|
信用卡是一大发明，但如果使用不当，会令消费者陷入困境。高利息与手续费可以为不谨慎的信用卡持有者带来极大灾难。消费者还会发现，信用卡并不一定提供自己所想要的优惠，例如奖励里数或旅行保险之类。幸运的是，加拿大的信用卡市场竞争激烈，因而消费者可以货比三家，选择适合自己需要的。 以下是有关信用卡的10项须知： 1.如何选择 第一步是比较各种信用卡特点，找出最适合自己需要的。阁下是否学生?你是否需要奖励免费杂货或汽油的信用卡?是否需要以美元计算的信用卡?加拿大金融消费者服务局(The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada，简称FCAC)帮助阁下缩减选择范围，以比较年费、利息、最低还款额及宽限期等。 2.最佳旅行奖励里数信用卡 与旅行奖励里数联繫的信用卡是最受欢迎忠臣里数累积信用卡的种类之一。Rewards Canada检讨了在加拿大销售的逾60种旅行奖励里数信用卡之后，选出一些最佳的信用卡。而且，还提供大约20种旅行奖励里数信用卡的比较资料。 3.瞭解服务费 对账单上所显示的服务费有所瞭解极为重要。加拿大金融消费者服务局在这方面有详尽解释，对不同信用卡作了比较。 4.什么称为宽限期(grace period)? 持信用卡最近一次购物时是否有免除利息期?部分信用卡公司对持卡人士最近一次购物并不提供免息期，除非消费者在截至期限之前全部付清本月与以前的余额。(换言之，若消费者的信用卡上有未付清的余额，便会受到惩罚)。FCAC详细解释了利息计算的两种方式。 5.在截止期前还款 如果希望避免追加利息，不要等到截止期到来时才还款。信用卡公司有时将还款截止期设定在周日或法定假日。在这类截止期还款意味要等到次日才会在消费者的账户上计入还款。不仅是消费者需要支付当月的利息，而且不得不再多等一个月，恢復最后一次购物的免息期。 6.不要错过还款 如果错过几次最低还款机会利息将十分之高。这是因为当事人会被视作经常拖欠债务。 信用卡协议上指出，若信用卡持有人连续两个月迟付最低金额，或1年之中有两次这类行为，将面临年息25厘，甚至更高。 7.比最低还款限度还更多金额 如果消费者只偿还信用卡账单上的最低金额，实际上为所购买的商品或服务支付双倍价格。假设某人在信用卡上欠款为1,000元，年利息18厘，若只还最低金额(3%或每月30元)，此人需要经过10年才能还清全部债务，总共支付1,798.89元。这数字听起来令人毛骨悚然。 8.附属细则 金融服务机构可能有权从客户银行账户上提取现金支付拖欠的信用卡款项。这一称作“抵消权力”(the right to offset)的条款可出现在许多信用卡合约中。以下是如何避免这类麻烦的办法：在不同金融服务机构获取信用卡与银行账户。 9.信用卡保险 信用卡保险供款额可能会很高，但保险范围只是包括最少每月还款部分，并非全部欠款余额。信用卡公司通常为客户提供几个月的免费保险，除非客户取消信用卡，否则将需要永远支付这笔保险费用。应仔细检查账单，确保自己不是过高信用卡保险供款计划的受害者。 10.在海外使用信用卡的手续费 当消费者在加国以外地区使用信用卡时，应仔细查看各类手续费。 许多信用卡公司收取外币兑换费，除匯率之外，另加转账金额的2%至3%。鑑于匯率每日的波动，若消费者向外国商家退货并索取退款，可能会损失金钱。这是因为与最初购物时的转账日子相比，退款日子的匯率有所不同。 网友十二少：5大银行信用卡比较
致谢：网友十二少，总结的五大银行的信用卡特点。原文请点击这里。 把5大银行的信用卡产品做了一个比较，贴出来和大家SHARE一下。 信用卡按针对客户群分类，可分如下几类 一、经常出差、旅游想用卡积累里程的用户 ScotiaGold Passport $110 annual fee/$30 additional card fee $1=1 point Interest rate 19.5% 5% cash back on travel purchase Reward options: merchandise, investment, travel purchase *Scotia还有一种no-fee ScotiaGold VISA可以选择 RBC VISA Gold preferred $110 annual fee/$40 additional card fee $1=1 point no cash back on travel purchase Reward options: merchandise, investment, travel purchase insurance coverage TD First Class Travel Infinite $120 annual fee/$50 additional card fee $1=3 points purchases $1=9 points on travel purchases with TD no cash back on travel purchase Reward options: travel purchases redemption in 10,000 points increments Limited insurance coverage
CIBC AeroGold $120 annual fee/$50 additional card fee $1=1 mile $1=1.5mile on gas, drug stores and grocery no cash back on travel purchase 15,000 points for short haul flights Reward options: merchandise, investment, travel purchases BMO Mosaik Air Mile MC $90 annual fee/$15 additional card fee $15=1 Air Mile Cash back available for a fee Travel Restrictions: Round trip only, Saturday stay over, Advance booking Limited insurance coverage 二、Cash back即返现金的信用卡 Scotia Momentum VISA $39 annual fee/$15 additional card fee 2% Cash back on gas, groceries, drug stores and recurring payments; 1% cash back on other purchases Interest rate 19.99% No min spend/Maximum 25,000 at 2% Purchase Security Extended Warranty Protection *Scotia还有一种no-fee Scotia Moneyback VISA可以选择 RBC RBC没有cash back card TD Gold Elite VISA $99 annual fee/$39 additional card fee 1% cash back on purchases No min spend Purchase Security Extended Warranty Protection Lost luggage and Rental car Budget Rent a car Preferred rate CIBC Platinum Dividend $79 annual fee/$30 additional card fee Up to 2% cash back on purchases Must spend $35,000 to earn 2% Maximum $50,000 spend Purchase Security Extended Warranty Protection Travel Medical Ins/Rental car discount BMO Mosaik Premium $49 annual fee/No additional card fee 3% cash back at Shell gas stations 1% cash back on purchases elsewhere 3% cash back capped at 2,500/mth Purchase Security Extended Warranty Protection Lost luggage and Rental car *除了5大银行外，其它FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS也有类似的CASH BACK 信用卡发布，比如AMERICAN EXPRESS, MBNA 三、Low Rate即低利率的信用卡（个人认为华人或许并不看重这一Feature,但是对很多Local people，他们把信用卡当小额短期贷款，这个低利率可是很重要的） Scotia Value VISA $29 annual fee/No supplementary card fee Interest rate 11.49% Up to 20% discount at AVIS Rental car *Scotia还有一种no-fee Scotia Value VISA可以选择 RBC Classic Low Rate VISA $20 annual fee/No additional card fee Interest rate 11.9% Purchase Security Extended Warranty Protection TD Emerald VISA $25 annual fee/No additional card fee TD prime+1.9% to 6.9% Budget Rent a car Preferred rate CIBC Select VISA $29 annual fee/No additional card fee(max 3) Interest rate 11.5% 100,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance 20% discount at AVIS Rental car BMO Low Rate Plan $35 annual fee/No additional card fee Interest rate 11.9% Air miles:$40=1 Air mile or 1.5% cash back Shell Gas 0.5% all others Purchase Security Extended Warranty Protection 四、适合学生的信用卡 Scotia L’earn VISA No annual fee Interest rate 18.59% Cash back 1%: first $500 0.25%, next $500 0.5%, then 1% Up to 20% discount at AVIS Rental car RBC Classic II Student VISA $15 annual fee Interest rate 19.5% Purchase Security Rewards program $1=1point
Thrifty Rental car discount Extended Warranty Protection TD Rebate Rewards VISA No annual fee Interest rate 19.75% Cash back: first $3000 0.5%, over $3000 1% Budget Rent a car Preferred rate CIBC Classic Student VISA No annual fee Interest rate 18.5% Purchase Security Extended Warranty Protection 100,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance 20% discount at AVIS Rental car BMO Student Mosaik MC No annual fee Interest rate 19.5% $40 Purchases=1 reward mile or
BMO Student Cash Back MC: 0.5% cash back, 1.5% cash back at Shell Gas Stations 五、其它 各大银行会推出有自己特色的信用卡，比如SCOTIABANK 的 SCENE VISA, 使用信用累积积分可以换电影票。NO-FEE, INTEREST RATE 19.5%, 很适合喜欢电影的朋友。 (责任编辑：无忧雅思) |