Canada is being financially sensitive or, perhaps, caring to Canadians and their hard-earned money by “banning negative option billing for financial products, ensuring greater transparency and making sure consumers have timelier access to their own hard-earned money.”
It may be a mere inconvenience for some Canadians to be subject to the current cheque hold period of 7 days in order to have access to their funds at the financial institutions.
But, this is financial aggravation for Canadians who are:
- lower-income seniors,
- Canadians without significant balances in their accounts,
- younger Canadians who do not have a long banking history,
- people who receive cheques from newer employers,
- clients that are often subject to longer cheque hold periods and
- Canadians who just need quick access to their funds.
In response, Canada is making the following important financial changes to protect the interests of Canadian consumers of financial products and services as well as help Canadians to effectively manage their personal finances.
- Maximum cheque hold period would be reduced to four business days for cheques of $1,500 or less.
- Consumers would get immediate access to the first $100 deposited by cheque.
- Regulations require financial institutions to obtain consumers’ express consent before providing a new optional product or service.
- Also, regulations require financial institutions to refund charges on a prorated basis following cancellation.
News Release
Toronto, March 8, 2011
2011-022
Harper Government to Further Strengthen Protection for Canadian Consumers of Financial Products and Services
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The Honourable Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance), and the Member of Parliament for Lévis–Bellechasse, Steven Blaney, today announced the Harper Government is taking decisive action to protect the interests of Canadian consumers of financial products and services.
“The economy remains our government’s top priority,” said Minister Menzies. “We’re protecting Canadian consumers by banning negative option billing for financial products, ensuring greater transparency and making sure consumers have timelier access to their own hard-earned money.”
The Access to Funds Regulations would reduce the maximum cheque hold period for consumers and small- and medium-sized enterprises. The maximum hold period is currently seven business days for all cheque amounts. This would be reduced to four business days for cheques of $1,500 or less. The regulations would also provide consumers with immediate access to the first $100 deposited by cheque.
The Negative Option Billing Regulations would require federally regulated financial institutions to obtain consumers’ express consent before providing a new optional product or service. Consumers would receive in advance a summary of key information, including related fees and costs, before granting their express consent. The regulations would also prescribe additional disclosure when a consumer agrees to an optional product or service, and require financial institutions to refund charges on a prorated basis following cancellation.
“These measures will give Canadians more freedom and information to effectively manage their personal finances,” said Mr. Blaney.
Lower-income seniors, Canadians without significant balances in their accounts, younger Canadians who do not have a long banking history, and people who receive cheques from newer employers or clients are often subject to longer cheque hold periods. These are often the Canadians who most need quick access to their funds.
“The action our government is taking today will protect Canadians and their families from unexpected costs and provide clear information to help them make the right financial decisions,” added Minister Menzies.
The regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette on March 12 for a 30-day comment period. Contact information for forwarding comments is provided with the proposed regulations.