Credit card debt advice

[ady 0]

Hoping I can get some advice from you guys. I've recently arrived in the US and I still have some Canadian credit card debt I'm trying to pay off. I've run out of funds from my Canadian chequing account...does anyone know of a way for me to still make payments? I've tried googling but to avail...I'm sure there are people out there in the same position as me? I don't think I can deposit money into my account from a US atm/bank...and I've tried using my American debit card to make payments but that's not working...

[carton025 38]

If you can get the credit card bill(s), you should be able to just write a check from a US bank and mail it to them along with the payment stub. I did this way back when when I was gett meds for my mom and dad from a canadian pharmacy because the meds were cheaper there than here in the US - that is, I wrote a check for the meds and mailed it to the canadian pharmacy, they cashed the check and mailed the meds to my mom and dad. No big deal.

[nightingalejules 678]

What bank are the cards on? TD, and RBC at least have equivalent banks in the US where you can open a US dollar account (even online if it's in a different area). You can transfer money from us to canadian accounts through those banks without additional fees. I don't know how easy it would be to set up from the US end, but then you could continue to feed money into a canadian account, then pay your credit card bill from that account.

[Ryan E 10]

If the credit card company will not accept payment in USD from a US bank (as suggested by carton025) then you can always make a wire transfer to your Canadian account. You'll probably need to visit your US bank and provide the information from your Canadian check (routing and account number) -- they will probably charge you $30-40 for the wire. An ACH transfer would be cheaper, you can typically link to US bank accounts fairly easily, I'm not sure about linking a Canadian bank account....

[ady 0]

My chequing account is with PC financial and the two credit cards is PC Mastercard and a CIBC visa.

I completely forgot that we can mail payments...got so caught up/used to doing online banking! After even more extensive research I found out I could use PayPal as well to transfer money from my two different accounts...mind you it's a tedious process that takes about a week to complete with 2 separate accounts... Going to try that out to see how it works.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

[Flames9_RN 358]

I have PC Financial...don't tell them you no longer live in the USA...as they will want you to close your chequing account!! When i first moved down in 2004 I told them that and they wanted to close it! Then a few yrs back, I was in Saskatoon and talking to a rep at their branch and slipped that I lived in the USA and he was ready to close it again!! I just changed thew addy to my parents

[Rob & Monika 87]

Paypal is another option. You will need to setup 2 accounts though since they will not let you have a Canadian bank account hooked to a US paypal account.

[Sylea 30]

I'm a banker with one of the big 3 in Canada - best options are to wire transfer money to your CAD chequing account (fast and secure) or mail a CAD dollar money order to VISA. If you have friends or family back in Canada, you could send them a cheque and ask them to deposit into your CAD bank account, but USD cheques generally have a hold of about 2-3 weeks to allow for clearing.

Paypal works, but it's fiddly and takes a few days.

I worked in Foreign Exchange for over 10 years, so know that wire transfers, while a bit costly, are the most efficient, quick and secure.

Best of luck - I'll be glad when I have your problem, it will mean I'm finally living with my husband!!! LOL

[Flames9_RN 358]

Customhouse....now Actually Western Union has a Pay a bill feature. Never used it, nor know the cost.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I personally sent my Dad $$$ and he made the deposit for me and then I could continue to pay online.

To the person who mentioned doing a ' CAD dollar money order' that may not be available - when I have done money orders at the USPS....they always refer to it a 'International money order' but its still in US funds. I don't think they do in CAD funds. It seems to all workout whenever I've sent them to CRA or anyone else to repay something.

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

I changed to TD, you can keep your canadian accounts, open an american account in the USA already in advance where you're going to live without setting foot in the branch, and see both of the accounts on the same screen. It's a bit of modest work to set up, but oh so simple when you do. You can transfer money at will over the phone up to $100k a day for free, pay your bills online, etc..

Edited February 14, 2014 by floridaboundcanuk

[Rob & Monika 87]

I changed to TD, you can keep your canadian accounts, open an american account in the USA already in advance where you're going to live without setting foot in the branch, and see both of the accounts on the same screen. It's a bit of modest work to set up, but oh so simple when you do. You can transfer money at will over the phone up to $100k a day for free, pay your bills online, etc..

Just don't let your account go below $100 or they charge you $14. We found that out after several months of not using it and the balance was negative.

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

Just don't let your account go below $100 or they charge you $14. We found that out after several months of not using it and the balance was negative.

Yeah, that's on the basic checking. I think it's $2500 on the advanced checking. My friend is a banker at TD and set everything up for me ;-)