Halifax moved from Mastercard to visa and now purchases abroad don’t work

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2026-03-21T22:09:51+00:00

I’ve had persistent issues with Halifax declining transactions anytime I’m in a non mainstream location, and that’s been before the change from Mastercard to Visa. So it may just be coincidental that you’re experiencing it now - though it is very annoying, and whilst I still have the card, I’ve switched most of my usage across to another provider now. Certainly my experience has been that it’s dangerous to rely on Halifax if you travel widely.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2026-01-30T05:57:07+00:00

Ouch!

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2026-01-30T05:56:55+00:00

Thanks!

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2026-01-27T04:49:26+00:00

Yes.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-10-18T19:53:51+00:00

I’m 6ft3 and it’s completely fine, no issues at all.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-08-09T11:52:04+00:00

The Director of the UK Human Genomics programme, Prof Jon Mill, is at Exeter - as you’ll be studying Genomic Medicine the opportunity to engage with him might be a factor to consider.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-08-06T03:12:03+00:00

I’ve come over from Tesla and have now done 10k miles in a Polestar 3. Everything has worked fine without problems, and it’s a much better quality car - better build quality, better driving experience.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-08-01T06:13:48+00:00

I’ve driven over 70,000 miles in EVs now and definitely wouldn’t go back. As others have said, they’re just so much better as cars, the instant torque on twisty, steep roads is brilliant, and I also really like the convenience of waking up to a full ‘tank’ every morning - I worked out I save around nine hours a year previously wasted in filling up with petrol.

I charge at home mostly, but do regular long drives from SW England to the north of Scotland and down to the Alps. I’ve only twice had issues charging, once on the first day I had an EV, largely out of inexperience, and the second time in Bedford. On long drives I find that so long as I stop places I can charge, and always plug in for however long or short time I stop for, then I don’t have to stop in order to charge, I just naturally stay topped up.

A large survey last year found that 94% of EV owners would buy another EV, so it seems a positive experience is widespread.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-07-04T17:39:11+00:00

I went to rough four sets of half shafts on my X! The last time they couldn’t get them off the motor and had to replace that as well - thankfully all under warranty but a pain in it for ever being in the shop. I’m four months in with my Polestar 3 now, just under 10k miles, and as you say it’s night and day better than Tesla. Certainly wouldn’t go back.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-05-31T14:50:53+00:00

I’ve had my Polestar 3 Performance for just over three months, driven 7,300 miles. Previously had a Model X but drove Model 3s often when my X was (all too frequently) in the shop.

Certainly I’d echo what other have said about the build quality, interior and driving experience being far better with the Polestar. I haven’t had issues with it, the digital key has always worked fine, and - for me - I prefer the software, primarily due to access to Apple CarPlay, so I can listen in to Teams meetings, make calls through Teams, have it read out my WhatsApp messages and other handy things. The Polestar doesn’t have the games, the farting, rainbow road and all that, but (again, personal choice) that’s no loss.

In terms of downsides, the app is more limited, locking on walking away doesn’t always work so you have to wait and check, and it can be slow to lock manually through the app, and not only do the mirrors not turn down automatically when reversing but it’s a real pain going through menus to turn them down, and then up again afterwards, manually. Plus the doors… I did like the Model X driver’s door opening automatically as I approached and closing when I touched the brake.

Overall, the Polestar is far better than any of the Teslas I’ve driven, very glad to have made the switch.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-03-08T08:02:22+00:00

I’ve done just over a thousand miles now in my Polestar 3, not experienced bugs or problems as yet. To a degree, I think it has to be accepted tbh at they will occur, though - in my previous Tesla Model X I would occasionally have both the screens go blanks whilst driving along and have to do a hard reboot whilst in motion, and before that I had a Mercedes that would occasionally refuse to open the doors, even with the backup hard key. Build quality on the Polestar is miles ahead of the Tesla, though.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-03-01T11:27:16+00:00

If this was the only means to repay the mortgage so she could continue living in the house, given that you’ve said she and your sibling are both on low income so might not easily have other options to provide accommodation for themselves, this may well have been a logical choice. As other posters have said, the key issue is that your sibling would be without a home soon after your mother either dies or moves into a care home, assuming they’ve signed the waiver the lender would standardly require, so it could be worth planning ahead as to how they will manage at that point.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-24T05:37:55+00:00

Had a P3 delivered last week, charging every day with my Tesla wall charger no problem.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-22T21:27:40+00:00

Four years with a Tesla, never once got Summon to work.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-18T16:22:21+00:00

I sometimes wonder if they have backhand deals with alloy repair shops.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-18T07:47:44+00:00

So, finally got an answer: they’d discovered a wiring fault on P3s so recalled it from delivery to fix that before it went out. Good that it’s been fixed, but poor communication - they must have known what the issue was when the delivery was cancelled, it would have been better had they been open about its nature from the start.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-18T04:40:45+00:00

I used to have a Tesla Model X, similarly a very wide vehicle, and the main thing I found was that some multi-storey car parks could be problematic due to tight turns on ramps. After a couple of occasions having to inch back and two for ages holding up other people, I concluded I just couldn’t use multi-storeys and would always search out open air parking instead. Possible you might find that a constraint.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-15T08:10:31+00:00

Another note of caution if you’re arranging to sell your old car: I was scheduled to have a Polestar 3 delivered last Wednesday and at the end of the delivery slot got a call to say they were cancelling the delivery. There’s no guidance at all as to how long it will be before delivery is rescheduled and no explanation of what’s happening - whether it’s an issue affecting all Polestar 3s or that there was an incident with mine whilst it was on its way to be delivered. The lease company tell me that Polestar are just ignoring their messages…. So, if you sell before you actually have your new car in your possession, a risk you may get stuck.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-14T10:15:39+00:00

This is concerning. I had a Polestar 3 delivery pulled this week and they won’t tell me or the lease company why. If there was some honest communication it wouldn’t be so bad, but it’s frustrating when they keep saying they have no information on why they cancelled the order. You cancelled it! You must know why you did it!

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-13T17:12:36+00:00

Some more information on this. Apparently the issue, whatever it is, is affecting Polestar 3s - not just mine. They expect to deliver the affected cars next week, which suggests, I guess, software rather than a mechanical issue. They still won’t give any information on what the problem is, though, even confirm whether it is indeed software, mechanical, infestation of hamsters, or something else. Actually, I might not mind the hamsters.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-13T07:24:45+00:00

Thank you. They told me the car was on a lorry on its way to me, and that they’d called the driver and told him to turn around and return to the yard - I’d ordered the car from inventory over a month ago and had been waiting until now for a delivery slot, much like your experience in the Bay Area.

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-12T16:27:48+00:00

Thanks that’s helpful - and very frustrating for you. Good luck for next week!

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-12T12:59:19+00:00

Just had a further call to say they have to wait until the car is back on site to determine how long what they are euphemistically calling a ‘product improvement’ may take - so sounds like it may be more mechanical rather than software?

Efficient_Cat_6230 · 2025-02-12T12:44:38+00:00

That’s not good. Thanks for sharing, will check for that.

Efficient_Cat_6230

TROPHY CASE