Thinking about switching banks...

[bituerbo]

I've been with Scotiabank since I was 8yrs old, but lately have been receiving REALLY shitty customer service from them. Anytime I talk banks with friends/family they always seem very put off because I bank with Scotia. Do they have a bad rep?

Anybody have any horror stories about RBC or CIBC? Those are the two banks I'm thinking of switching to.

[skandalouz_08]

I've never had good service from any of the banks and all have tried to screw me on more than 1 occassion where i've had to complain until I got my money back or was compensated for the errors or mistakes they made. It might be good when you initially switch, but it always goes downhill from there.

For anyone reading this I've been with 4 banks over the past 6 years and work for one. I haven't been treated any differently than regular customers and experienced the same shitty customer service from all 4 banks I've been with.

[w_man]

+1 for RBC

[bg_27]

I have accts at RBC and TD, I prefer TD.

[Doozer]

I use CIBC, my wife uses TD. We've both been with them for long periods of time, and neither of us was interested in consolidating our accounts when we got married.

I can't say much about either one, because I avoid dealing with real people at the banks as much as possible. I do have to say though, that several times in the past few years (maybe once per year?) CIBC has called me and asked if I've been happy, and with suggestions to improve my account. In fact, I had my TFSA set up during one of these calls. :dunno:

[Critical]

Never heard anything bad about Scotia, but I don't know many people who have an account with them. Most people I know use TD (like me), CIBC and RBC.

One time I used a sketchy ATM at some restaraunt on Stephen Ave. and there was a withdrawl of $500 from Ontario the next day. They called me and did all the work and got my money back in a week.

[ExtraSlow]

I recently switched from ATB due to some shitty service and into RBC. So far I'm happy with them.

[Tarrantula]

I have had scotiabank my whole life. Saved me actually when I blew the motor in my 300z. On of the personal bankers got me a credit card for the amount i needed that same day.

[Super_Geo]

I have everything with TD (checking, visa, stock trading, mortgage). I find it's nice having everything under one roof cause you have a lot of leverage any time you run into issues.

A couple of weeks ago I didn't pay my credit card bill on a ~$4k statement, but mostly cause they shifted the due date to 16th when for the past 6+ statements the due date had been between the 21st-23rd.

I called TD Visa on the 22nd and said that I just paid the statement in full and didn't want to pay any interest or have it reflected poorly on my credit score, and they were being sketchy by changing the due date by so much (which I think is pretty legitimate). The guy who originally took the call said he couldn't do anything cause it was 'in the computers.' I asked to talk to his boss, and told him that if I saw any interest charges (it would've been ~$70) show up on my statement that I was going to move all my accounts away from TD, and when I did I was going to tell them that it was because of he told me he wouldn't waive $70 of interest.

He dropped the interest and thanked me for being with TD for so long.

[Ed the SOHC]

I would recommend those Internet banks like PC financial, ING direct, or Canadian Tire Financial. I'm with PC. Banking is virtually free. Free cheques. Free interac. ATM withdrawls are free at any cibc machine (which can be found at all 7-11 stores).

[MintRacer]

I had TD/RBC, ended up with a free PC checking account, and BMO accounts. Havn't had to bitch at anyone over at BMO over the past 7 years.

[aram1000]

Been with CIBC for 17 years, they're ok, but most banks are the same, unless you have lots of assets, they all pretty much treat you the same, GF was with RBC, she liked them, couple friends bank with TD, they like it, mostly, any of the big chartered banks are all the same IMO

[Trini]

only one issue with CIBC with my VISA but they sorted it out quickly, otherwise no issues.

I rarely go into the bank, on line banking the majority of the times.

[Cos]

td is great. Tried a few different accounts in parallel with TD and have always kept my TDCT open. Been with them since I was 8 (back when it was still td and canada trust).

I use my BMO airmiles card for purchases and pay it off but dont do anything except use it to get the free airmiles.

[yellowsnow]

TD because of the longer hours. saved me some trouble here and there because of that

[tylere]

If you can qualify, CIBC Imperial Service has been great to me. One person to deal with for any and all issues and she is always very responsive. It's nice have a direct person to call instead of some 1-800 number that's hit and miss.

[masoncgy]

I actually used to bank with TD... however, when I was younger I missed a couple of payments on my LOC. From that point on, they were absolutely a useless bank... even after many years had passed they refused to grant any requests for additional credit, overdraft protection, etc.

Frustrated, I walked across the parking lot to Scotiabank, and within minutes I was instantly approved for everything I wanted at TD, without any hassles, and I went back to TD, closed down every account, withdrew all of my savings, and have been banking with Scotiabank ever since.

So.. not sure what your beef is with Scotiabank, but I have nothing but praise for that bank! I get anything and everything I want from them, no questions asked.

[whodiman]

Originally posted by tylere
It's nice have a direct person to call instead of some 1-800 number that's hit and miss.

The most ironic thing about this is that CIBC was the first bank in Canada to introduce telephone banking and reroute all of their branch calls to the 1-800#. The only way you could get through to the branch is if you had somebody's direct #.

[Grogador]

Originally posted by Ed the SOHC
I would recommend those Internet banks like PC financial, ING direct, or Canadian Tire Financial. I'm with PC. Banking is virtually free. Free cheques. Free interac. ATM withdrawls are free at any cibc machine (which can be found at all 7-11 stores).

I am with Scotiabank and seriously considering going online-only. Which are you with? How is the phone service when you really need to yell at someone? How is the online portion, specifically any budgeting tools or CC spending breakdown? Do they export to Quicken or at least CSV?

[eblend]

I am with PC, have been for a while, have no problems, phone service is fast if you need something extra. I got like 3 savings, a chequeing, tfsa, low cost borrowing all under one account, works great to see all your assets/debts in one spot

[guessboi]

any one able to waive those crappy monthly bank fees.
I bank with rbc, called them today about not happy being charge a stupid 4 dollar fee each month and they won't waive it and basically told me to f* off.

Been with rbc for 19 years, great credit history - never miss a payment, pay off every month..., saving, chequing, visa, direct investment non reg, TFSA all with them.

:banghead:

[seadog]

I had the same thing. Parents were always with RBC so by default at age 5 I did too and it was free for kids. Then Canada Trust gave me $5 free to open an account, and it was free to so I went with them. I figure more accounts are better than none.

So I turned 19 and went on a pay by the transaction but no monthly fee with RBC I was thinking for emergencies, and TD waived all fees cause I had $5k.

Eventually these two accounts went dormant at RBC and they charged me $15 to reactivate them each, and then I said it was BS because you should alert people, then they said they tried but my address wasn't valid which is BS because my address had never changed ever up to that point. Then I asked what they could do for me in terms of reimbursement and goodies and account specials if I moved ~50k in cash and investments plus a high end CC to them. They said because of all that I could get a basic account for $4 a month, just like everyone else. Closed the accounts then and there.

TD is great if you have a bit of money. I keep 5k there and get free checks, free safety deposit, free platinum CC (something like 1.5% money back to use for travel - normally $120 a year) unlimited withdrawals outside of canada, free foreign exchange, free US account.... it goes on.

Also had a similar story about the CC. Last month I just forgot to pay it, paid it in full 3 days late and called them up, saying essentially I forgot but I'm a good customer, anything we can do? And no problems at all they fixed it on the spot.

[Grogador]

Originally posted by guessboi
Been with rbc for 19 years, great credit history - never miss a payment, pay off every month..., saving, chequing, visa, direct investment non reg, TFSA all with them.

They don't like you, deadbeat! You're costing them money, that $4/mo is probably all they can claw back... Try maxxing out all your CC's and overdrafting a few times, then you can ask for freebies.

[seadog]

I always thought that too, why would banks like a customer who pays his CC religiously, turns out they charge something like 3% to the vendor for every CC purchase. Apparently its more for reward cards. Thats why everywhere in Europe companies charge 3% or so extra for CCs. Thankfully that practice is illegal here.

[guessboi]

called RBC again to give them a second try.
All they said is our standard policy is to charge every customer the same fee and is not fair for others if they waive the fee for me.
fcukin BS company. I have 5k minimum all the time and u tell me this bs.
all banks can waive bank fees except RBC.
http://www.redflagdeals.com/deals/main.php/articles/chequing3/