Comments on: Survey Says…

By: Links

Links — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:47:03 +0000

that would offend the government. but wouldn’t…

it be a bummer if you posted something on your blog, and all the suddenly someone else had removed it? and maybe it wasn’t even a person, maybe there was some sort of software that picked out keywords, or this case…

By: Macie Muri

Macie Muri — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:26:19 +0000

Well, this site looks way more professional than my blogengine blog. I think I might use Wordpress aswell.Your thoughts on this Regards.

By: TelemarketingLeads

TelemarketingLeads — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:24:50 +0000

The Ten Commandments Of Employment… 1. If it rings, put it on hold. 2. If it clunks, call the repairman. 3. If it whistles, ignore it. 4. If it’s a friend, stop work and chat. 5. If it’s the boss, look busy. 6. If it talks, take notes. 7. If it’s handwritten, type it. 8. if it’s typed, copy it. 9. If it’s copied, file it. 10. If it’s Friday, forget it!

Work is too serious joke a little!

By: Miranda

Miranda — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:57:33 +0000

I bank at RBC. I’ve been with them for almost 10yrs now. My first bank was small town credit union. I have to admit, that I’ve never had problems with them both. Not yet anyways…(knock on wood)…

By: Bernice

Bernice — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:47:27 +0000

Our FI, unfortunately, is Scotiabank. I say unfortunately because the ONLY thing that has kept us afloat is watching your show and working diligently to keep up. We both have good incomes, but our problem came when we decided to build our home back in 2005. We sold our previous home for a profit (no debt & money to spare). We asked our “so-called” mortgage specialist, as this was not our area of profession, if it was more beneficial to purchase the land with the money we had & borrow to build OR if it was better to borrow for the land and use the money in the bank to build. Well…the advice was (obviously we now know it was wrong) to purchase our land & borrow against it to build…BAD ADVICE for us, but has made the bank thousands in intrest. The problem?…with all the hold backs, etc. there was not enough money to get the house complete enough for the “2nd draw” of the mortgage…SO…they got us into their “Total Equity Plan” and there still wasn’t enough to finish due to the amount of the equity in the home (not much in an incomplete house)…SO, THEN…they were more than willing to offer a visa, & line of credit to “help” us get to where we needed to be for our final mortgage. As you noticed I said this all started in 2005…we are just now in a position to get a final, after having a private second as well. We realized going along that we were just getting in deeper, but this was our home and where would we live if we didn’t see it through? So, after the initial “help” from the bank of a line of credit & visa, then having to get outside help with a private 2nd, we decided to cut our losses and finish the house as we had the money, paying the “extra costs” we had incurred from listening to Scotiabank & slowly but surely finishing as we could afford it. We moved in…the two of us, our two children (5 & 8yrs.), and grandpa,in 2007 without a kitchen (tables for the counters, new laundry tub for a sink, microwave & Bar-B-Q) no trim, no siding, one bathroom. We have worked HARD over the last 2 years to be able to finally have this nightmare over and we now see the light at the end of the tunnel. We still have a lot of debt that we are working hard to pay down…but none the less we have hope for the first time in 5 years. One thing I should also mention is that 85% of the work was done by my husband (who is a good do-it-yourselfer, THANK GOODNESS!) and myself to help save money…I’d would hate to see where a couple/family would be, that had received the same advice, if they had to hire out more than the basement walls, framing, roof shingles, well, concrete floors (basement & garage) & installation of utilities.
One more example of Scotiabanks greed, and another reason to get finalcial advice from someone who doesn’t stand to gain at your expense. Hard lesson learned for us!

By: jolie

jolie — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:25:27 +0000

Thanks Stephanie and JJ

Ironically, I went to my Credit Union yesterday as that is where I keep the ’savings’ portion of my meagre world. I needed an appt for RRSPs. The confused teller, after getting my name wrong three times, booked me in for two that afternoon. I get there at two to have the RRSP agent annoyed that I wasn’t there at ONE for my meeting. I blinked, looked over the agent to the teller who i dealt with and said nicely “I wasn’t here at one because she booked my appointment for two”. The teller ducked her head and knew she’d messed up, but once in the agent’s office she mentions again that she had to reschedule things because I missed me appointment. I gently re-explain the error was not mine but the girl at the front. After saying that it is unlikely the girl made a mistake (meaning “I” did??) she goes to her computer appt book and we learn that the teller still had a mistake on my name. Rather a validation for me I thought. “Well she’s new”, the agent says.

All that to find out that my smaller local branch no longer writes up those policies and I have to go to the main branch to do so, and make yet another appointment to get there.

A wasted day; I got blamed for something not my fault. LOL Hopefully it goes better at the main branch today. BMO is looking better in comparison

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:23:49 +0000

On a completely other note….WHY will banks not take an overseas contact number? I was living overseas for three years. Kept calling collect to speak to the bank. Had to leave a canadian contact number even though I wasn’t really there. Ended up using my Mom as an answering service.

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:22:33 +0000

I am surprised by the number of people that are actually happy with their FI. I am happy if they don’t bug me. I have gone to a FA outside of a main stream bank because I wanted someone to work more flexible hours/schedule.

I don’t go into a branch – on line or ATM only for me. Which potentially is why I have had some issues with them. They don’t know me but I don’t know them either.

I have my mortgage with ING and will be opening some GIC’s and maybe a high interest savings account. Who knows, if it works really well I might make it my regular account.

Generally I find banks to be like your annual visit to the dentist – not enjoyable but suffer through anyway.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:42:05 +0000

Well my very first bank account was a CU, but I moved from BC to AB, and since there was not agreement between their credit unions, I had to switch to CIBC. They were good, I never was a high demand customer, but they started me off with a $650 overdraft line of credit. Since I was quite naieve, I usually ended up using that overdraft each month. I also ended up getting a credit card with them as well as a loan for a used truck. (The truck ended up being a lemon, but that’s my fault.) Then, I moved to Ontario. In an effort to simplify our finances, I moved to BMO, (my biyfriend had a bad experience with CIBC years ago) but since they have no agreement between them for funds transfer, I had to keep my CIBC account, take money from my BMO account, walk accross the street, and deposit in my CIBC account. A pain in the ass, but I haven’t missed payments. Now, I no longer have the CIBC Visa, but I have a BMO Mastercard and a student line of credit.

I find that I am happy with BMO in general because of the excellent customer service in one branch in specific, and especially with one advisor. Of the brick-and-mortar banks, they are tops. They are not perfect, their fees are outrageous, but the others very similar that way.

If I was certain that I was through moving around this country, I would consider moving to a CU, but then I would likely have to still deal with both BMO and CIBC separately for the loans I have with them, and that would not make anything simpler. The online-only banks, PC and ING etc., are tempting, too, but as well as that issue, I very much prefer to deal with my FI’s in person.

By: Stephanie H.

Stephanie H. — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:10:48 +0000

I have been working like crazy so I didn’t have a chance to post on the survey last week (not that I am complaining). I have been so unhappy with the service at my bank (WAMU before Chase) since it was taken over I am actually in the process of changing banks. I opened accounts at a credit union. When I went to close my savings account at Chase the bank manager mentioned he could believe how low the interest rate was on the account. As I have gotten away from brick and mortar banks I have been much happier. When I am done with the move I will have a checking and savings account at both ING (Long term savings and home expense/bill checking) and Navy Federal Credit Union (vehicle savings and everyday checking). It blow my mind that so many of you have to have accounts at the institution your mortgage is with just to pay the bill without a fee. I have all of my accounts electronically linked. As other have mentioned it is rediculous that there is a 2-3 float between when I transfer money from one account to when it shows up in the other. Especially since I can use my debit card or a check and it is already deducted from the account before I get home from the store.

By: anon

anon — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:49:50 +0000

The only suggestion I would add having dealt with CIBC on different and very frustrating issues to keep notes when getting a problem dealt with. Names, dates and times of conversations and brief note what was said. I ended up doing this for an issue which was effecting my credit, which I could not accept being co-owner of a small business (and principal gaurantor of all sources of credit for business). After almost months I gathered up my notes and saw the branch manager who happen to know the CIBC obudsman. He said my notes made his job much easier – especially since I had been turned away unceremoniously from the obudsman’s office a week prior. I made sure he knew my parents had both business and personal accounts with CIBC for over 50 years and myself combined about 40 AND I had my partner switch his accounts from RBC BUT we would not hesitate to move back to RBC. The issue was cleared up by the next day with paper proof I still keep to this day just in case. As the Dog Whisperer says…stay calm and assertive. Always cover your butt and keep good notes.

By: Sarah F.

Sarah F. — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:15:37 +0000

Last year TD offered the Quick Tax discount as well. I’ve always been happy with the service at my local branch so no complaints. My favourite part of it though is the convience.

By: AChin

AChin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:32:26 +0000

FYI You dont need a TD bank account to open a TD Series account. Go online to open an account or just download the paperwork, fill it out and mail it out.

By: JoanK

JoanK — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:58:23 +0000

Thanks for the info, Brenda and Melaniesd! I’ve learned from your responses. Gosh, there’s always a ‘catch’, isn’t there!?

I think that contacting Scotiabank corporate might be a good idea. I hear you Brenda, when you say the the only bank in town is Scotiabank. Maybe it’s time to make some noise!? How far away is the next Scotiabank branch?

I was handling investments for a senior family member at a small town BMO branch until I’d had ENOUGH! I contacted the main BMO branch in my city and ended up dealing with the investment manager who has provided superlative customer service. As someone else said, the service culture varies between branches as well as between banks.

Sorry….don’t mean to belabour this because it sounds as if you’ve exercised lots of options. I’m just empathetic and wish you a satisfactory solution!.

By: JJ

JJ — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:27:05 +0000

Jolie/Stephanie,

I too am with BMO and have been for 36 yrs. I find that sometimes it’s not the FI per se that’s the problem but rather finding a good branch with good customer service. I absolutely trust and value the service I get at my BMO branch only, and really only from 3 particular staff that have been there for years. When I have a problem or a question about my money, I only go to one of these three ladies. They have helped me tremendously with my mortgage issues (especially when I was out on strike), they have reversed charges even when the error(s) was mine, they have helped me out when I started to have credit problems when my husband was off work for a year…etc. After dealing with them for so many years they get to know my money habits and I really think that helps. They give me sound options and they encourage me to enjoy my money while still paying off any debt. They always return my call or e-mails immediately and alaways squeeze me in when I show up without an appointment. Anyhow, that’s my 2 cents about BMO and why I would be reluctant to change my FI. That being said, ING does offer a better interest rate on the TFSA !! I haven’t quite decided what to do.