Avoiding utility deposits
 

Okay, in the spirit of keeping costs down, has anyone managed to use their existing relationship with UK utility companies e.g water, gas to avoid paying a security deposit on utilities in Canada.

If so what information did they provide to Canadian companies? Bills or are we going down the letter route again :)

Thanks

Oli

Re: Avoiding utility deposits
 

I didn't use my existing relationship with UK companies but I did apply for all my services on-line and never had to pay a security deposit :)

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Re: Avoiding utility deposits
 

We didn't have to pay a single deposit setting up in Winnipeg coming straight from the UK. And when I think about it, I didn't have to pay any deposits for the Calgary set up either.

But when we moved to Ontario after 2yrs in Winnipeg (easy obtaining credit, mortgage, paid everything on time) the electricity company had the nerve to ask for 172 CAD or something like that as a deposit. They would waive this if we could provide either a copy of our credit report (note, they don't search credit records, this idea seemed completely alien to them when I suggested it, we would have had to do it ourselves and send our report to them!), or a letter from our previous power supplier in Canada stating that we had never been more than 30days late with payment. We went for the latter.

We then ran into problems as the account in Winnipeg was incorrectly under Mr & Mrs Smith, and I'm actually Miss Jones and as it's my house here, they wouldn't bill Mr Smith nor would they accept that although the letter said Jane Smith, I'm actually Jane Jones and it was just an error... so we had a palavour getting that sorted but did eventually and I got my 172 CAD back.

So I'm not sure anything from the UK would help if you're coming here, you may just have to lump it. Worth a try though, aren't credit checks something like 2 quid? What have you got to lose by bringing one...

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Now I'm confused. I though you were called Biiiiink. :confused:

Telus were the only utility that asked me for a deposit. I said could I put in on my Visa card (I'd kept my UK credit card) and they said that if I had a Visa card I must be credit worthy and so they didn't need a deposit after all.

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Nova Scotia Power have asked me for a security deposit. They have already connected the power though, just adding it onto my first bill.

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Our first home in Saskatchewan was rented, we were not asked for deposits for utilites except water (that's standard for everyone in Regina Beach cos it's a resort town) even though we were straight of the boat so to speak.

We have now bought a house in the same area and all the utility companies did was send us final bill for rented and the town transfered our deposit for water to our new home.

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Hi again ogcsmith.

Like the car insurance references, I have contacted the utility companies I have been supplied by for references explaining the move to Canada, no credit rating in Canada etc, etc. No problems, all companies I contacted have sent refs. stating period of account, that the bill was paid on time each month by DD, I have managed to get refs back to 1999.
I was surprised most companies took one phone call, and sent ref in a couple of days.

I probably won't be asked for a single ref when I get there, but for the price of a couple of phone calls I am prepared for any eventuality. Besides, it was something to do while I'm waiting on my work permit :lol:

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We had to put down around $100 -$200 deposits on all our utilities. We got them back after 12 months except from the propane company are keeping it for 24 months. They must think we are going to run away with their rented tank. :huh:

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MMMmm same with us - gas, electric, phone, water not to mention security deposit for rental. (we will be loaded in 6 months time when its all due back to us!) :thumbsup:

Get this even when Mr MMC moves to Rocky on Saturday the phone company want to charge us another deposit, as the phone in this house is in my name (only one space to fill in the application online and when questioned they said too late to change it now). Bloody ridiculous :curse:

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The only company to ask for a deposit was the power company. They wanted $300 security to be held for either 2 or 3 years (can't remember which). We sent them copies of the last 12 months of gas and elec bills from the UK (I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to bills!). They decided a security wasn't needed - so it did the trick!

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Do they make it up as they go along? The same power company has charged me only $100 deposit to be held for 1 year. Clearly this is an individuals choice not a company policy
.

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This was Nova Scotia Power too - not sure if it's different per customer or maybe on size of property, as they are the only power company it could be that they base it on previous bills for your property, or maybe because we asked to go on a payment budget. However, they would have wanted it together with a connection fee with the first bill. I'm sure you could call them to arrange to have it 'split' over a couple of months. They only read the meter every 2 months, so I don't see why they wouldnt split the deposit over 2 payments.

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Maybe I should have also added that we were on WP and not PRs at that time. That could have made a difference :confused:

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We are currently on TWP, but none of the utility companies asked for our status.

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I don't think so, I'm a citizen ;) It all seems very regional, a good introduction to how things are done in Canada!

I should have said the company that didn't want one was Manitoba Hydro, and the company that did is called Essex Power.

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So more totally different experiences of the same thing then.

Just like experiences with the banks, the airlines, government offices etc etc.

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When we moved here we purchased property that had 3 connections - one for a commercial premises, and two for domestic properties. We had to pay a security deposit to each supplier, for each property (ie hydro x3, gas x3). It cost over $5k in deposits, and they're being held for 3yrs. We'll get refunded this August.

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Nova Scotia asked us for a $150 deposit but when the bill came through it was $100. Told we would get it back with interest but can't remember when