Hi,

I opened a chequeing and savings account yesterday with RBC in my local branch. However, the woman at the bank said that I could not get a credit card (not PR) without putting down a deposit first (no problem just seems more like a debit card that way).

Has anyone else on the 1 year work permit (through IEC) secured a credit card? I am looking to get a credit rating as I am planning on staying long term with my Canadian girlfriend looking ahead for mortgages etc...

Also, it seems to be different here as to how they use debit and credit cards? I may be wrong. Lots of online shops I have looked at dont accept Visa Debit only credit cards? Am I getting the wrong end of the stick....

Any help would be appreciated!

You could try Scotia Bank - they offer a package for TWP holders. http://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/0,,4359,00.html

Or Presidents Choice Financial: http://www.pcfinancial.ca/english/cr...c-credit-cards

RBC are a great bank but they are not TWP friendly, they will offer you a secured credit card but be warned they will hold on to that money for a year unless you can persuade them otherwise.

Yes, it is different here, lol.

Ah OK well I am already with the RBC now think I will go for the secured credit card for now.

VISA debit isn't widely advertised, but if the site says they accept VISA then they process VISA Debit and Credit the same way

internet shopping here is about 3 years behind where the UK is right now imo...

I'm with you on the internet shopping haggis.

Just as it might be of interest, a mobile phone company (Virgin) ran a credit check on me, and I thought it would be pants, but it wasn't because they ran it on my Visa and Mastercards, which I have not changed since I arrived in Canada. The bank here gave me further credit cards, which I use occasionally, but I mainly stick to my European ones, so my credit check was good, even though I had no history here? I hope this might help.

I opened a chequing and savings account at RBC and got a credit card easily with no deposit..... Ask to see an account manager!

The reason Visa debit isn't widely accepted is because Canadians have the own debit payment method which is "Interac" Any debit transaction will pretty much go through the Interac payment. However this is no good for online purchases.

How long ago was that though? Things seem to have changed of late, however, it does very much depend on 'who you see' and how helpful they want to be.

I opened the account the day after I arrived Oct 2010, I supplied them with my passport, TWP and employment contract.

The guy I saw was very helpful and we opened the New comer account RBC do..... Here's the up to date link

http://www.rbc.com/canada/mobile/credit/credit.html

Terms and conditions... http://www.rbc.com/canada/mobile/credit/disclaimer.html

Hope it helps

Roger

Me too, but that was over 20 years ago. Also depend on how much money you deposit in the bank.

If you want an unsecured credit card and have $100k in a savings account they are likely to be far more helpful than for someone with $5000 and wanting an unsecured card.

Cbrown, dont go for the secured credit card.
Go to TD. Open an account and apply for a credit card. They got a special program for anyone new to credit can get a $1000 credit card.

Any questions PM me.

I think the fact you had a TWP and an employment contract probably made a huge difference - especially then. When my son first went to RBC he got free banking for 12 months, an unsecured credit card etc., with no job - but he did have PR and a reference from his bank in the UK.

I do think much depends on who you see!

TD also have a newcomers account, as mentioned: http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/newtoca...k-accounts.jsp

I landed on April 20th with a 2 year TWP,on the 22nd I opened a Scotiabank account and was given a credit card,took a week and a half for it to arrive,but I was accepted for it instantly.
I never asked for the credit card but the bank advisor suggested it to give me a credit rating for when I go for a mortgage.
The only bad thing about Scotiabank is the crap opening hours,I am hoping that as other banks are staying open later that Scotiabank will follow.

I was in the same position as you about 3 years ago. I went to RBC, took me a year of banking with them with a regular chequings account to get an regular credit card with a $1000 limit which now is nearly double that and I have fairly large credit line with them too. In terms of credit building though you may find that nobody else other than RBC approves you for anything, I still cant get stores cards or credit cards anywhere else other than RBC as my credit history isnt significant enough.