE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-bmw Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 That is what I use & have done for a few years now, just keep an eye on the T&Cs as they changed on my original card which meant, to avoid charges, I ditched it & got another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted July 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 The Travelex Supercard charges 2.99% fee on cash withdrawals though whereas the Halifax card is zero fee and also the same MasterCard exchange rate. I'm planning on paying the balance off as I go so I get back to a monthly bill of £0 so if that isn't going to prove a problem then I'll carry on as planned - thanks! IIRC - Mac and Bangle do similar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 (edited) I have both Halifax Clarity and Tavelex Supercard. To be honest, I only have the Supercard as a backup, the Halifax card has always been superb and I've travelled extensively throughout the world with it. Online banking means I just make payments to the card once a week or whenever to settle the balance and never pay interest, unless you are going somewhere particularly rural, I've never found I needed to withdraw any cash, and if you do, it's only a small fee. Remember to always pay in local currency, check the display to make sure it hasn't converted to £'s and if it has, demand they cancel it and re-do it in local currency, I got caught out that way once, although it wasn't a lot of money it still annoyed me when I noticed. Edited July 8, 2016 by Tipex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 I used to use a Supercard for foreign cash withdrawls as I was part of the trial group where it was free. Now though I'm using a Revolut card which gives free foreign cash withdrawls up to £500/month. Over £500/month and they charge 2%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 1 hour ago, Booster said: How about one of those cards that you pre-load with money and can withdraw at a fixed exchange rate? https://www.travelex.co.uk/services/supercard?c=MSE-Email&pid=MSE A minor point, but this isn't a pre-pay card. You link a credit or debit card to the Supercard and any transactions you make on the Supercard are charged to the linked card so at no point do you put money on the Supercard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 1 hour ago, eldavo69 said: IIRC - Mac and Bangle do similar Same here too - use nothing but my Halifax credit card abroad. Nothing more annoying than using a card at a toll booth (for example, en route to Le Mans) and then finding there's a £2 flat fee added to every single transaction..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 (edited) Used my Santander Mastercard the other month in Tokyo to pay the hotel bill and ended up with a £28 fx charge #b@stards The reason I used the Santander MC was because of a 10% cashback deal at Hilton - so was £75 up after the fx charge That's the only time in over 10 years i've not used the Clarity card aboard, use it for everything from regular cash withdrawals to plane tickets and pay it off in full each month Just looked at last months Halifax bill, had transactions in Sweden, UK, Qatar, USA, Canada and South Africa - think I better report the card stolen to save paying the bill Edited July 8, 2016 by Andy_Bangle 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 Is that cashback still valid? I've previously had the max of £500 a year on cash back cards but they all seem to have dried up. For foreign travel I have the Co-op card. What's better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 (edited) The 10%? Was on the Santander 321 card, it's now 5% for a short time. Plus I got 20% cashback from topcashback at Hilton when I booked They've also had 10% off Emirates which Amex still has running the halifax card is considered overall the best card for travel, there are a couple of other contenders but they require a little more work. If you're looking for card for UK spend then checkout this blog: http://www.headforpoints.com/best-uk-avios-airline-hotel-credit-cards/ I'd like a better card for UK spending (cashback or points earning) but struggle to get them as I'm not a resident. Edited July 8, 2016 by Andy_Bangle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 I just pre-load a Thomas Cook card with Euros before we go away, get a good rate and no issues paying or withdrawn cash on it. We have money left on it at 1.34 £to€ so rather pleased with that for next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 34 minutes ago, Scotty said: For foreign travel I have the Co-op card. What's better? 8 minutes ago, CarMad said: I just pre-load a Thomas Cook card with Euros before we go away, get a good rate and no issues paying or withdrawn cash on it. We have money left on it at 1.34 £to€ so rather pleased with that for next year. Both the coop and Thomas Cook cards are quite low down the which best card due to the rate for loading the card and atm withdrawals, http://www.which.co.uk/money/credit-cards-and-loans/guides/prepaid-cards/euro-and-dollar-prepaid-cards-reviewed/ CarMad, glad the currency fx rate worked for you, just hope Thomas Cook is still in business when you come to use it again 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 Its not managed by Thomas Cook is it clever clogs, it was about 2/3 in the table for costs when I check earlier in the year with a few ££ in it for the amount I was changing. As it happens having some left on there now has ended up being a good thing so I will cope with any slight higher cost in converting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 Just an FYI for anyone that's got a Supercard, it's going to cease to work on 24th July as Travelex are closing it down. Gits. https://www.travelex.co.uk/services/supercard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 Just as holiday season starts... Nasty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 31, 2017 Report Share Posted May 31, 2017 It was during the holiday season last year they switched off all the cards for people on the beta program. Not ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 Stick to the Halifax Clarity credit card, I've used it over 35 countries without any dramas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasdrury Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 7 hours ago, Andy_Bangle said: Stick to the Halifax Clarity credit card, I've used it over 35 countries without any dramas Another vote for this. I have used it all over the world without an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 ^^ ditto. Used my clarity card all over the world, never an issue and I know I'm always getting the best rate and paying no interest *insert Martin Lewis mantra about always paying off, in full*. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 Without any issue as in no fees? I mainly use my Nationwide debit/credit cards abroad but they have fees now too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 (edited) No fee's for spending abroad, BOE exchange rate, don't use it in the UK though, I think (but don't quote me) you can withdraw cash abroad without fee's too. I used to have a Nationwide account purely for spending abroad, but they changed all the terms, fee's and interest rates some years ago now, that's when I switched to Halifax Clarity. Edited June 1, 2017 by Tipex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 Always use it abroad at ATMs, and mostly at the airport when I touch down. You tend to pick up a local ATM charge as very few countries have free ATM transactions like the U.K., therefore I take out a large amount instead of doing several small transactions - just make sure you don't fall for Dynamic Currency Conversion where they try and deduct your account in £, instead of the local currency, at an extortionate FX rate. https://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/clarity-card/Default.asp#section41412152667750 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasdrury Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 You will get charged interest from day of cash withdrawal too not the statement date as per normal card transactions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted June 1, 2017 Report Share Posted June 1, 2017 Indeed, but it's only 'pennies' if you clear the balance monthly. Or less if you preload (overpay) the card before you travel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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