Canadians! Please help - money question

[P&L@WDW]

Keep in mind that ATM/Debit cards are different in Canada than many other countries. They have a machine like a credit card machine that runs their debit accounts. It is not the same when you are running a foreign debit card. If you decide to use a foreign debit card (even if it is from just across the border), you have to run it as a credit card and it needs to be sponsored by a credit card. (You can tell by looking at your debit card to see if it has a credit card logo somewhere.) You should also keep in mind that while there are places that will accept cash from the US, they often rip you off on the exchange rate. It is usually cheaper just to use your card and pay it after your trip. I'm from the US, but live in Canada and if you haven't been to Canada before, it is really amazing how different Canada is... I hope you have a great trip and goodluck!

I'm actually not sure where you get this idea from; I can assure you this isn't accurate. Debit cards and credit cards are two very different things. Yes, they run on the same terminals, but the terminals run BOTH (well, technically up to four) systems. Debit cards run using the interact or plus systems, and credit cards run on the Cirrus or Visa systems.

OP, your debit card does NOT have to have a credit card logo on it - for your debit card to work, though, it does need to have the plus or interact symbol on the back. I have not run into any debit cards from the US, Europe, Australia or most of central America that do not have at least one of those marks. Just look at the back of your card.

 

[anricat]

Yes, that's the PIN. Your card will have instructions to either prompt for PIN or not. If you don't use it at home, it's possible it won't prompt for PIN, but if you have a chip, it's very prudent to know your PIN, just in case.

I have a PIN for my ATM, but I don't have one for my chip-enabled card that I'm going to be using. I guess I should call my credit card company before next week.

 

[Jillywilly143]

Am I reading this correctly that if I use my chip and pin card from the US, it will automatically convert the money via the exchange rate and pay the merchant in Canadian?

 

[anricat]

Am I reading this correctly that if I use my chip and pin card from the US, it will automatically convert the money via the exchange rate and pay the merchant in Canadian?

Correct, however, there may be a foreign transaction fee depending on your credit card.

 

[Jillywilly143]

Correct, however, there may be a foreign transaction fee depending on your credit card.

Thank you! My credit card has no foreign transaction fees, so I don't think I'll need cash.

 

[SunDevilFanAZ]

While not Canadian, we did go to Vancouver last month go four days.

Get some cash ahead of time but if you are only there for a day, get just a bit and use your credit card.

We stayed downtown right near Canada Place. Hit the Cactus Club Cafe on the water next to the Olympic torch. Fantastic meal and you will not be disappointed.

As for food, skip th ketchup chips. Our neighbors are from Saskatchewan and brought them for our boys. Can't describe them fully but way too tomatoey sweet.

Went to Tim Hortons just to check the box. Donuts were fine but have had better.

Poutine is good. Seriously what is wrong with gravy, fries and melted cheese curds. Never had a cheese curd before but it is gravy fries so you can't go wrong.

Stanley park is nice but I highly recommend Granville Island. Tons of fun. Bring an appetite for the public market. Waaaaayyyyy better than I would have thought and makes Pikes place look like a dump(which it kind of is)

 

[FigmentSpark]

I just double checked. If you have a chip, you need a PIN. OP, if you have a PIN for the ATM, you have a PIN, period. There aren't two different PINs. That one PIN authorizes the chip. But certainly phone your bank and make sure, because you don't want to be without.

One other thing to ask, since you're phoning. Does your card have an RFID chip for tapping? If so, there are plenty of places in Canada where people just tap and don't need their PINs. You should never need to provide a signature if your chip and PIN has been used. There is no such thing as chip and signature anywhere else in the world except the U.S.

 

[saxmangeoff]

Am I reading this correctly that if I use my chip and pin card from the US, it will automatically convert the money via the exchange rate and pay the merchant in Canadian?

Yes.

And remember to tell the bank you will be traveling to a foreign country!

 

[Mrs Green]

Yes, that's the PIN. Your card will have instructions to either prompt for PIN or not. If you don't use it at home, it's possible it won't prompt for PIN, but if you have a chip, it's very prudent to know your PIN, just in case.

Omg. I am going to need to be on the phone with my credit card company to ensure I understand this before we leave next week! Eek

 

[anricat]

I called my credit card company and set up a PIN. Sure glad I'm on the DIS. Thanks all! While I was at it, I let them know I'd be on vacation to ensure that my charges aren't denied.

 

[lizabu]

Our fast food restaurants have poutine if you don't have much time. I like the poutine from Wendy's. The one from McDonald's tastes a little like cardboard. They serve it in a cardboard container and maybe you can smell it which makes it taste like cardboard. The one at Costco is good. I would share it because it's big. They have a Montreal smoked meat sandwich which is good. Half a sandwich and half a poutine makes a good dinner. No one mentioned butter tarts or Nanaimo bars yet. I find Nanaimo bars too sweet but I grew up on butter tarts. We have a place near me that sells them dipped in chocolate. If you want easy souvineers to bring home we have certain kinds of chocolate not available in the USA but available everywhere here. There's coffee crisp and smarties. I'm not sure...do you have aero? There might be some others.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you want easy souvineers to bring home we have certain kinds of chocolate not available in the USA but available everywhere here.

But do NOT get tempted to take home a Kinderegg.

We've brought home a ton of opened Kinderegg surprises, and even the plastic egg, but the chocolate is in DS's belly LOL. The US banned Kindereggs back when, I can only assume, Kindereggs didn't have a huge nearly-impossible-to-open plastic thing inside of the thin chocolate, out of fear that US kids would choke on the surprise hidden inside. (note: we've only ever gotten paper prizes inside of the plastic egg)

 

[lizabu]

But do NOT get tempted to take home a Kinderegg.

We've brought home a ton of opened Kinderegg surprises, and even the plastic egg, but the chocolate is in DS's belly LOL. The US banned Kindereggs back when, I can only assume, Kindereggs didn't have a huge nearly-impossible-to-open plastic thing inside of the thin chocolate, out of fear that US kids would choke on the surprise hidden inside. (note: we've only ever gotten paper prizes inside of the plastic egg)

Sometimes you get plastic toys to put together and there are now Disney ones. A Disney princess themed egg and a cars themed one. They're illegal in the USA.

 

[bumbershoot]

The toys are not illegal. The whole intact egg is.

So enjoy them while in Canada.

Someday the U.S. will actually look at one and realize that one cannot take a bite of the egg and get a prize while doing so. Gotta open that gigantor plastic egg first.

That said, the chocolate is pretty bad. Ds likes them for the novelty and so that we can make fun of our home country while wishing we were Canadian, but they don't taste very good compared to other chocolate you can get there!



Funny, we found a U.S. manufactured thing that was very similar recently. The shell inside was even bigger but softer and way easier to open. We thought it was interesting, since it seemed like a stronger choking hazard (could bite in, manage to open the shell with your teeth, then inhale the toy into your mouth) than the kinder!

 

[xlxo]

Will taxi drivers expect Canadian dollars or be willing to take a credit card?

Before boarding.... let the driver now you plan to pay by card. If he claims the machine is broken.... get the next cab to save the embarrassment.

 

[LindyWebb]

As a proud Canuck girl I have to say a trip to Tim Hortons is a must. It's all about the coffee! There are lots of pastry choices, but you can't go wrong with a TimBit.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[TheGryphonsDen]

I'm actually not sure where you get this idea from; I can assure you this isn't accurate. Debit cards and credit cards are two very different things. Yes, they run on the same terminals, but the terminals run BOTH (well, technically up to four) systems. Debit cards run using the interact or plus systems, and credit cards run on the Cirrus or Visa systems.

OP, your debit card does NOT have to have a credit card logo on it - for your debit card to work, though, it does need to have the plus or interact symbol on the back. I have not run into any debit cards from the US, Europe, Australia or most of central America that do not have at least one of those marks. Just look at the back of your card.

Actually, I work in finance and I am originally from the US and had this exact problem. The US debit cards are not the same as Canadian debit cards at all. Interac does not work with US debit cards, only ATM's will withdraw money from a debit card that is strictly a US debit card. Most American banks have a credit card sponsor on the debit cards that will allow the money to come directly from the account, but it swipes as a charge in the Interac machines. I use both American and Canadian debit cards on a weekly basis... American banks do not use the Interac system.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

For some ridiculous reason I just assumed we could use american money while in Canada, I never even gave it a thought. Our first stop was burgers at A&W and it seemed like they didn't really know what to do with american money. We gave up and just use a credit card for all purchases while we were there.

 

[P&L@WDW]

Actually, I work in finance and I am originally from the US and had this exact problem. The US debit cards are not the same as Canadian debit cards at all. Interac does not work with US debit cards, only ATM's will withdraw money from a debit card that is strictly a US debit card. Most American banks have a credit card sponsor on the debit cards that will allow the money to come directly from the account, but it swipes as a charge in the Interac machines. I use both American and Canadian debit cards on a weekly basis... American banks do not use the Interac system.

I also work in finance, for one of the major banks in Canada - you are quite correct, Visa Cheque cards (as I believe they are called in the US?) are different than a debit card - a basic debit card will work as a debit at the machine; a visa cheque card will show as a charge, yes. However, to be able to use a debit machine here, the debit cards do not HAVE to be linked to a credit card system.

 

[2Bnºoºt2B]

Hmmm ....

• Nanaimo bars and Butter Tarts as others have mentioned - found in the bakery section
• Lays Ketchup Potato Chips, Hostess Hickory Sticks, Hawkins Cheezies, Ruffles All Dressed Chips
• Crush Cream Soda Pop
• Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwiches
• Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar (main ingredient is milk vs sugar in America)
• Canada Dry Ginger Ale
• Smarties (as opposed to M&M's)
• Timbits @ Tim Hortons
• Dare Maple Leaf cookies
• Cadbury Crispy Crunch Chocolate Bar ... or Eatmore Chocolate Bar (beware of peanuts!)

And probably quite a few more ...