The real cost of using Halifax Clarity Card

[ak1945]

I have just returned from Kalkan and thought I would post re the actual cost of using the above card. I drew out 700tl at various atms times during the week at an average rate of 2.93tl. In total I spent £275.55. The total cost of using the card was 35 pence, no commission or withdrawal charges. I hope this sets the record straight re various assumptions and comments made the last time I posted re this subject. 

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=11231.0

[Cuddles]

I drew out about £1,000 in sterling from Garanti Bank's ATM on my Nationwide debit cards over 6 weeks, the charges were nil.
I then changed the sterling into TL at the Işbank ATM and got a good rate at that time, (much better than any of the shops were offering) the cost for each of about 4 transactions was around 2 TL and this is taken before the TL are given out.

This sounds as though I am saying "yah boo sucks! Nationwide is cheaper than Halifax." I am not. I was merely pointing out that to get an excellent, if not the best, rate of exchange, you can use this method.

What was the 35p charge for anyway? Was it because you withdrew TL and not Sterling?

[Mrgrimsdale]

I thought the Clarity card was completely free? We applied for one for this holiday so would be interested to know which bank and where located to get the very best rate with no charges and no commission.

Thank you.

[ak1945]

I used different banks and it was just a small rate of interest as it is a credit card. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

Bubbles that sounds good, I changed from Nationwide because I they started to charge for withdrawals but I see they have a Select card with no charges now. :-)

[Charlie]

I use the Nationwide Flex card to withdraw sterling from the Garanti bank with no charges and their credit card to purchase goods abroad again no charges.

[Cuddles]

Yep, do the same myself Charlie. I only use the credit card when I'm abroad and I use one in UK that gives cashback. On the last trip I pulled out the wrong one twice, once for a new softer mattress and again when paying for the 2 way transfers. It cost a packet in charges and the exchange rate was pretty poor too.

[ak1945]

Bubbles th 35p was interest charged by Halifax. Nothing to do with withdrawing tl.

[BYBV]

700 quid spent on clarity bard end of July - 14 pence interest in total, transactions were average 2.97 TL to the pound!

Go clarity!!