Halifax Clarity Credit Card

Craig321

Craig321

Craig321

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Joined
2 May 2004
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I got one around September last year as I was planning on going travelling early this year, but it never happened.

Travelling is definitely going to happy within the next few months, however I haven't touched the card since I got it.

Does anyone know if Halifax will cancel the card if it's not used?

I know I could call them, but it's easier if someone here knows the answer, it means I can be lazy and don't have to call them and confirm security details, wait on hold, etc :p

Thanks.
 
Make a purchase for something above your credit limit? That way they'l give you a call soon to see if it was you who tried this and you might not have to go through verification procedures?

Worst case, it goes through and you have something brand new and hideously expensive!
 
I didn't use my one for over a year and nothing happened, unless you've got a letter saying it is cancelled it should work fine. However best to check with them rather than take the risk.

Also make sure before you leave you tell them that you are going abroad, I've told them in the past but a last min trip to New York a few weeks ago and forgot to inform them, while out there my card got blocked in America so had to make a rather expensive call to get it sorted!
 
I had a card which lay unused for 6 months, then one day I bought a bike for £1500. They called me up within about 5mins of the purchase going through, put a stop on the card and I had to spend quite a while answering questions over the phone to get it reactivated.

If you're planning on leaving the country and using it after all that time then I'd definitely let them know before you leave.
 
Cleeecooo said:
Try buying something cheap online and seeing if it gets accepted
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I thought about that, but then you have to pay interest straight away on this card.

Saying that, it's not going to be much more than a few p if I get something cheap.

Sudden said:
Make a purchase for something above your credit limit? That way they'l give you a call soon to see if it was you who tried this and you might not have to go through verification procedures?

Worst case, it goes through and you have something brand new and hideously expensive!
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:p

Would be interesting if something worth a few thousand £ turned up a few days later with no questions :D

JAzz said:
I didn't use my one for over a year and nothing happened, unless you've got a letter saying it is cancelled it should work fine. However best to check with them rather than take the risk.

Also make sure before you leave you tell them that you are going abroad, I've told them in the past but a last min trip to New York a few weeks ago and forgot to inform them, while out there my card got blocked in America so had to make a rather expensive call to get it sorted!
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Yep, will definitely remember this one as I'll be visiting quite a few countries through Asia!
 
Moses said:
There's no dormancy fee mentioned here, https://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/low-rate-no-fee/clarity-card/terms/. I just searched for 'dorman'... feel free to read through properly. With my Santander Zero credit card, there's a dormancy fee (or was) if I don't use it for something like three months. I also have a Clarity credit card.

I just use both regularly (with balances paid off in full each month, obviously). Why not do that?
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Thanks :)

I just don't really want to pay any unnecessary interest buying stuff in the UK with it.

Suppose I should test it properly though before going, probably a good idea :p
 
Moses said:
You only pay interest if you don't pay off the balance - my Clarity card's paid off in full, by direct debit, every month... then I do the Santander account manually as I have my current account with them/can do it through online banking easily. The logic being that if I go abroad I can use either card for purchases, then if I want to take cash out I can use the Santander Zero card and pay it off pretty much straight away (well, once the transaction shows up online).
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They charge me interest from day 1. Maybe you have an older account/card where that wasn't the case?

Spamalot said:
It's not free, actually it's more expensive than paying cash if you're paying interest from day 1. :confused:
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:confused:

Sudden suggested I buy something that's more expensive than my limit, my comment was a joke! :p
 
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I just successfully applied for a Clarity card for my trip to 'Vegas in January, Any tips for minimising Cash-Advance fees and so on?

They popped me onto the 17.95% APR rate (Awwww :( ) with an estimated credit Limit of £1500-ish. I was expecting a little better considering my experian credit score is 964, but it's entirely sufficient for my needs, I've already arranged for a DD of the full balance every month :)
 
There are no cash advance fees on a clarity. The only 'charge' is the fact you'll pay interest on any outstanding cash withdrawl balance from the day you make the withdrawl. This works out to be just over 1% a month really, so if you withdraw £500 and allow your direct debit to pay it off, you'll pay a fiver max. Not bad really.

Also, your Experian score is a worthless number. I hope you didn't pay an extra £5.99 for that.
 
I've accidentally paid my credit card bill twice (it took a direct debit and then paid it by BACS as well) so I ended up with 4k credit on there.

Theoretically you could overpay your credit card and not pay interest on cash withdrawals while travelling?
 
[TW]Fox;23256037 said:
There are no cash advance fees on a clarity. The only 'charge' is the fact you'll pay interest on any outstanding cash withdrawl balance from the day you make the withdrawl. This works out to be just over 1% a month really, so if you withdraw £500 and allow your direct debit to pay it off, you'll pay a fiver max. Not bad really.
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That's about what I thought, sounds good to me!

[TW]Fox;23256037 said:
Also, your Experian score is a worthless number. I hope you didn't pay an extra £5.99 for that.
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As far as I can tell, it was provided in/with the free trial which I shall promptly be cancelling now that I can see that there's nothing untoward floating around in my credit history :)

jamoor said:
I've accidentally paid my credit card bill twice (it took a direct debit and then paid it by BACS as well) so I ended up with 4k credit on there.

Theoretically you could overpay your credit card and not pay interest on cash withdrawals while travelling?
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Apparently that's against the T&C's of most credit cards and the banks seem to get a bit miffed with you if you do that.

delta0 said:
Definitely tell them you might be using the card abroad, when and in which countries.
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Also good advice!
 
Bumping an old thread here.

Basically got one of these to go abroad with in July. However this is my first credit card and the limit is a poor £600. However if i use my £600 limit, go on to the online banking and pay it off, will this reset and then i can use another £600?
 
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