... This is how I first came across the Halifax Classic card. I get invited to apply for several credit cards every week through the mail but there must be some incentive in it for me. In the past not charging an annual fee was an incentive but this is now the norm. I now look for "freebies" ... Read review
Advantages: They give you cash for spending money Disadvantages: You need to spend £12,000 before getting the 1% cashback
...I first came across the Halifax Classic card. I get invited to apply for several credit cards every week through the mail but there must be some incentive in it for me. In the past not charging an annual fee was an incentive but this is now the norm. I now look for "freebies" and if nothing is offered it hits the bin faster than I can say "forget it".
While looking through the Halifax Classic card bumph I noticed ... ...3891 166 or at any Halifax branch.
The card itself is a striking blue colour with the standard Mastercard logo of red and yellow interlocking circles in the top right hand corner. Below this is the silver security logo (which has the same effect as watermarks on bank notes to avoid fraud). The card name is in white in the top left hand corner and the card number, cardholder's name and expiry date is in silver across the body of the ... more
I have used credit cards since I turned 18 and that was um, um, 20 years ago (but don't tell everybody). I used to use them only for the purchase of large items or to get something just before my salary date. I have always been a greedy person - oh, that sounds awful, doesn't it but let me explain. When I say greedy I don't mean in regard to buying goods for myself (doesn't happen often) or for others (I do it all the time) because I am a bit of a shopaholic. I am greedy in that I refuse to pay interest and pay off my full credit card bill on a monthly basis. I refuse to pay interest on credit cards or loans. Unfortunately, I have to pay interest on my mortgage because I haven't won the lottery yet!!
I now use my credit card for just about everything - petrol, groceries, clothes and just about everything else you could think of. The only time I use cash is for small items e.g. newspapers at my local shop and my switch card is used when credit cards are unacceptable. The reason for this is two-fold - firstly, the safety aspect. I very seldom carry a handbag with me because it is unsafe in today's society especially when you are also distracted by children and secondly I now get cash back when I use my credit card.
You very seldom have to visit financial institutions to obtain financial products nowadays. Your needs can normally be satisfied by the internet or the vast amounts of "junk mail" coming through your letterbox on a regular basis. This is how I first came across the Halifax Classic card. I get invited to apply for several credit cards every week through the mail but there must be some incentive in it for me. In the past not charging an annual fee was an incentive but this is now the norm. I now look for "freebies" and if nothing is offered it hits the bin faster than I can say "forget it".
While looking through the Halifax Classic card bumph I noticed they were offering 1% cash back (this has now been reduced to 0.5% until your total spend reaches £12,000, then it is increased to 1%). I did some quick calculations on what I was likely to spend on an annual basis and reckoned around £10,000 (giving a cash back of £100). Not a mammoth amount, perhaps but better in my pocket than theirs.
There was an application enclosed which was easy to complete. You also got the option of a Mastercard or Visa - I opted for Mastercard as this is what I have always used. After posting the application I received my card within 2 weeks. You can also apply for a card online at http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/online.shtml, by telephone on 0800 3891 166 or at any Halifax branch.
The card itself is a striking blue colour with the standard Mastercard logo of red and yellow interlocking circles in the top right hand corner. Below this is the silver security logo (which has the same effect as watermarks on bank notes to avoid fraud). The card name is in white in the top left hand corner and the card number, cardholder's name and expiry date is in silver across the body of the card.
You will receive up to 59 days interest free credit on your purchases (so your cash can stay in the bank earning interest) and you receive statements on a monthly basis. Your statement will be produced on the same date each month and you will soon work out when it is due. When you receive your statement it will advise you how many cash back points you have received this month and your total to date. It will also show all your transactions for the previous month along with payments made and any interest charged. You will also be given the option whether to pay the bill in full or pay either £5 or 2% of the balance, whichever is higher. If you pay in full as I do you will not pay any interest. If you pay a lesser amount you will be charged 17.9% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) on the balance from the date the transactions took place. This is also the rate for transferring balances from other cards although they are currently offering an introductory rate of 4.9% on balance transfers for a 5 month period. If, however, you withdraw cash from a cash dispenser using your PIN (which is supplied) or take a cash advance at a bank you will be charged 22.5% APR immediately. The Halifax also issue you with cheques on the account and the APR for using these is 22.4% with an additional handling fee of between £1.50 and £20 per cheque.
These rates are pretty competitive - they're not the lowest but they're certainly not the highest. The interest rates are never a selling issue for me because I don't pay any interest.
There is no annual fee on this card and it can be used practically worldwide. It is, however, always better to check before going abroad that the country you are visiting does accept this card. If you use it abroad for cash, as well as immediate interest charges you will also be charged 2.75% of the amount taken and will be at the mercy of foreign exchange rates.
There are several methods by which you can pay your bill - at a bank (allowing 5 working days for the payment to reach them), by post (allowing 7 working days for the payment to reach them), by direct debit on a pre-arranged date or online at - https://www.halifax-online.co.uk/_mem_bin/Formst.agin.asp?/
Make sure that you make at least the minimum payment by the due date or as well as interest you will be charged a £20 maintenance fee. It seems high but is actually on a par with other financial institutions.
There are other free benefits which come as standard with the card: free additional cards for family; free replacement cards; secure online shopping; easy online account management using the above link (not bad, eh, check your account and pay your bill all on the same site); customer helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; free purchase protection against items purchased using your card which are lost or stolen within 100 days and travel accident insurance cover up to £100,000 if you book your travel tickets using your card.
I found all this very impressive - mega benefits and they are paying me money.
There are another couple of benefits available at a small extra charge. Firstly for 78p per £100 of balance per month you can cover being off work through sickness, accident or unemployment. In these cases they will pay 10% of the balance each month up to a monthly maximum of £2500 for 12 months. Secondly, for £15 per year or £36 for 3 years you can cover all your credit cards and store cards against loss or theft. You advise details of all your cards and let them know if they are stolen within 24 hours. They will arrange cancellation of all the cards and give protection against fraudulent use.
One warning if you are using the card in the way I use it you have to be very financially aware as it is very easy to overspend. You still have to budget to ensure you are going to be able to afford to pay off the whole bill when it comes in.
I am thrilled to bits with this card and have also experienced excellent service from the Halifax staff. I would definitely recommend the product and the organisation to others. Sorry, if I have gone on a bit but I'm a firm believer in knowing all the facts before I commit to a product. Hopefully I have answered any questions that may have arisen.
I am due to get my cash back credited to my account soon (this happens once a year) and as predicted it should be about £100. I am off to see what I can spend it on and surprise, surprise, I am going to spend it on ME!!
Advantages: Very good introductory rate and sstandard rate Disadvantages: not found any yet
The Halifax classic card could save you money for a start their standard interest rate for purchases and balance transfers is just 17.9% apr and whats more it comes with a 5 month introductory rate of just 3.9%.
You can get upto 59 days interest free credit and for your convenience the monthly minimum payment is just 2% of the balance making your repayments more affordable.
As a card member you can call cardmember services 24/7/52 or whenerver ... ...account.
You can view your most recent card account statemnet and transactions online, and if you have a current account with a switch or delta debit card, you can even make your monthly payment over the net. You get everything you need from a credit card at no extra cost:-
3.9% introductory rate on balance transfers and purchases.
no annual fee
visa or master card
credit card cheque book
You can even choose to add an optional payment protection ...
catman 22.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Halifax Classic
Advantages: no annual fee, chance to win motorsport prizes each month, 3.9% APR transfers Disadvantages: none, no points, no air miles. no cashback,geared towards MotorSport fans!!!
Halifax launches another new credit card; A NEW Motor Racing Credit Card!This credit card is launched in conjunction with Calum Lockie’s Gold Track Driving Club, that is based near Silverstone.
With the fresh memories of Ferrari having just won the Constructors Championship as well as the title and the prospect of enjoying more motor sport events in the coming year, this Card comes at just the right time!
So how is different from an ordinary credit ... ...there!) it looks different; there is a choice of 3 photos F1 car, Rally or GT. Ok, ok so it looks different, what about its ‘performance?’ You are allowed up to 59 days interest free credit (that’s almost 8 weeks!!!) PLUS every month you are automatically entered into a competition to win prizes such as VIP tickets to British Grand Prix, go-karting race events, VIP hospitality at a GT race etc.
Balance transfers is 3.9%APR for five months ...
Connoisseur_Haggler 23.10.2000 (16.12.2000)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax Classic
Advantages: None Disadvantages: They do not stick to their word
I used to have a Halifax Credit card. Having had a number of accounts with them for thirty years I thought their credit card would be OK.
When I took the card out I was told that there was no annual charge and that there never would be. Guess what? Yes, after a few years they brought an annual fee in.
I was annoyed about this and wrote to the company to complain. I was more or less told to go away, they could do what they wanted.
After thinking ... ...I took out through the Halifax in the 1970's. Seems I had been given the wrong advice. After a full investigation I was granted around £15,000 compensation.
Recently I was in a Halifax branch again. A young woman asked me if I wanted to sign up for a Halifax credit card. She said there was no annual fee and never would be... guess what I told her... ...
Frankelson 17.12.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax Classic
Advantages: Good Ipoints opportunities Disadvantages: Not as low as Egg APR
...With the joint ipoints and Halifax card you can earn 1% back in ipoints on all your credit card spend (until 31/12/01), earn even more ipoints when using the card with ipoints partners and also earn 100 ipoints anniversary bonus (first year only) when you spend £2500 p.a. I had a Halifax Credit Card from before and then applied for the ipoints Credit Card and within the three hours that they promise a young lady rung me and said that I could transfer ... ...get my 100 ipoints. (I'm not totally obsessed with ipoints but it does help!!) Sad really eh what?!!
Definately worth looking into if you buy items through the ipoints web site.
Sorry if I have put this comment under the wrong section, should have really set up a new section shouldn't I. ...
sharondyer 09.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax Classic
Advantages: all basic issues can be dealt with on-line Disadvantages: the call-centre.. as usual
...moneysupermarket.com I decided that the Halifax Classic would be great as it offered 10 months interest-free credit for balance transfers and purchases and 50 pounds cash-back if used 3 times within the first month. (This offer is no longer available.)
I applied on-line and was instantly accepted. My credit limit was shown straight away (it had been set around the middle of the limits of my other cards) so I knew what I had got. The credit agreement ... ...If you have any other Halifax accounts, which I do not, you also have access to them from here. This site is very easy to use and everything is easy to find. Basic information: The APR is an uncompetitive 15.9%, but the interest-free period is very long. The call-centre waiting time has proven to be around 5 minutes. The staff there are very friendly and they try very hard to give you good service. You can set up a direct debit payment, a mandate ...
mariesimone 05.10.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Halifax Classic
Competitiveness of APR
Product package
Quality of Customer Ser...
Reward Scheme
Additional Charges
Security and Privacy
Ease of Application
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assigned limit of up to £25,000. There is no annual fee & you also get free purchase protection & travel cover ~ giving you that extra spending power when you need it.
? ~ Halifax Cash back cards ~ available in Platinum/Gold & Classic versions ~ these cards give you a full 1% cash back on all your purchases.
The new improve credit cards on offer are something many customers can benefit form ~ If you feel you have outgrown your existing credit card then you can always change to one that suits your circumstances.
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Advantages: Good over all card no annual charge. Disadvantages: Diffcult getting the Cash out of them
I have been a happy Halifax Credit card customer for a number of years the (classic card). The Cash back option on the card really interested me. Getting money back instead of points for stuff I didn?t really want. So, I converted my old classic card to the Cash back card and everything went swimmingly well. Nine months passed and as each statement came through I could see my cash back accumulating quite nicely.
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