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Credit card fees and charges
As well as interest, other fees and charges might apply when using a credit card.
Transaction and account fees
These are the most common fees you could be charged, all detailed in your terms and conditions.
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Balance transfer fee – you could be charged for moving a balance from another credit or store card to your Halifax credit card. The fee is usually a percentage of the transfer amount and will be confirmed before you submit your transfer request.
Money transfer fee – you could be charged for moving funds from your Halifax credit card account to your UK current account. Again, the fee is usually a percentage of the transfer amount and will be confirmed before you submit your transfer request.
Transfers are available subject to status. Not all credit cards offer money transfers.
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When using your credit card, a cash transaction fee may apply to:
- Using your available credit to obtain cash (e.g. at an ATM or at an over-the-counter service).
- Gambling transactions, using your card to make transactions at casinos, betting outlets and bookmakers, and buying online lottery tickets or gaming chips, share trading or spread betting.
- Buying foreign currency.
- Sending money orders or wire transfers (other than balance transfers or money transfers).
- Buying coins, banknotes or digital currency.
- Paying government or court fines, enforcement penalties, fees or costs.
- Online trading such as share dealing or investments.
- Purchasing or topping up electronic money, payment cards, mobile wallets or account dashboard services.
Cash transaction fees are usually a percentage of the transaction amount. Interest may also apply from the date of the withdrawal or transaction.
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Some retailers and service providers charge a fee for using a credit card to buy things like postal orders or to enter competitions.
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If you make a non-Sterling transaction or buy non-Sterling currency, the Mastercard or Visa exchange rate will apply, and you might be charged interest and fees, including a:
- Non-Sterling transaction fee.
- Cash advance fee.
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An annual fee applies to some credit cards. You might get some type of reward in return, e.g. cashback or reward points on card purchases.
Any annual fee should be outlined in the credit card details before you apply. It will also be factored into the representative example you see alongside credit card features and benefits.
If an annual fee applies, it’ll be charged to your statement once each year, around the anniversary of your account opening.
Default charges
Additional charges might apply if you break the conditions of your credit agreement.
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You need to make at least the minimum payment by the due date shown on your credit card statement each month, or you could be charged a fee and lose any promotional interest rates on your account.
Your credit score could also be negatively impacted, so it might be harder to get credit in future.
To check the fees and charges which apply to your account, take a look at your credit card terms and conditions, or your latest statement.
To help you to stay on track, you could set up a Direct Debit to make payments to your credit card account automatically each month.
It might also help to move your payment due date if, for example, your salary is paid to you after your credit card payment due date usually falls.
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Your credit limit is the maximum amount of credit available to you. It’s based on an assessment of your circumstances, either when you took out your card, or you last requested to change your limit.
If you go over your credit limit a charge might apply, you could lose any promotional interest rates on your account and your credit score could be affected, which could make it harder to get credit again in future.
To check the fees and charges which apply to your account, take a look at your credit card terms and conditions, or your latest statement.
Any transaction could take you over your credit limit, including interest, fees or charges, so it’s really important to keep track of your balance, even between statements.
Check your balance at any time using:
- Online Banking – sign in or register to get started.
- Our Mobile Banking app.
- Telephone banking – simply give us a call.
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If you make a payment we can’t process, it could be returned and a charge might apply. This includes Direct Debits and returned cheques.
To check the fees and charges which apply to your account, take a look at your credit card terms and conditions, or your latest statement.
If a returned payment causes you to miss a minimum payment, you could also be charged a late payment fee.
A summary on fees and charges
In addition to interest, fees might apply to some accounts and transactions.
- Fees might apply to transfers, cash advances and overseas transactions. An annual fee might apply to some credit cards.
- Additional charges could apply if you go over your agreed credit limit, miss a payment or it’s returned as unpaid.
- Charges and fees will be shown on your statements. Use Online Banking or the Mobile Banking app to check transactions between statements.
- See your account fee and charge rates on your latest statement, or by checking the terms and conditions of your account.
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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.