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.
212 articles
// 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
// Credit cards
Credit Limit Increase: Capacity, Utilization and Risk
Compare the proposed limit with your income and usual balance before accepting a credit-limit increase.
2026-07-21
// Credit cards
Close a Credit Card: Protect Rewards and Credit History
Use rewards and credits, move recurring payments, then close the card while tracking the effect on your file.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Overdraft Protection: Fees, Interest and Alternatives
Compare the monthly or per-use fees and the interest on the overdraft with the available alternatives.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Non-Sufficient Funds Payment: Understand Fees on Both Sides
A returned payment costs on both sides: account fees and payee fees. Check the date the debit is presented.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Bank Draft or Certified Cheque for a Large Payment
Know whether the funds are withdrawn or set aside, and how the recipient will verify the payment’s authenticity.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Fraudulent Interac E-Transfer: Prevention and Next Steps
Choose a security question that does not reveal the answer and verify the recipient’s details separately.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Joint Account at Death: Access, Estate and Evidence
The agreement sets the holders’ rights, but the institution may freeze the account: prepare the required evidence.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Banking Power of Attorney: Authority, Limits and Oversight
Limit the power of attorney to expressly authorized transactions and document the grantor’s capacity at signing.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Inactive Bank Account: Find and Claim a Balance
Trace the last transaction and the notices sent, then claim the balance before it is transferred out of the institution.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Online Bank or Branch: Compare Based on Your Transactions
Compare based on the transactions you actually make each month, including your need for cash and advice.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Fintech Account: Verify Who Holds the Deposits
Identify the legal entity opening the account and the institution actually holding the funds before depositing.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Multiple Savings Accounts to Organize Goals
Assign a goal and date to each account, but watch for multiplied minimum balances and fees.
2026-07-21
// Banking
Cash Deposits: Choose an Account That Fits
If you deposit cash often, check which ATMs and branches are actually accessible before choosing the account.
2026-07-21
// Banking
U.S. Dollar Account: Measure Conversion and Fees
A U.S. dollar account pays when your income or expenses are actually in that currency: measure the buy-sell spread.
2026-07-21