How to Check Your Credit Score in Canada for Free
Equifax, TransUnion and the big five banks all give Canadians free access to a credit score or report. Here is where to look, what a good score is and how to correct mistakes.
Credit Card Guides & Comparisons
Practical, plain-English walkthroughs for choosing, comparing and getting the most from your credit cards in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia — updated as offers change.
Credit Card Travel Insurance in Canada: Coverage, Age and Day Limits
Canadian cards cover 10 to 25 days of emergency medical care under 65 but only 3 or 4 days at 65 or older. Compare published limits for seven cards and learn how to claim.
Credit Card Rental Car Insurance in Canada: Limits and Exclusions
Most Canadian travel and premium cards cover rental car damage and theft if you decline the counter waiver. Here are the 48-day and $65,000 or $85,000 MSRP limits and the exclusions.
How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge in Canada (and the US)
Unauthorized charge, missing order or refund that never came? Here is how disputes work with Canadian card issuers, how to escalate if you are refused, and how US rules compare.
How to Read a Credit Card Statement: US and Canada Examples
Statement balance, current balance, minimum payment, interest charged: here is what every line on your credit card statement means, with the US and Canadian rules that set it.
Credit Card vs Debit Card: Protection, Credit and When to Use Each
Debit spends your own money; credit borrows it. Here is how the two compare on credit building, fraud protection, disputes, holds and cost, under Canadian and US rules.
What Happens If You Miss a Credit Card Payment: A Day-by-Day Timeline
What a missed credit card payment costs and when: late fees, the lost grace period, the 30-day credit report mark and the 60-day penalty APR rule.
Credit Utilization Ratio: How It Is Calculated and What to Aim For
How credit utilization is calculated, what ratio to aim for, why your statement balance is what counts, and practical ways to lower it before you apply for credit.
How to Build Credit From Scratch: A 12-Month Plan
Starting with no credit history? Compare secured cards, credit builder loans and authorized user status, and follow a month-by-month plan to your first score.