Paying Canadian bills from the U.S.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Asked for money order. TD bank won't do it. We'll try Well's Fargo tomorrow when they open. The closest American Express place is a 40 minute drive, but we'll go there if we have to. I think there is a Bank of American in town we could try if Well's Fargo won't do it.

Thanks for the ideas!

Maybe someone said it but just use the Post office - ask for an internationl money order - it will still be in US dollars but you can do an approximate exchange rate so you know how much to make it for....that way the Water bill is covered.

I've done this to repay the Cdn goverment for taxes too, works just fine.

PS - the fee is probably $6.95 approx - maybe less. Happy Day!

Edited January 23, 2012 by Udella&Wiz

[Paul H 4]

The cheapest way I'm paying Canadian bills here with a US account is to go to a local Canadian bank (RBC is my favourite as they don't charge me any fee) and ask for a cash advance with my US debit card. Exchange rate is good. Then I take the cash and walk into a payment centre for the bill and just pay cash. An option?

Sorry if I'm missing something obvious here but I quickly learned here that money orders are too expensive so I try to avoid them.

Not sure what you mean when you say you "walk into a payment centre for the bill".

[Paul H 4]

Maybe someone said it but just use the Post office - ask for an internationl money order - it will still be in US dollars but you can do an approximate exchange rate so you know how much to make it for....that way the Water bill is covered.

I've done this to repay the Cdn goverment for taxes too, works just fine.

PS - the fee is probably $6.95 approx - maybe less. Happy Day!

TD is waiving the $25 fee for our foreign drafts so we are just going to do it with them, plus it gives us some satisfaction making them do it after all the ####### they told us last week. They learned not to mess with us

But if we need drafts again later we'll just get them at American Express since they don't charge a fee.

Thanks for the info!

[God fearing 13]

As it turns out the people at our local TD branch told us a bunch of lies and they got in trouble for it. They now say they can give us a foreign draft check for a $25 fee. We also have an American Express office about 20 miles from us that will give us a foreign draft for no charge being a card holder.

A foreign draft for $25...you are better off sending a regular US check via mail for the balance owed. The rate of US currency is low. That definitely would be more cost effective on your end.

TD is waiving the $25 fee for our foreign drafts so we are just going to do it with them, plus it gives us some satisfaction making them do it after all the ####### they told us last week. They learned not to mess with us

But if we need drafts again later we'll just get them at American Express since they don't charge a fee.

Thanks for the info!

Good to know!!!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

A foreign draft for $25...you are better off sending a regular US check via mail for the balance owed. The rate of US currency is low. That definitely would be more cost effective on your end.

Good to know!!!

US checks are not necessarily/usually accepted in Canada (just like a Canadian check most times is not accepted here in the US)

[God fearing 13]

US checks are not necessarily/usually accepted in Canada (just like a Canadian check most times is not accepted here in the US)

I am aware of Canadian checks not being generally accepted in the US (no problem with Bank of America) but I have yet to come across any corporation

or bank in Ontario (at lease) that didn't accept US checks. Every "major" bank in CAD allows its clients (incl. Business accounts) to open US currency accounts (TD, RBC, CIBC, SCOTIA).