Do you aspire to be a homeowner? There are many good reasons to buy a home. Obviously a home provides shelter and it’s generally considered a good long-term investment. With real estate price reaching the stratosphere in red-hot housing markets like Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, you may be wondering if now is a good time to purchase your first home. Buying a home is a costly and life-changing experience. Here are some factors to consider before jumping into the real estate market.
Credit card fraud today is more prevalent than ever before. Credit card issuers and fraudsters seem to be playing a never-ending game of cat and mouse. Whenever credit card security is improved, fraudsters find a way around it.
A recent news story in Calgary provides a good wakeup call with just how sophisticated credit card fraud has become. It’s important for cardholders to take the necessary precautions to avoid becoming the next victim of fraud.
Supreme Court – Ottawa, Canada
Are you clueless when it comes to your credit card fees? You’re not alone. In our hectic lives, it’s can be hard to find time to read the fine print of your credit card agreement. A recent court ruling highlights the importance of reviewing your agreement. The Supreme Court restored a ruling against some of Canada’s biggest banks over credit card fees. Let’s take a closer look at the ruling and why It’s important for cardholders to review their agreement.
With the loonie falling below 90 cents, cross border shopping is a lot less attractive. But a higher Canadian dollar isn’t bad news for everyone; the long-ailing manufacturing sector is one of the main benefactors. Let’s take a closer look at the situation and some of the advantages and disadvantages of a weaker Canadian dollar.
Photo via flickr Adam Galloway CC BY-SA 2.0
Cross-border shopping at Costco just got more complicated. News recently broke that negotiations between AmEx and Costco broke down, putting an end to a longstanding agreement between the two. Starting January 1, 2015, the only credit card available to Costco shoppers will be MasterCard. Costco has entered into a new partnership with MasterCard and its Capital One card.
Costco customers will have to use a new credit card next year. The wholesaler failed to come to a new agreement with American Express. Costco shoppers will be able to use AmEx at its stores until December 31st – after that AmEx cards will no longer be accepted. With 88 stores across Canada, Costco is one of the country’s largest retailers. The negotiation breakdown comes as a blow to AmEx, who just recently launched two cash-back credit cards.
