Scotiabank: Fee Changes for Personal Bank Accounts

Deal Link: http://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/files/16/12/1460110_Poster_(12-16).pdf

Scotiabank will increase their monthly account fee for Personal Bank Accounts, effective March 1, 2017. The Minimum Daily Closing Balance to waive monthly fee will be increased too.

BMO is the first. Scotiabank is the second. Who will be the next one?

KnowRoaming: Free WhatsApp Usage

Deal Link: https://www.knowroaming.com/

KnowRoaming is a Toronto-based technology company that provides complete connectivity solutions around the world. With KnowRoaming SIM, you can get unlimited data in 90+ countries with USD $7.99/day, and data roaming in 200+ countries. You can see the detailed rates at:
https://www.knowroaming.com/#rates

Each KnowRoaming SIM Sticker and SIM Card comes with a free US and UK number. Both numbers can be used to send and receive calls while abroad. Text messages can be sent and received using your free UK number only.

KnowRoaming’s prepaid platform puts you in control of your spending. Before using KnowRoaming voice, text, or data services you will need to load credit to your account through the KnowRoaming app. You have the option to load credit in the amounts of $25, $50, $75, $100, and $150 using your credit card. (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted.) Following payment through the app, you’ll receive an email receipt. Since all services are prepaid, you will never be surprised by a bill after you return from your trip.

There is also an optional auto-reload feature, which automatically tops up your KnowRoaming credit when your balance drops below $5. This ensures that calls and data sessions do not drop part-way through as a result of a $0 account balance. With auto-reload, your credit card is debited just as if you were making a manual purchase, but without having to go through the shopping cart and approval process.

Any credit remaining in your KnowRoaming account after one trip can always be used on your next trip to any of the 200+ countries where KnowRoaming offers rates. Any unused credit on your account will expire after 15 months of inactivity. Only prepaid credit expires after the 15 month period. The Global SIM Sticker and Global SIM Card itself does not expire.

One great thing: All WhatsApp usage is free on KnowRoaming products everywhere (including calls, phone/video messaging, texting, video calling). Please keep in mind that while WhatsApp does not require credit, other apps that pull data will use credit. This is good for children usage. All you need to pay is the SIM price at the beginning.

I bought one KnowRoaming SIM (Free Shipping to Canada). After you installed your App, you can use the SN# at the back of your SIM to link it with your KnowRoaming account. You also need to set up your roaming data connection based on the guide: https://www.knowroaming.com/simmanual.pdf

I tested the Free WhatsApp with my backup phone, and it works very well. The Global SIM is USD $9.99. If you are interested in it, you can use our referral code "BOYA64" to buy it. With our code, you can receive 30% discount on your purchase, and both of us will receive $5 in credit. Thanks.

After that, if you share your experience to Facebook, you can get an extra $5 in credit. Basically, you pay USD $7 (plus tax) for the SIM, but you can get USD $10 with our referral code. Pretty good deal for new clients.

Updated on Feb 19, 2018: Just got an email from KnowRoaming: "In order to continue offering our bonus WhatsApp promotion to our growing customer base, we have updated the eligibility requirements. This promotion is designed as a bonus for active customers using KnowRoaming services and will no longer be available for customers who have not loaded credit onto their account. In order to qualify for this promotion, you can simply load credit onto your account in the KnowRoaming app by selecting “Tap to Reload” and following the prompts. Once you have loaded credit onto your account, this promotion will automatically reactivate within 48 hours.  Following this, you will be able to enjoy 30 days of free bonus WhatsApp usage each time you load credit."

Air Miles Shops: 10X Miles

Deal Link: http://www.airmilesshops.ca/shops/airmilesshops/Home
Expiry: Jan 5, 2017

You can earn 10X Air Miles at airmilesshops.ca until Dec 29, 2016 (now Jan 5, 2017). This is about 5% cash back.

Actually, I think you can use this 10X Air Miles to buy Esso Gift Cards from ebay.ca as follows (totally around 10% saving + your credit card earning):

Just FYI: if you haven't used airmilesshops.ca within the past 12 months, you can click the following our referral link and input your Air Miles #. Then, you can get 5 bonus Air Miles for every $50 you spend within the first 90 days of accepting the referral. We will get some bonus miles from Air Miles too. Thanks. The referral link is:
http://bit.ly/2gE2SUT

Fido: Get a $120 credit when you activate with your own phone

Deal Link: http://www.fido.ca/consumer/promotions
Expiry: Dec 31, 2016

This offer is available to customers who bring in an unlocked phone with new activation of Fido service. A $10 credit will be applied on or before your third invoice forward following the activation for 12 consecutive months (account must remain active).

Offer available until December 31, 2016; subject to change without notice. A one-time $15 Transaction Fee applies for the processing of your phone activation.

Fuel up at Esso with AmEx and earn a $7 credit (Expired)

Deal Link: https://merchantgeo.secure.force.com/enroll/EnrollmentSitePage?offer=754352016SynergyFuelsSocial&language=en-us
Expiry: Jan 13, 2017 (OR the first 15,000)

Celebrate the launch of NEW Esso Synergy Gasoline with 7 key ingredients to fuel your car. You could earn a $7 statement credit when you make a purchase of $25 or more (after taxes) at Esso stations!

Register your eligible American Express Card from December 22, 2016 to January 13, 2017.  Once registered, make a purchase of $25 or more (after taxes) in a single transaction at an Esso station between December 22, 2016 and January 13, 2017 and you could earn a $7 statement credit. Your eligible Card must be registered in advance of making a purchase in order for the purchase to be eligible for this offer.

To take advantage of this offer, follow these 3 simple steps:
1. Register
Register your eligible American Express Card between December 22, 2016 and January 13, 2017 by following the instructions on this page. Only the first 15,000 Canadian American Express Consumer and Small Business Cardmembers to successfully register will be eligible for this offer.

2. Spend
Spend at an Esso station between December 22, 2016 and January 13, 2017 using your registered American Express Card to make a single purchase of $25 or more (after taxes).

3.  Enjoy
Enjoy a $7 statement credit - limit of one (1) statement credit per Registered Card.
The statement credit will be applied to the Basic American Express Cardmember’s account.

I already registered 5 of my AmEx cards. Once registered, you will get a confirmation email from American Express Network. From my points of view, it is legit and safe enough...

But, please think it carefully and make your own decision...

【Updated on Dec 23, 2016】
I get this same offer from AmEx App as well, which goes to the same force.com link. So this is legit for sure.

Meridian Visa Cards in 2017

Deal Link: https://www.meridiancu.ca/Personal/Credit-Cards.aspx

Meridian Credit Union will be offering a new family of credit cards in early 2017 with the first year free. Whatever your personal or business needs, Meridian will have a Visa credit card to suit you. Options to choose from include travel, cash back, merchandise, entertainment rewards and more. I am interested to see the (up to) 4% cash back feature...

TD: Get $5 the first time you pay with Interac Flash (Targeted)

Expiry: Jan 19, 2017

TD Access Card now has the function of Interac Flash. Some TD customers got an offer from TD: if they use the Interac Flash with their TD Access Card before Jan 19, 2017, they can get $5. This is a targeted offer. You can check your email for it. Different people may get different offer. The TD offer I received is: Save on interest – 0.99% for 6 months on balance transfers.

SPG Double Take (Targeted)

Expiry: Apr 15, 2017

Please check your SPG linked email, you may find a promotion about SPG Double Take (online registration is required). With this offer, you can earn double Starpoints on your first three stays between January 16 and April 15, 2017. Offer is valid at all hotels and resorts in the SPG program.

Plus, you’ll get an additional invitation-only offer. My exclusive bonus offer is as follows:

Credit Card Small Balance Adjustment

Do you know that some Canadian banks may waive your credit card bill if it is a very small balance (just like some US banks, maybe < $0.99)? The above pic is from Chase Sears MasterCard (which is belong to Scotiabank, but its system may still from Chase). It shows that there is a -$0.15 transaction on the statement, named "SMALL BALANCE ADJ".

I think this is useful on some no-annual-fee credit cards which you are planning on keeping forever (but not being used frequently). You can add them to your Amazon account and buy $0.99 e-Gift Card for yourself each month. FYI, the minimum amount allowed is $0.15.

This is also useful to those daily credit cards (if they allow this small balance adjustment). You can pay their balance before the statement date and leave a $0.99 balance on it. This can also help your credit score as it optimize your credit utilization ratio.

The main question now is how many credit cards have this "Small Balance Adjustment" function? I will try a few of my credit cards and update this post in the next month. If you have any related information, please comment below. Thanks.

Aeroplan: Share your travel story for 250 miles

Deal Link: http://blog.aeroplan.com/share-your-travel-story/

For a limited time, you can earn 250 miles when you share your Aeroplan travel story with Aimia Canada (Aeroplan). The story doesn't need to be very long (less than 100 words is fine)

Note: Aimia Canada Inc. (“Aeroplan”), may select and use your Aeroplan Travel Story, (“Submission”) on its website located at aeroplan.com (“Website”), and/or in our various publications, including print publication, email communications, and social media, and you also agree for Aeroplan to use your first name, province of residence along with the Submission.