Your Credit Score
Thinking about applying for credit? Check Your Credit Score for free, with no impact on your credit file.
Card safety
It’s safe to use your bank card when you’re out and about. But to avoid scams, take care how you use it.
The safest way to pay for things is to use your debit or credit card. This helps to protect your money from scams.
Only you should use your card and PIN, and nobody else. So know where your card is at all times.
Tips on using your card safely
-
If you can, use a cash machine inside a bank branch. It’s safer and can give you more privacy.
Keep an eye out for people looking over your shoulder. You don’t want to let anyone stand close enough to see what you're doing.
Shield the keypad so no one can see what you enter.
And if someone offers to help you use your card, put it away and leave. This is a scam to try to see your PIN or steal your card.
-
More and more shops use a reader to let you pay by card. If you pay this way, follow these steps to stay safe:
- Hold on to your card - Whoever serves you shouldn’t have to take your card away. Never let it out of your sight.
- Go to a till - You can always pay at a till or wait for a card machine to come to you.
- Tap and go - Contactless or a phone app lets you pay for things quickly and safely. And you don’t have to use your PIN.
- Hide your PIN - Shield the keypad so no one can see what you enter.
- Hold on to your card - Whoever serves you shouldn’t have to take your card away. Never let it out of your sight.
-
Memorise your PIN instead of writing it down. If a person knows your PIN they could try to use your card.
Change your PIN if you think someone has seen or knows it. You can do this on a Halifax cash machine.
-
If you have to get a new card because of a scam, fraudsters can try to scam you again. They may still have your details and pretend to be from your bank or another well-known company.
Remember, only a fraudster would call to tell you to move money to another account. And we’ll never send a message with a direct link for you to sign in or to give personal or banking details.
-
You can get straight forward, impartial advice on how to avoid scams from Take Five.
You can report a crime or get general advice from Action Fraud. They help banks and other companies combat fraud.
They offer advice on how to keep yourself and your devices safe from fraud.
UK Finance is there to support customers and to help make sure it's safe to bank.
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
The PRA is part of the Bank of England. Their role is to make sure banks act safely and reduce the chance of them losing money.
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
The FCA is there to make sure banks work well so customers are protected and get a fair deal.
CIFAS can help to protect your identity. They can stop fraudsters from using your details to apply for things in your name.
This is a government site that gives advice on how to stay safe online.
This is part of the FCA site. You can use it to check on an investment or pension deals to help you avoid scams.
Halifax does not control the content of any of the websites linked to on this page.
Halifax is a division of Bank of Scotland plc. Registered in Scotland No. SC327000. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Bank of Scotland plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 169628.