Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
Feb 8th 2017, 6:53 am
#76
Bon Vivant
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,956
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
Individually, it's easier to open an email, click, log on and receive than it is to sign the cheque and take it to a bank.
But with multiple tenants, if one insists on paying by cheque, so that you have to go to the bank anyway, you might as well have them all by cheque and make the accounting easier.
If all your tenants paid by email that would make the accounting just as easy without the journey (or journeys if they didn't pay at the same time) to the bank.
So maybe it's a rebel tenant to blame.
But with multiple tenants, if one insists on paying by cheque, so that you have to go to the bank anyway, you might as well have them all by cheque and make the accounting easier.
If all your tenants paid by email that would make the accounting just as easy without the journey (or journeys if they didn't pay at the same time) to the bank.
So maybe it's a rebel tenant to blame.
Feb 8th 2017, 3:23 pm
#77
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 181
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
As someone who arrived in Jan this year, WHAT A CULTURE SHOCK.
Coming from the UK via Australia, struggling to get over the paperwork and bureaucracy here. Things I took for granted albeit a small shock at the time: free banking, moving to Oz this did not exist unless you put your salary into you account. Canada for some reason or another thinks it acceptable to charge you up to $40/m unless you want to leave $5k in your account to cover this. Still not sure what value they provide since CC are still the stupidly high interest like other countries, and can not see what other standard features they offer aside from the Canadian centric features.
A simple thing like linking a bank account to do transfers, can take up to 7 to 10 business days to work. The reliance on cheques for rentals and the cost the banks charge you to provide a bank reference.
It seems like I stepped into the 19th century for banking here! High costs, and overly complicated.
I chat to colleagues who have been here many years and all agree with me and have given me pointers on how to deal/work it.
Canada is thinking it is a 21st century country but in reality it does not come close. I am in Mississauga outside Toronto. They have a train system which runs in the GTA at a few select points, BUT only runs during rush hour week days. Nothing runs on the weekend or during the day on weekdays, crazy.
The public transport system here is an eye opener coming from other major cities in the world.
Coming from the UK via Australia, struggling to get over the paperwork and bureaucracy here. Things I took for granted albeit a small shock at the time: free banking, moving to Oz this did not exist unless you put your salary into you account. Canada for some reason or another thinks it acceptable to charge you up to $40/m unless you want to leave $5k in your account to cover this. Still not sure what value they provide since CC are still the stupidly high interest like other countries, and can not see what other standard features they offer aside from the Canadian centric features.
A simple thing like linking a bank account to do transfers, can take up to 7 to 10 business days to work. The reliance on cheques for rentals and the cost the banks charge you to provide a bank reference.
It seems like I stepped into the 19th century for banking here! High costs, and overly complicated.
I chat to colleagues who have been here many years and all agree with me and have given me pointers on how to deal/work it.
Canada is thinking it is a 21st century country but in reality it does not come close. I am in Mississauga outside Toronto. They have a train system which runs in the GTA at a few select points, BUT only runs during rush hour week days. Nothing runs on the weekend or during the day on weekdays, crazy.
The public transport system here is an eye opener coming from other major cities in the world.
Some years back I was assigned to my American employer's Sydney office. I assumed that banking was the same in Oz as in Canada and the U.S. I tried to buy an airline ticket to Auckland with a credit card. A credit card! They were hardly known and treated with suspicion. Then there was the 6 pm chucking out time in the pubs. So 19th century.
I lived in Canada since I was 12-nearly 50 years, and I never encountered any charges for banking services. BACs payments-I first used them in the early '80s. Transfers via Pre-authorized Checks-since the '70s.
Here in England every one and his brother wants to be paid via direct debit. D.D.s are the number one source of complaints to personal money columns in the financial press.
The last two years in Canada I rented a condo, and paid by D.D.-no problem.
The last certified check I got in Canada-2016-cost me $12.00. Try getting one in the U.K.-about £35.00. How about having to pay huge sums of money, non-refundable, to get a mortgage, or the fees charged by grubby rental agencies in the U.K. I never had to pay any of that in Canada.
Back in the 70s an international call from Canada to the U.K. had to be made via the operator so out of date was the UK phone system.
I would agree about the public transport system outside major cities in Canada. Before the Crow Rate was abolished there still existed a passenger rail service-not quite SNCF standard-but fairly reliable. I clearly remember my first ski trip to Banff, from Calgary-by train. Or the day-liner rail cars running around Alberta-sadly all gone now.
It was an eye-opener for me, coming to live in England.
Swings and roundabouts-just different.
Feb 8th 2017, 3:27 pm
#78
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
I once overheard my former boss describe the Toronto subway system as possibly the worst in the world and she immigrated to Toronto after growing up in a communist country under Stalin.
Feb 8th 2017, 3:30 pm
#79
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
The last certified check I got in Canada-2016-cost me $12.00. Try getting one in the U.K.-about £35.00. How about having to pay huge sums of money, non-refundable, to get a mortgage, or the fees charged by grubby rental agencies in the U.K. I never had to pay any of that in Canada.
Feb 8th 2017, 3:34 pm
#80
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,338
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
To be fair though the letting agencies often make things easier. Yes they are dirty money grabbing sods but they also simplify things by asking you what your budget is and then driving you around to several properties in the area that fit within your budget. Given the choice of that versus Kijiji and public transit, I think I would happily opt for the agencies and pay a couple of a hundred dollars for the convenience tbh.
Feb 8th 2017, 3:39 pm
#81
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
If the latter than that is normal service for letting agents in the UK, even in Greater London. If the former then letting agents as a British person would understand the term are far less common in Canada.
Feb 8th 2017, 3:58 pm
#82
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,338
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
Do you mean York in Ontario or York as in the one in Yorkshire?b
If the latter than that is normal service for letting agents in the UK, even in Greater London. If the former then letting agents as a British person would understand the term are far less common in Canada.
If the latter than that is normal service for letting agents in the UK, even in Greater London. If the former then letting agents as a British person would understand the term are far less common in Canada.
I used the term real estate agent as I believed it was common usage, but may be clearer than 'realtor'. Apologies if you read 'real' as 'genuine'. My point was that is possible in Canada for someone to act in the same as a 'letting agent' in the UK, but without harming a fee to the renter. I am sure there are some decent, reputable letting agents in the UK who would do the same.
However thanks for explaining what 'British people' understand.
Feb 8th 2017, 4:04 pm
#83
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
York region, Ontario.
I used the term real estate agent as I believed it was common usage, but may be clearer than 'realtor'. Apologies if you read 'real' as 'genuine'. My point was that is possible in Canada for someone to act in the same as a 'letting agent' in the UK, but without harming a fee to the renter. I am sure there are some decent, reputable letting agents in the UK who would do the same.
However thanks for explaining what 'British people' understand.
I used the term real estate agent as I believed it was common usage, but may be clearer than 'realtor'. Apologies if you read 'real' as 'genuine'. My point was that is possible in Canada for someone to act in the same as a 'letting agent' in the UK, but without harming a fee to the renter. I am sure there are some decent, reputable letting agents in the UK who would do the same.
However thanks for explaining what 'British people' understand.
Feb 8th 2017, 4:09 pm
#84
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Location: Qc, Canada
Posts: 3,787
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
As an occasional visitor to Toronto, I'm not a fan either. However, streetcars (especially) & buses seem to be quite good, imo.
Feb 8th 2017, 4:14 pm
#85
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,338
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
I can't comment, as I haven't rented in the UK since uni days. I have however rented two properties in Canada in the last six years, in the way I have described. This is my last response to you as the 'words of one syllable' thing is wearing me out.
Feb 8th 2017, 4:20 pm
#86
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Feb 8th 2017, 5:19 pm
#87
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
To be fair though the letting agencies often make things easier. Yes they are dirty money grabbing sods but they also simplify things by asking you what your budget is and then driving you around to several properties in the area that fit within your budget. Given the choice of that versus Kijiji and public transit, I think I would happily opt for the agencies and pay a couple of a hundred dollars for the convenience tbh.
https://www.thestar.com/life/homes/2...w_renters.html
Last edited by Siouxie; Feb 8th 2017 at 5:24 pm.
Feb 8th 2017, 5:20 pm
#88
Sidecar Falcon
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,504
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
The letting agencies in the UK charge both parties. They really are that greedy but it's a highly profitable sector and that is why there are so many of them.
Feb 8th 2017, 11:16 pm
#89
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2016
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 474
Re: Finding Canadian differences very frustrating - How do I fix this?
Some years back I was assigned to my American employer's Sydney office. I assumed that banking was the same in Oz as in Canada and the U.S. I tried to buy an airline ticket to Auckland with a credit card. A credit card! They were hardly known and treated with suspicion. Then there was the 6 pm chucking out time in the pubs. So 19th century.
I lived in Canada since I was 12-nearly 50 years, and I never encountered any charges for banking services. BACs payments-I first used them in the early '80s. Transfers via Pre-authorized Checks-since the '70s.
Here in England every one and his brother wants to be paid via direct debit. D.D.s are the number one source of complaints to personal money columns in the financial press.
The last two years in Canada I rented a condo, and paid by D.D.-no problem.
The last certified check I got in Canada-2016-cost me $12.00. Try getting one in the U.K.-about £35.00. How about having to pay huge sums of money, non-refundable, to get a mortgage, or the fees charged by grubby rental agencies in the U.K. I never had to pay any of that in Canada.
Back in the 70s an international call from Canada to the U.K. had to be made via the operator so out of date was the UK phone system.
I would agree about the public transport system outside major cities in Canada. Before the Crow Rate was abolished there still existed a passenger rail service-not quite SNCF standard-but fairly reliable. I clearly remember my first ski trip to Banff, from Calgary-by train. Or the day-liner rail cars running around Alberta-sadly all gone now.
It was an eye-opener for me, coming to live in England.
Swings and roundabouts-just different.
I lived in Canada since I was 12-nearly 50 years, and I never encountered any charges for banking services. BACs payments-I first used them in the early '80s. Transfers via Pre-authorized Checks-since the '70s.
Here in England every one and his brother wants to be paid via direct debit. D.D.s are the number one source of complaints to personal money columns in the financial press.
The last two years in Canada I rented a condo, and paid by D.D.-no problem.
The last certified check I got in Canada-2016-cost me $12.00. Try getting one in the U.K.-about £35.00. How about having to pay huge sums of money, non-refundable, to get a mortgage, or the fees charged by grubby rental agencies in the U.K. I never had to pay any of that in Canada.
Back in the 70s an international call from Canada to the U.K. had to be made via the operator so out of date was the UK phone system.
I would agree about the public transport system outside major cities in Canada. Before the Crow Rate was abolished there still existed a passenger rail service-not quite SNCF standard-but fairly reliable. I clearly remember my first ski trip to Banff, from Calgary-by train. Or the day-liner rail cars running around Alberta-sadly all gone now.
It was an eye-opener for me, coming to live in England.
Swings and roundabouts-just different.
I am just getting over the initial shocks, once I have my accounts setup and understand the system better, will cope.
