Quote: Originally posted by SGThomas on 14/1/2015
Have just looked into Halifax Clarity account which has no fee.
However in their terms and conditions
- The credit limit is £1,200 you make a single Purchase of this amount immediately and you repay this amount over one year by 12 equal monthly payments.
As interest is levied on these credit repayments, there would seem to be hidden fees after all.
If it seems too good to be true, it usually is too good to be true
As we only use the card for fuel and the odd toll if we ever use it, the amount of difference is probably marginal.
Luckily, we sold the trailer tent in Holland for cash in euros, and are still knee deep in them for our current trips
A few inaccuracies there!
The limit is set according to your individual circumstances mine is currently £4000.
You don't have to pay it off over 12 months you can pay it off the same as any other card.
The interest on cash from an ATM is payable from the date of the transaction.
I set up online payments according to my estimated needs while away and when I have internet availability I ensure that the outstanding amount is cleared.
Doing it that way the interest is a matter of pennies rather than pounds.
If someone anticipated spending for example £1000 whilst on holiday they should perhaps consider a Caxton FX preloaded card, the difference, after the card issuer has applied for example a 2.75% charge,is less than £2.
saxo1
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It is probably a case for Halifax to approach the clear English society for its terms and conditions, or failing that I am getting the first signs of dementia (as my wife avers)
The euro exchange rate is now creeping up, and whilst it's not quite at the rate quoted in the original post the interbank rate is now 1.30781!!!!
We don't use a Halifax Clarity Card for cash withdrawals - we keep the N and P cards for that - but do use it or our Nationwide cards for purchases - which like the last poster we pay off as soon as (or before) the payment is due. Our N and P account is topped up as required with on-line (on holiday) banking!
Our credit limit is different again to that quoted in SGT's post or in the last post.
Yes - just the right time for us, as we're off to Carcassonne very shortly to stay with our friend who has a house nearby. I quite like our winter trips - especially when the euro rate is good. It means lunch at a favourite restaurant in Carcassonne will cost a bit less this time than last!
Currently in Peloponnese, Greece and finding that debit cards are not accepted in a lot of places. Likes of Lidl fine, but smaller supermarkets are cash only. Many restaurants also have signs saying only cash and all the small independent shops are cash only.
We have been to three campsites so far, none took debit cards - we had to draw out cash to pay.
The other problem is there are not too many ATM in the villages on the Peloponnese. In most villages they have them but they are only working May to October. These are the box type in the middle of the street, so any problem with your card and its not a bank so there is no one to help.
We find that the larger towns have a bank with an ATM which is probably safer to use in terms of cards getting stuck etc.
Much of this may be seasonal related but if you are coming to Greece its not the same as using a debit card at home for pretty much all your spending.
Yep not quite the same as France then, but to be fair we only use the N&P Debit Card to draw out cash from an ATM, and always go to a Bank to do that, we never use the N&P Card to pay for stuff.
In fact last July we only used the N&P Debit Card 6 times, during the 3 weeks that we were in France.
Our Halifax Clarity MasterCard Credit Card is used for all purchases over £20 were it is accepted, which in France has been just about everywhere.
Although it is quite amazing how much cash you can go through, even when just using it for small purchases like coffee and croissants etc, when you are away for just 3 weeks.
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Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 15/1/2015
Wow 1.3 € to the £ just had a look, and that is the best it has been since 2008.
Where will it end I wonder?
Euro zone is becoming more and more open to the idea of quantitative easing (printing money). This would devalue euro even more... potentially making these Dutch tents and French campsites a bit more affordable.
Yep, at this rate Diesel will be working out at 50pence per litre when I get there in July.
Which is great news when you are driving a firms 3 month old VW Golf BlueMotion 1.6 TDi with a claimed mpg of 74.3mpg, especialy when it is 700 miles drive from Dunkerque to our campsite down in Frejus.
Edit = done the math!
That works out at £21 to get there in fuel, although in the real world towing my trailer it will be closer to £45 which is still pretty good.
As In reality I expect Diesel to be working out at 75pence per Litre and the car should return 52mpg on average over the 3 week holiday.
Post last edited on 16/01/2015 07:17:04
Post last edited on 16/01/2015 07:22:16
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