Understand before you sign
Explanations of the rates, fees and contracts behind financial products offered in Quebec, written to be read before an appointment, not after.
26 articles · Credit cards
// Credit cards
Compare a Credit Card Beyond the Reward Rate
Weigh the reward rate against your spending that actually qualifies, then subtract annual fees, interest and foreign-exchange costs.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Annual Fees: Calculate a Card's Break-Even Point
Divide the annual fee by the reward-rate gap to find the minimum spending that makes the card worthwhile.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Cash Back: Gross Value, Caps and Categories
Calculate net cash back after annual fees, then apply the caps and rates for each spending category.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Travel Points: Estimate Realistic Value Before Choosing
Estimate a point’s value from your actual bookings rather than the headline value advertised by the issuer.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Balance Transfers: Read the Promotional Period and Fees
Add the transfer fee to the balance and note when the promotional rate ends before moving a balance.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Low-Rate Credit Cards: Who May Benefit
A low-rate card pays off mainly when you carry a balance: compare the rate difference with the annual fee required.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Secured Cards: Rebuild Credit Without Repeated Applications
Check the required deposit, its refund conditions and the reporting to credit bureaus before choosing a secured card.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Minimum Payments: Why Repayment Can Take So Long
The minimum-payment formula mostly covers interest: calculate the real repayment timeline before settling for it.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Cash Advances: Immediate Interest and Fees to Watch
A cash advance accrues interest from day one and adds fixed fees: price the cost before withdrawing.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Credit Card Insurance: Check Exclusions, Duration and Eligibility
Read who is eligible, the maximum duration and the exclusions before relying on the insurance included with a card.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Additional Cards: Liability and Family Budget Tracking
The primary cardholder answers for every purchase: set limits and tracking before issuing an additional card.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Credit Utilization: Protect Your File Without a Magic Number
Watch the balances reported on statement dates rather than a magic percentage to protect your credit file.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Credit Card Grace Period: When Interest Starts
The interest-free period applies to purchases and holds only if the statement balance is paid in full.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Foreign Currency Conversion Fees on a Card
Find the percentage added to the network’s exchange rate: it applies to every foreign-currency purchase.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Dynamic Currency Conversion: Choose the Billing Currency
Decline the conversion offered at the terminal when its rate exceeds your card’s, and pay in local currency.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Dispute a Transaction and Request a Chargeback
Document the transaction and your resolution attempt with the merchant, then meet the issuer’s deadline.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Recurring Payments After Replacing a Card
List the merchants that charge automatically and confirm each transfer after the card is replaced.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Mobile Wallets: Security, Tokens and Liability
A mobile wallet replaces the number with a token and requires authentication: check who is liable in case of fraud.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Points Devaluation: Limit the Risk of Accumulating Rewards
Record the current conversion rule and the notice allowed before changes: long accumulation raises devaluation risk.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Welcome Bonus: Measure the Required Spending
Check whether your usual spending reaches the bonus threshold without prompting extra purchases.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Reward Flight: Add Taxes, Fees and Surcharges
Add the taxes, fees and cash surcharges to the points required to know the flight’s true price.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Merchant Categories: Why a Reward Rate Can Differ
A merchant category code can change the reward rate. Compare the agreement with the result shown on your statement.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Card Instalment Plan: Compare Fees and Interest
Convert the plan’s fixed fees into an annual cost and check whether the balance is separated from the minimum payment.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Credit Card Balance Insurance: Cost, Eligibility and Exclusions
The premium is calculated on the monthly balance: read the eligible events and people before adding this insurance.
2026-07-21