Can we use visa/master credit cards in Canada?

Parent Cafe
41

When we were in Canada in September, we got a better exchange rate by charging purchases with our CC. When we used the ATM, we were charged less for Canadian money than we paid with US money.

Yes, the chip in the photo is the chip they are talking about. I asked AmEx Costco to send me a chip AmEx and they did. I can use either the magenetic stripe or the chip, depending on what the cashier has equipment to read. I have used it each way and had no problems.

Yes, most US CC companies will issue chip cards no later than Oct or face penalties. Merchants are slowly getting the termials so they can read the chips.

42

Thanks. I have picked up some knowledge today.

43

This is interesting to me, too. I have a kid planning a trip to Canada sometime in the near future with friends. We haven’t been there in 23 years! We enjoyed Toronto. Is there any difference between credit and debit cards in this situation? H and I have talked about taking that trip again. Niagara Falls was really gorgeous. We didn’t need passports back then.

44

We were in NIagra Falls Canada, as well as Ontario this past September. Our credit cards with plain magnetic strips and those with chip and signature were accepted just fine, as was our magnetic strip debit card in the ATM. Never had problems with regular mag strip CCards in Canada in prior trips there either. BIL only had mag strip CCards and no problems on our trip.

45

In Niagra Fall, which side is “prettier”? The Canadian side or the US side?

Also, for Americans to tour Toronto, do they usually change their US dollars to Canadian dollars before the trip? Or change it to Canadian dollars at the departure airport in US or at the destination airport in Toronto?

BTW, I actually do not know whether the purpose of his and his friend’s trip is for vacation only. We follow the “don’t tell and don’t ask” philosophy here.

46

Canadian currency can be gotten from an ATM; there are ATMs in the Toronto Pearson airport and in the city. Travelers should verify with the bank issuing the ATM card that it will work in Canada and what kind of fees there are. Of course, credit cards may also be used to purchase many things.

47

“In Niagra Fall, which side is “prettier”? The Canadian side or the US side?”

Our good friends just returned from this trip and said definitely the Canadian side!

48

Yes, the reason we stayed on the Canadian side was that we were told it was prettier and less commercialized. After a week there, we were convinced of it.

49

The view of the falls is dramatically better viewed from Canada! It’s not even a close difference.

50

Somebody told me that there are some stores called shopping outlets near the Canada-US border (but they are located on the US side.)

I am curious about what they are. This is what I have found from the Internet:

(Our seniors are said to go across the border to buy cheaper medicine. It seems Canadians may also come here to buy goods! This reminds me that Washington state residents near the border of Washington State-Oregon State will often go across the border (i.e., Columbia River) to shop, except that it is not so easy for Washington State to collect the sale taxes - except for big ticket items like a car. This is because Washington does not have the state income tax but has the sales tax, while Oregon does not have the sales tax but has the state income tax. In the case of Canada vs US, the former is a more socialist country while the latter is a more capitalist country, I guess. When these two interact with each other so closely, there must be some strange phenomenon.)

"A shipping outlet basically acts as a receiver of goods for Canadians who want to buy American items for a cheaper price but don’t have an American address to get the items shipped to.

They are usually small offices strategically located close to the Canadian/US border, making it easy for Canadians to pick up their goods without having to drive too far south into the US. They became popular with the rise of the Canadian dollar and although the dollar has gone down, it still might be cheaper to have goods shipped to a shipping outlet and pick them up yourself.

How It Works

The buyer uses the shipping outlet’s address when buying goods online (rather than their own Canadian address) and pays a fee when the item is picked up.

Most shipping outlets charge a flat fee for the items – regardless of size or weight. In my case, there is a shipping outlet 15 minutes south of the border that charges a flat fee of $4 for every item, regardless of the value/weight/dimensions. I have seen someone get a washer & dryer shipped there and pay only $8 ($4 per item). Shipping the item to Canada would likely have been hundreds of dollars.

If the buyer is simply going across the border to pick up an item and then heading back right away, they will likely have to pay duties at the border. In my experience this has been hit and miss – items that are valued at $100 or less usually aren’t charged duties, but items that are higher value usually are. If you spend 48 hours or more south of the border you are currently allowed to bring back $800 of goods duty-free (per person).

How to Save Money Using a Shipping Outlet

I bought a pair of runners on eBay from an American seller who only ships to American addresses. I used the shipping outlet address and picked up the shoes 2 weeks later when I was in the area on a shopping trip.

I paid a total of $112 CDN for the runners ($108 for the runners, $4 for the outlet pickup and free shipping). The same runners sell at a major retailer in Canada for $208.95 ($199 + 5% GST). Since I had been in the United States for more than 48 hours, my personal spending limit was $800 and was not a factor. If I had been in the US for less than 48 hours I would’ve had to pay duties on the shoes. Overall I saved 54% on my shoes."

51

mcat, what you’ve described above from comments you’ve found online is a shipping outlet, not a shopping outlet. This is for Canadians who want to purchase something in the U.S. from a company who does not ship to Canada (most do ship to Canada now). This won’t even work for all such companies because for some your billing address has to be the same as the shipping address. And, of course, you would still (as a Canadian resident) be subject to the same duties and taxes that you would if you had had an item shipped from the U.S.

If what you’re looking for are shopping ‘outlets’ or outlet malls, you can find those just about anywhere these days, on both sides of the border! :slight_smile:

52

I used to buy a lot of my kids’ winter clothing in Montreal. We would go there in Aug as a food and shopping weekend. I remember to be able to get sales tax back, plus favorable exchange rate, made shopping a worth while trip.

53

As to calling your card issuer to let them know you are traveling:

We did this before we left for Germany. DH called Citibank (Mastercard) and informed them of all the places we were going to be traveling to, as well as the dates.

When checking out of our first hotel in Berlin, our card was declined. DH called to ask why. “Well, this charge looked suspicious as it was made in Berlin, Germany.” DH: “yes, I called a couple of days ago and told you all that.” CB: “Oh, we have no record of that. Where will you be traveling, and what are the dates.” DH: “Sigh. Okay, we are going to be traveling to…blah blah…” CB: Okay, sir, I will note that and free up your card."

A few days later, checking out of our hotel in Salzburg, Austria, our card was declined. DH was very annoyed. He calls Citibank. “I’m sorry, sir, but this transaction looked suspicious because it occurred in Austria, and it’s way over your limit.” DH: “Really? I called a couple of days ago and informed you we’d be in Austria. And what do you mean we are over our limit? What is our limit?” CB:“Well, sir, it says here your limit is $1.” DH: “Are you joking? My limit is $1?!” CB: “Oh, you are right, that can’t be correct.” Twenty minutes later, the card is accepted, the limit is increased to our normal, and we go on our way.

NOT kidding when I say that a few days later, when checking out of our hotel in Munich, our card was declined. I thought my normally patient DH was going to blow a gasket. He got all red in the face, and just really let the CB rep have it. Again, they claimed to know nothing about our travels.

That had to be one of the more frustrating things we’ve ever experienced while traveling. It had never happened to us before like that.

54

Of course they call your house phone to verify if the transaction was legit and they cut it off when they can’t reach you. It is one of the reasons I love AmEx. There is no pre-set limit.

55

With my Chase Marriott visa, there is no such nonsense - I enter my itinerary online. Amex actually remembers your travel patterns.

56

I called Amex one time to tell them I was going to Europe, and they said, “no need, ma’am.” That struck me as strange. I don’t normally travel to Europe. But it sure beats going through that total baloney inflicted on us during our recent trip.

57

You’d think that their fraud detection methods would be able to recognize common travel patterns like airline ticket, hotel some place with charges at nearby merchants, rental car / taxi / public transit in the area, etc…

58

You mean machine learning? :slight_smile:

59

I also have a Chase Marriott, with a chip-- they’re happy to have you travel worldwide (and stay in their hotels.)

I can barely believe all this fuss n muss is about Canada. If he runs into a problem with an ATM or such, he walks into a bank and talks to them. He uses his cell to call his own card company. He asks his friend for advice.

About 5 years ago, we did have ATM issues in Montreal. Three feet of snow (that was amazing) and we walked to the nearest bank, which wasn’t on our network. That was then. D2 has recently used her card in Toronto.

Sometimes, we gain more by letting our grown or nearly grown kids explore on their own. I used to worry about D1 in even Boston. Then she lived abroad with little English, booked her own trip to Africa. It can be delightful when they surprise us with their ability to manage without us fussing. And they feel the respect.

60

@Nrdsb4, Your experience made me wondering whether I should get a Amex card. An Amex card would be useful at Costco as well.

I used to be forced to have an Amex card by my (previus) company for business trip expense purpose.

@lookingforward, I think I mostly use this opportunity to pick up some knowledge for myself. I am quite curious about the country to the north myself. My child really does not need my help - his friend, being from there and traveling with him, will definitely be more helpful than me when needed.