iaink

If you intend to travel then PC proabably has more coverage as a national brand, plus you seem to be a fan of reward points, which with PC can be collected and converted at any of the huge number of loblaws umbrella group of stores. (think Tescos, only more of a monopoly)

Tripitaka

Just looking through the Coast offerings and a couple of questions come to mind now I'm getting to grips with this stuff:

I can see that scheduled bill payments will work for me for the most part instead of Direct Debits, but how do you handle bills like mobile phone or other consumption services where the actual bill is likely to change each month? I guess the answer is probably PADs and with someone like a mobile phone company, that is no real risk but is that the only way without having to look at the bill and adjust it each month?

HyperWallet - isn't this just an alternative PayPal?

Zoe Bell

we pay our rogers bill ( cell phones and cable) online when it arrives each month. backwards i know , but welcome to Canada

Tripitaka

If the UK is "forwards" then give me all the "backwards" I can take! I haven't yet come across anything that I think I will miss about this crowded little outpost.

I work in Management of Change so I'm well aware that "different" does not automatically mean "worse" and I like the change of culture. I don't want to move and have a British culture because I like the Canadian one and that suits me fine.

This thread is helping me slot the changes together and make sense of what the picture looks like. Once I have understood it a lot better, I'll put what I found in the Wiki.

iaink

In many cases its easiest to just have it go on a credit card and then pay the CC off each month. More points that way too

Tripitaka

I'm liking this more and more! As you know, many companies in the UK *require* a D/D so the ability to allocate even more of my normal spending to rewards-based payments methods is a definite attraction.

Alan2005

The Canadian version is different,

http://www.hsbc.ca/1/2/en/personal/hsbcpremier

Who knows what they do if your assets are spread across two countries.

Keith

I can't remember the last time I wrote a cheque. All of my payments and deposits are automatic. I use ING direct for my on-line savings and bank with TD Canada Trust.
I have arranged for my credit cards payments to be paid in full at my bank.
Also I only recieve on line statements.

Tripitaka

I've spoken with Coast Capital and they seem very helpful; they have a much wider range of affiliated credit cards available than PCF and indeed one of them comes out in the top three that I would seek. They are prepared to put a referral to Visa through based on income rather than just have Visa test on credit history, of which there is none in Canada. I can't open the account until I arrive though as I need a BC ID which I won't get until I file the papers at Vancouver airport on entry. Hmm...assumption alert!!! I am assuming that is when I will get a BC ID; am I correct or is there a waiting period?

dbd33

ID would typically be a driving license so, no, that won't be issued at the airport.

emmabell

We set up HSBC premier a/c and its brill, there is a HSBC in Nanaimo and they have been very helpful. I also use the presidents choice mastercard and pay it off each time I use it. Just like Tesco the points are accumulated to use for shopping at Superstore. I have found it really easy to pay bills on line with the HSBC and the global transfer has your money transferred in minutes. I am just sat watching the pound/$ to change some now. Just gone to $1.40 to pound so now changing as thats the highest its been in months. Good luck with the move.
PS Did it all in the Poulton Branch and they sorted the Canada side as well

JonboyE

BCID is the card issued to people who want some BC government issued photo ID but who do not want to drive. You can apply at any driver services centre and it arrives in the mail in about a week to ten days.

If you drive you can just swap your driver's license for a BC one and it takes the same time to arrive.

bananahammock

I'm in Nanaimo & use PC too, also if you need a bank with longer opening hours TD Canada Trust are open till 6 & 8pm on certain days plus Saturdays.

Howefamily

OK, we have fallen in love with the idea of this account as we are points freaks too. How do we set this up? Can we do it from the UK?

iaink

Simple enough to do (instructions on the website), but you have to be canadian resident (PR?) to do it, and of course all the usual hassles surrounding new residents/ canadian credit rating etc apply to getting the credit card from them.