Re: Applying for credit card on TWP
 

I suspect most banks prefer you to use your debit card... thats one transaction per purchase for them. Buy 50 things on a credit card, and paying the bill is still only one transaction, so they lose out.

Also, Im not sure what the transaction fees are for the merchants, but I did find a pizza hut recently that charged an extra surcharge for interac users as the bank sticks it to them for the service.

Plus the grocery points on my mastercard all add up over the year, using the MC is probably worth several hundred a year in effective cash back. I've had free banking for years now, but still remember the bad old days of 30 "free" transactions or whatever it was with TD as long as I maintained a minimum $1000 balance:eek:

Re: Applying for credit card on TWP
 

It's changed a lot in the 2.5 years I've been here, but in Vancouver a lot of bars/restaurants will take Visa/MC but not Interac. Which made it even more annoying to be denied a CC. Of course, they provide an ATM (At $3+ per withdrawal).

Re: Applying for credit card on TWP
 

I got one, limit $2000 from TD, if you have money going in and have been working a while, they will give it to you no problem. My friend, who is African, had some problems trying to get his they said no he had to front the money to get the card, so he paid them $1000 for a credit card. Very strange!

Re: Applying for credit card on TWP
 

Trouble is it's not so simple as your statement suggests. I had over 50% equity in a business/property when I first moved here, $20k per month gross income being deposited, a $100k credit line and commercial mortgage. Vehicle leasing was easy to obtain and low rate financing for machinery that went beyond the length of my TWP. No credit card offered for almost 2 years though.

Re: Applying for credit card on TWP
 

http://www.scotiabank.com/cda/conten..._LIDen,00.html

Scotiabank do a bank account / credit card etc for FW's

StartRight Program for Foreign Workers
The Scotiabank StartRight® Program†for Foreign Workers is a complete financial package designed specifically for you.

When you open your bank account, bring:
Work Permit or Confirmation of Immigration Status in Canada
Letter from your Employer in Canada
One (1) additional piece of personal identification (e.g. valid passport, driver's licence issued in Canada etc.)

They also do mortgages for foreign workers http://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/0,,225,00.html

:)

Re: Applying for credit card on TWP
 

We came over on TWP but with an HSBC Premier account and got a 5K CC straight away!