Had a Clarity Card (and other Halifax CCs before) for many years placing vast amounts through it each year. Visited New York to watch US Open in September 2022 and, despite a dozen transactions being approved in first few days, my card failed whilst in Flushing Meadows.
No text, email or call was received to check what they termed "a security breach". Upshot no access to any funds during day (in a mainly cashless society), cold, wet, tired, hungry, battery depleted on mobile from constantly trying to contact Halifax and couldn't get an Uber on getting back to Manhattan on my Metro card as it was linked to Halifax CC.
40 minute walk back to apartment in freezing cold rain, couldn't even buy a coffee or groceries for dinner as planned.
Got through to Halifax at 9pm (2am UK time) when my Daughter got home from work.
Not given any explanation as to why card was blocked and no communication received from H about the situation.
I had bought my US Open ticket via Halifax and was offered a refund. However nothing can erase the trauma of that day...alone at US Open with no means of accessing the only credit card I have had since I was 18...I'm now 65. I have never felt so vulnerable in my life, apart from when I was stuck up a mountain on a narrow ski ledge with room for only one ski in blizzard conditions some twenty years ago...
This time I was on terra firma but it still raised a huge fear inside me as a single older woman with no access to food, drink or US Open goodies I wanted to purchase. On what turned out to be a very cold torrentially wet day. I was dressed inappropriately for the weather, having been at a balmy night match the evening before but had I had funds I could've and would have purchased some warmer clothes from the store.
Referred matter to Ombudsman who found in favour of Halifax. So I will never get to know what the suspicious activity was and that is a worry in itself. I advised Halifax that as soon as I found an alternative to their card I would take my paid up monthly £2k+ elsewhere.
Hello Chase!
Reviewed on: 19th March 2023
