A US TD Bank ? Anyone heard of it or tried them?

[DeadPoolX 9]

You can pay bills online -- in fact, that's what I always do and so does my dad. However, it's not uncommon to pay bills by check. Sometimes it's the only way to do it (i.e. government payment). Most of the time, however, you can pay online in the United States.

As for changing money, most U.S. banks do not offer this capability. However, there are money changing offices -- such as American Express -- that'll do it for you. Usually, these offices are close to banks. I know the one I used was, but maybe that was strictly chance. One thing you should know is that if you change money at an American Express office, they'll charge you a $5 fee to do so. It's $3 if you have an AMEX card. Big difference, right?

[thetreble 19]

It's funny you guys are saying that most of your US spouses paid by cheque! So did my husband when we first dated and I thought it was hilarious considering I had never paid a bill by cheque in my life.

Now I just do everything for us and we pay everything online. That has really made life so easy.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

It's funny you guys are saying that most of your US spouses paid by cheque! So did my husband when we first dated and I thought it was hilarious considering I had never paid a bill by cheque in my life.

Now I just do everything for us and we pay everything online. That has really made life so easy.

Agreed Treble I am equally amused by having to fill out deposit slips, cripes - when was the last time you did that? Paying online definitely means something different here. It used to be fairly simple, jump online pay my bills (takign into account the 1 or 2 day turnaround for electronic payment and voila...all done. having to figure out whether I'm really paying electronically or just having them send a cheque is odd.

I am somewhat irritated that Wachovia doesn't take the money from the account immediately, but rather at the end of the business day the actual transaction occurs - makes it difficult to figure out what the actual balance is...so irritating

[thetreble 19]

I am somewhat irritated that Wachovia doesn't take the money from the account immediately, but rather at the end of the business day the actual transaction occurs - makes it difficult to figure out what the actual balance is...so irritating

ohh you JUST reminded me of something that has bothered me since I have been here.

No matter what it is, everything I buy with my debit card is a PENDING transaction! In Canada, no matter what bank I used, the money was debited right away so I always knew how much money I had in the bank. Here, some times it takes companies and banks 4 or 5 days to process a simple transaction like clothes or something. It just really bothers me.

[trailmix 77]

I noted on the U.S. TD bank site that they offer real time transactions!

[thetreble 19]

I noted on the U.S. TD bank site that they offer real time transactions!

ohh la la. I might have to do le switch!

[Krikit 1,164]

OMG, DON'T get me started on the freaking bank system in the US.

Breathe deep.

Happy thoughts.

Let the good air in.

Let the bad air out.

Happy happy.

Ohhhh so happy.

[thetreble 19]

Ohh krikit! Tell us your rant.

[DeadPoolX 9]

No matter what it is, everything I buy with my debit card is a PENDING transaction! In Canada, no matter what bank I used, the money was debited right away so I always knew how much money I had in the bank. Here, some times it takes companies and banks 4 or 5 days to process a simple transaction like clothes or something. It just really bothers me.

I don't know if this is relevant or not, but in the U.S., our debit card system is different. Ours are "off-line" debit cards, which means they can be swiped like a credit card and then signed for. No PIN required. You can also use a PIN, but that doesn't stop anyone from using it as a credit card. In fact, most debit card suppliers urge customers to use their debit card like a credit card to avoid excess charges, all of which occur if used like a PIN-required debit card.

The above makes the debit card system notoriously unreliable and a security risk. This is why debit cards have a VISA or MC logo on them. They need to backed by an established card lender. In case a customer doesn't pay, VISA or MC pay and then go after the customer. That's why PENDING is shown. The bank, as well as VISA or MC, are checking the purchases.

OMG, DON'T get me started on the freaking bank system in the US.

Breathe deep.

Happy thoughts.

Let the good air in.

Let the bad air out.

Happy happy.

Ohhhh so happy.

Personally, I like the bank system in the United States. Sure, we use deposit slips and withdrawal slips most of the time, but some banks do have ATM machines in which you can deposit money and it gets added to your account. I've seen them in Houston. Unfortunately, most people don't know what to do with them and only withdraw cash (which is an alternative to using withdrawal slips).

I think what I like best about the U.S. bank system are the free checking accounts. You don't seem to find that in Canada. Every account I've seen here has either a monthly fee or a balance amount that needs to be maintained or you get slapped with a fee. That's ridiculous in my opinion. I've had free checking accounts my entire life. To suddenly demand payment for the so-called privilege of using their bank is absurd.

[Sprailenes 47]

I love how when we complain about the US deadpool comes to the rescue and vice versa.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I love how when we complain about the US deadpool comes to the rescue and vice versa.

Yeah, well... the Canadians here are apparently "allowed" to say whatever they want about the U.S., whereas I am -- for some reason or another -- forbidden to say anything about Canada.

And no, I am not "coming to the rescue" of the United States. I am stating my opinion. Just as everone else is, I might add. I guess I'm not permitted to do that either -- unless it's glowing approval of Canada. I rarely see anything positive about the U.S. from the Canadians here.

[MrsCat 6]

I love how when we complain about the US deadpool comes to the rescue and vice versa.

Yeah, well... the Canadians here are apparently "allowed" to say whatever they want about the U.S., whereas I am -- for some reason or another -- forbidden to say anything about Canada.

And no, I am not "coming to the rescue" of the United States. I am stating my opinion. Just as everone else is, I might add. I guess I'm not permitted to do that either -- unless it's glowing approval of Canada. I rarely see anything positive about the U.S. from the Canadians here.

Oh DPX, you can complain about Canada, you just need to change the flavor of the things you hate. You need to learn to complain like Canadians. You can complain about: the weather, politicians, taxes, kids on the grass, kids on the weed, and the length of time it takes to get an MRI. No one will question your loyalty to Canada that way.

But start complaining about our institutions and we just cannot understand your dissatisfaction with healthcare prices, immigration, the Canadian banking system, and tim hortons. We take offense to those things because they are the soul of our nation and in essence part of our souls.

I'm kidding - I think I hate as many things here as I did back home, things just seem more salient here because they're suddenly different. When I moved I imagined my life exactly as it was in Canada transported 3000 miles away. That included the local starbucks girl who prepared my morning coffee, the Edmonton journal, my family physician, my bank, my credit cards, my old cellphone number . . . . . . .

[Sprailenes 47]

I love how when we complain about the US deadpool comes to the rescue and vice versa.

Yeah, well... the Canadians here are apparently "allowed" to say whatever they want about the U.S., whereas I am -- for some reason or another -- forbidden to say anything about Canada.

And no, I am not "coming to the rescue" of the United States. I am stating my opinion. Just as everone else is, I might add. I guess I'm not permitted to do that either -- unless it's glowing approval of Canada. I rarely see anything positive about the U.S. from the Canadians here.

No need to get your knickers in a knot, I wasn't trying to offend, I just think its funny how we both get a little defensive when it comes to our homes is all, its cute. I don't know if other forums have the same thing going on is all.

Back to your rants.

[intuitionsys 0]

First off let me say "hi everybody". I've browsed here from time to time waiting for my wife's visa but never seem to have the time to sit down and post something so here goes...

I noticed the question about TD banks here in the U.S. I recently moved here from Ottawa and went with TD here in the greater DC area for various reasons. The Canadian and U.S. TD are for all intents and purposes different entities. All their cross-border transactions go through Bank of America anyway. Personally when sending money to Canada, I simply kept a chequing account in Canada and use Xoom to send money to that account (for paying leftover bills, sending money to my wife, whatever). It usually takes less than 5 days but it has taken up to a week at times.

I can relate to the "pending" transactions thing I thought was a little odd compared to the Canadian banks where everything is immediate. I haven't had to use Canadian money orders or needed Canadian cash as I just send the money in advance of my trip and my wife withdraws it there or I just use my debit card for my Canadian bank account. Actually most of the time I just use my U.S. TD Visa Debit card in Canada most of the time and haven't had any issues with it. My wife has a card tied to that account and she had some difficulties initially only being able to withdraw from an ATM but we straightened it out on one of her visits down here. I must say the customer service, at least at our TD branch, is orders of magnitude better than the Bank of Montreal in Ottawa.

I haven't had time to write out a timeline in my sig or anything but we started the process in mid-January and are now waiting for final processing/approval at the NVC, where we went with the electronic processing option. Luckily DC is close enough to Ottawa that we can still visit on a semi-regular basis but the wait is getting tiresome

[redBlue 1]

First off let me say "hi everybody". I've browsed here from time to time waiting for my wife's visa but never seem to have the time to sit down and post something so here goes...

I noticed the question about TD banks here in the U.S. I recently moved here from Ottawa and went with TD here in the greater DC area for various reasons. The Canadian and U.S. TD are for all intents and purposes different entities. All their cross-border transactions go through Bank of America anyway. Personally when sending money to Canada, I simply kept a chequing account in Canada and use Xoom to send money to that account (for paying leftover bills, sending money to my wife, whatever). It usually takes less than 5 days but it has taken up to a week at times.

I can relate to the "pending" transactions thing I thought was a little odd compared to the Canadian banks where everything is immediate. I haven't had to use Canadian money orders or needed Canadian cash as I just send the money in advance of my trip and my wife withdraws it there or I just use my debit card for my Canadian bank account. Actually most of the time I just use my U.S. TD Visa Debit card in Canada most of the time and haven't had any issues with it. My wife has a card tied to that account and she had some difficulties initially only being able to withdraw from an ATM but we straightened it out on one of her visits down here. I must say the customer service, at least at our TD branch, is orders of magnitude better than the Bank of Montreal in Ottawa.

I haven't had time to write out a timeline in my sig or anything but we started the process in mid-January and are now waiting for final processing/approval at the NVC, where we went with the electronic processing option. Luckily DC is close enough to Ottawa that we can still visit on a semi-regular basis but the wait is getting tiresome

you may check www.customhouse.com for money transfer options since it has very good reputation among VJ members...