Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

Good point, wasnt thinking straight. I hope most people dont run a balance, but Ive been surprised by some of the big earners in companies I worked for still having monthly balances, and it does also seem to be a way of life for some in the UK.

The card provider will still take their $2+% pound of flesh surcharge on the card exchange rate presumably....Im assuming that is still in Sterling?

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

Yes, it's in Sterling. I only have last month's statement to hand and that only has one item, it reads:

GTAA Express Term 2 PS, Toronto 2.79
5.50 Canadian dollar includes commission charge of .07p

the exchange rate 5.50/2.79 seems about right so I guess it cost me sevenpence to use Visa instead of Amex (my Amex is in $C but the machine wouldn't take it that day).

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

Its costing you 2.5% markup on everything, if you dont use it much its no big deal, but if you are buying a 50" TV its painfull.

Hey, if you dont need that money, send it to me :D but IIRC your ex wife needs it :(

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

2.5% of $5.50 isn't going to bankrupt me even if I spend that much on Visa every month. (I don't. I try to use Amex so as to keep everyone in free airline tickets).

Trying to make the wife into an ex does look as if it'll bankrupt me; in which case I suppose I won't have to worry about my credit rating any more.

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

You can get Canadian Amex cards (instantly, without the standard 180 days Canadian credit history that Visa and Mastercard require) while you are still in the UK. You do not need to transfer over your UK cards - I suggest you keep them (for emergencies) if you have some UK sterling left in a UK bank account to clear them.

We are not due to arrive in Canada until July, and we phoned Toronto Amex HQ in May, they looked at our UK credit history and granted us new Canadian credit cards immediately over the phone. No paperwork at all. They are now waiting for us at our intended BC address. These are no-fee credit cards, not debit/charge cards.

We will keep our UK cards but will obviously face currency charges (exhange rate) if we use them in Canada. But we are 'allowed' to retain them in the UK as long as we give an address, so we have given next of kin.

Visa and Mastercard, no matter who you contact (eg Citibank, RIBC, CBC or any other issuing 'partner'), require a minimum of 180 days' credit history in Canada beofre they can entertain the idea of issuing any cards, and I cannot see a way around these rules.

rio

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

What about getting a reference from your UK bank indicating creditworthyness?

K.

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

One word

CRAP :D

We both have Canadain Visa Cards and got them 14 days after arriving.


Presidents Choice merely wanted us to 'use' our accounts for 6 weeks before issuing Mastercards. (All that involved was going to the cash machine once a week, drawing $10 from one account and depositing it into the other).

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

Yes what about it? ;)

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

That is wrong. The eternal tourist even has a Canadian Mastercard (her own account, not connected with any other) even though she's not technically resident and so has no local credit history.

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

For a second I thought you were saying I was wrong????

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

Oh no, I was agreeing with you but in less strident tones.

Re: American Express Transferable to Canada?
 

Hi - you need to ask for a Global Transfer - we did this and there was not problem, cannot comment about credit limit as we did not have AM cards prior.