For around the last ten years I’ve held a Halifax Credit Card. In the past ten years I’ve never spent over the credit limit, always repaying (usually the entire balance) by the payment dates specified by Halifax Credit. I’ve never had a problem with the account, able and willing to pay over the phone and internet, everything was very easy. Last year I was very impressed with Halifax Credit Card for contacting me while working up north to check the transactions I was making was actually me.

Last Monday I bought an engagement ring using the card while on route to a holiday in Turkey. Despite the transaction (unknowingly) exceeding the credit limit of the account by £90 Halifax allowed the transaction to take place.

I guess systems take a while to update, but soon enough my credit card had been stopped, a letter had been sent to my home demanding the £90 was returned before the card had been re-activated. I had no idea what was going on (I was in Turkey!).

I have experienced the following difficulties by Halifax Credit Card removing my ability to spend against their card:

• No access to emergency credit funds while in Turkey.
• Automatic internet domain name renewals (verified against the card) bounced and were not renewed.
• An order for a Photo Book from Apple Computer has been delayed due to a credit bounce, resulting in family wedding pictures not arriving in time for a celebration event.
• £23 worth of charges and interest were charged to me.

As soon as I was back in the UK I accessed my bank accounts online and reviewed my Credit Card Account. Halifax had locked me out of the account, insisting I called them on an 0870 number.

I called the number, found out what had been going on and paid the entire balance over the phone. Once the balance had been paid I then asked to be put through to the cancellations department to close the account, the representative explained that nothing could be done until the balance had been cleared, in three days time.

I called back in three days to find that the card was still frozen from use, although the balance had been cleared. I was transferred through to a representative who deals with account closures and asked what could be done to keep my custom. I declined any offer made and cancelled the card with Halifax Credit Cards.

I’ve never before overshot a credit limit, experienced an interest charge or received quite frankly such a rude letter through the post. I don’t feel like I’ve been given Extra.

Justina said “Yes” by the way, I’m very lucky!

So who should I get a credit card from now?

—

The most important home insurance deal that everyone should have is home insurance. This is closely followed by car insurance. A deal of travel insurance is an extravagancy not required exigently.