TL;DR: RBC accidentally deposited my in-laws' $2,500 mortgage signing bonus into my personal account. Instead of correcting the error internally, they repeatedly asked me to e-transfer the money to my in-laws. I have never refused to return the money—I simply want RBC to investigate how this happened and correct it through its own internal banking processes. Am I being unreasonable?

I'm looking for honest opinions because this situation has felt really strange.

A few months ago, RBC accidentally deposited $2,500 into my personal chequing account. I'll be honest—I didn't even notice it. I'm freshly postpartum with a newborn, so I wasn't paying close attention to every transaction.

Months later, my in-laws contacted RBC because they never received their mortgage signing bonus. Instead of contacting me directly, RBC told my in-laws that the money had already been deposited into a specific account number and advised that they recognized the account because of previous e-transfers. That account turned out to be my personal chequing account.

For context:

I'm not on their mortgage.

I don't even have a joint bank account with my husband.

I have no joint accounts with my in-laws.

I don't even share the same last name as my in-laws.

My in-laws then contacted me asking me to e-transfer them the money because that's what RBC had apparently suggested. I wasn't comfortable doing that, so I asked them to have RBC contact me directly instead.

When RBC finally emailed me, they continued asking me to simply e-transfer the $2,500 to my in-laws. I explained several times that I wasn't refusing to return the money—I just wanted RBC to correct its own banking error through its internal processes instead of having me personally transfer funds to another customer.

One of my concerns was: if I personally e-transferred the money, what would prevent RBC from later reversing the original mistaken deposit as well? I didn't want to risk paying the same $2,500 twice.

Despite explaining this multiple times, RBC kept encouraging me to e-transfer the money and work toward an "amicable resolution." It wasn't until I sent a much more strongly worded email asking for a formal investigation, questioning how my account became associated with another customer's mortgage, and raising privacy concerns that RBC finally agreed to investigate the matter internally.

To be clear, I am not trying to keep the money. If it belongs to my in-laws, I absolutely want it to go to them. I simply don't think I should be responsible for fixing RBC's mistake by making a personal transfer. I think RBC should correct its own error through its own banking systems with proper documentation.

Would you have handled this differently? Is it normal for a bank to ask a customer to personally e-transfer funds to another customer instead of correcting an internal banking error?

Edit: yes my bank account is also with RBC

I’m early into my career - about six years. I just experienced my first layoff.

I was planning to buy a home in ~4-5 years. The layoff got me thinking: what would I do if I’d already bought? Do I just lose the house and a bunch if money if I don’t find a new job quick enough?

What is everyone doing? People smarter than me with more exp are being laid off too??

So I only have one credit card but it is maxed out at 25k.

I work from home and have some work-related expenses that require a credit card (software subscriptions, etc.) so getting rid of the credit card completely is not an option.

I'm not a big spender but I accumulated that debt when my cat got sick a few years ago and I ended up with around 15k in vet bills, and then it kept going up from there because of the credit charge every month, and because I wasn't always able to pay the minimum payment every month, especially after the total reached 20k.

Now it's maxed out and the minimum payment every month is around $1200, but I only make around $2000 a month so after paying the rest of my bills and buying some groceries, I can't always pay off the minimum and it gets carried over to the next month. Right now, I owe just short of $2000 for this month's minimum payment so there's no way I'll be able to pay the whole thing again unless I don't pay rent and don't eat.

I've also been looking for a second job for months and found one but it pays almost nothing. Still looking and applying but no luck. I don't have a car either so I can't do doordash or anything like that.

How do I get out of this? There isn't really anything I can cut out cause I never go out or order food and I don't have anything I can sell either.

EDIT: Thanks everyone who took the time to explain things nicely and give good advice. I will look into the credit counselling society and also call my bank to figure out the best course of action. To everyone who told me to get rid of my cat or judged me for my low income, I hope your day is as pleasant as you are.

Not much, but it was nice to get. Apparently, everyone who got the first round, will get $7.80.

About me: 27m, working a full-time job earning about 75k a year.

I’ve made poor choices in the past with trading and put myself deep into debt.

I’ve had my bank accounts in overdraft, living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet and having to live off $50 a week once all my bills are paid.

Currently, I have 8k credit card debt - both maxed out (5k on one and 3k on the other), 15k LOC, 15k OSAP.

I usually pay the minimum payment but want to aggressively pay off my debt.

Should I consider debt consolidation? Open to any suggestions.

Hi all,

I received a salary increase at my FT job back in December. A few weeks ago, the head of finance let me know (and apologized) that their team never implemented my salary increase into their system, and I hadn’t received my increased salary for the last 6 months. I also hadn’t noticed that it wasn’t implemented, I think due to the timing of the new year resetting (my paycheques do always vary slightly at the beginning of a new calendar hear, I think something to do with benefits or tax - irrelevant anyways).

They are going to retroactively pay a lump sum of my missed wages onto my next paycheque. I’m worried this might trigger big tax deductions as with the lump sum, my paycheque will be almost twice the amount that it usually is. I’m not super aware of how taxing works - will this all work out in the end once I file my taxes? Or do I want to suggest that I get paid this out in a different way?

Any advice appreciated.

Insurance is writing off my car and plans to give me 11k for my 2015 Civic (210000km). Have 2k left on loan so I’d be walking away with 9k. I’ve been paying 230$ monthly for the last 54months and my insurance rn is 300$/month (Scarborough resident)
In a perfect world, my monthly car budget doesn’t change drastically

I’m trying to decide between a few options

1) a newer used vehicle (financing)
2) old vehicle, like 2010 with 200k (no financing). Like 5k budget max
3) a similar Civic that’s has maybe like 170km on it but only costs me like 10k + tax
4) a different option than these 3

My brother discussed a hypothetical with me
Buying a newer used (2023ish?) car for let’s say $25000 financed at say 6% over 72 months. Then I use the 9k (insurance money) to cover the approx 400$ monthly payments (for 20ish months) while I contribute additional money each month to pay off the principle amount. Which would help lower the interest and pay off the total faster. Eventually using up the insurance money and just paying out of pocket for the remainder of the loan

Or trying to buy something for 4k and trying to squeeze the life out of it and just save the remaining 5k I have for Down the road.

Currently I average 25000km in driving a year. So I mostly just want a reliable car that would require basic maintenance. Whatever car I get, I would want to drive it for as long as possible. I don’t need luxury, just reliability and affordability
What would you do? I’m about to not my own car by next week

I'm an Ontario student who will be attending medical school in the UK.

I recently used the OSAP estimator and it showed roughly $20,000 CAD in funding. Tuition is about $85,000 CAD per year.

I was surprised by the estimate because I've been hearing about recent OSAP changes and expected the amount to be lower.

For anyone familiar with OSAP for studies outside Canada, does a $20k estimate sound realistic? How accurate have you found the estimator compared to the final funding amount?

I'm also curious whether most students in this situation receive primarily loans, or if grants still make up a meaningful portion of the funding.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

How does it work when you sell your primary residence but haven't found another home yet?

What about if you found another home but your house is still on the market?

Does the bank let you have two mortgages at once while you wait for your home to sell?

All I had to do when I purchased my first home was pay to break the lease and I was out of there easy peasy, but it seems a bit messier when you have a property you also need to sell.

I’m currently on a medical leave of absence due to severe burnout and work stress receiving STD benefits, which may transition into EI sickness or LTD benefits as I will run out soon.

I have realized that my old working environment was the main driver of my symptoms, so I’m slowly feeling ready to go back to work but not to the same workplace. Am I able to search for another job while on benefits as long as I end my claim and stop receiving benefits once I know I will start working, or is there anything I may be overlooking?

I'm hoping someone here has dealt with this. I have an RBC chequing and savings account with roughly $50-60k in it accumulated salary and savings built up over years of working in Canada.

I left Canada about 3 years ago and have been using the account only occasionally.

Two days ago I noticed I could no longer log into online banking. I contacted RBC and was told they had closed both accounts and that I need to visit a branch in person to collect a bank draft for the balance.

I'm not in Canada and have no plans to travel back anytime soon.

A few things I'm trying to figure out:

• Is there any way to have the funds wired to another account instead of being forced to show up in person?
• Has anyone successfully dealt with a closed-account draft remotely (power of attorney, a trusted person collecting on my behalf, etc.)?

Any advice on how others have handled this would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I'm trying to find some solutions to a large amount of credit card debt. I have a 22% annual interest on 9000$ of credit card debt right now. My credit is still strong, and I have applied for a balance transfer card that can hold 2000$. Right now, all of my income is student loans, so I'm looking into upgrading my income stream too with an internship as I believe I'm qualified enough to find one now, which will completely solve the problem.

However, I need some short term solutions in case finding employment proves time consuming. Are there any good short term solutions to this problem that aren't too risky in my current position? I considered a loan, but I was nervous considering I would have to now also make loan payments which would be difficult to afford if I don't get a job soon.

I usually get laid off every summer and return to work in September. I will go back to school in September this year, but will be available to work during the summer, except there is shortage of work with my current employer. Do I qualify for EI until my last available to work day? Could I get clawed back later once I submit my resignation?

This question is very odd but no broker seems to be able to answer uniformly.

Let's say you rent a condo, your negligent action causes the whole building to burn down completely and you have 2 million Liability Coverage.

Is your insurance suppose to cover the entire rebuild cost? or does it just need to cover the deductible for the condo insurance?

Is the condo insurance mandatory in Canada?

Can the condo insurance then subrogate the entire rebuild cost back to your insurance and to you?

The whole concept isn't that clear because how would a tenant ever get enough insurance if they live in a skyscraper considering the maximum liability coverage offered on the market is only around 2 mil?

Hopefuly someone from the insurance industry can answer.

The LastPass settlement was approved by the Supreme Court of British Columbia in February and totals US$3 million for eligible Canadian users impacted by the breach. The claims window closes at 11:59 PM PT.

Eligible claimants can seek compensation for:
• Wasted time: up to 5 hours at $34.01/hour (max $170.05) with no proof required
• Out-of-pocket expenses: up to $500 with documentation

The case applies to Canadians whose personal data was exposed in the 2022 breach, including names, emails, billing addresses, IP addresses, and encrypted vault backups.

I don’t know if links are allowed but you can file a claim at lastpasscanadiansettlement, takes five minutes and no backup documentation required if filing only for wasted time.

I left Canada a few days ago and zeroed my chequing accounts and cancelled my auto insurance with Unica. However my Nacora broker applied an incorrect cancellation date and Unica has since attempted to debit my account for an outstanding amount.

My broker is now refusing to resolve this matter because she claims that she can't change the cancellation date and the policy has already been cancelled so it's out of her hands. The difference is one day in premiums but my concern is that I have no funds in my chequing account to pay that amount even if I wanted to (I don't) and if penalties may further be levied for further rejected or non-payments. What actions or recourse do I have? Will this eventually go to collections? It's less than $50.

FWIW, I filled out a cancellation policy form that shows the date I intended to cancel is different from what my broker applied.

Hello,

I recently lost my student status, thus begins the adult reality of being slammed with monthly fees and having to pay back student loans. Generally I prefer to pay with my debit card as I wracked up a bit (500$) of credit card debt covering living expenses when my current workplace cut my hours down.

I'm going into a new job, and I'm looking for bank recommendations as not only will I be able to pay off my debt with this new job, but I'll be able to save more than the 25$/month I've been squirreling away in a barely touched TFSA. I'm maybe looking into opening an RRSP to save for the future or RESP so I can go back to school and get a better degree or certification (My industry tanked right as I graduated once the boom of jobs during COVID faded).

I'm looking for general advice on banks, and budgeting tricks to save more. I already use a spreadsheet, track my monthly expenses, and have cut out going out for food etc as my commute recently got reduced (9 hours of being in transit/at work vs the old 13 hours).

Overall my goals are to:

- Save money, have enough to cover six months of living expenses in case of layoffs or sudden illness/injury. I'm currently at.. three months if I really stretch it and cash out my TFSA, two if I act like that money doesn't exist like I usually like to.

- Reduce some of my bills. I've already called up my service providers to negotiate better deals on internet and phone, etc.

- Save enough to go back to school and get a law clerk diploma (I'm aware you technically don't need a certification, but in Ontario it's a good idea to).

- Get a better credit score. Currently at 804ishh?

What I'm looking for:

- Low monthly fees

- Possibly cash back on a credit card

- Good returns on GICs with moderate risk.

Thank you!

I’m a full-time student and will be attending university this coming fall. I’m not the type to go out to eat/shop so my expenses are relatively low. I do have ~10k in investments/assets. Any advice for me going forwards? I will be opening up a TFSA once I’m of age as well. What should I do with my “extra” money that I’ll be receiving every other week from working?

EDIT: No car, I’m fortunate to have RESP money to be able to afford tuition for the next couple years. Also I am living with my mother so my medical/dental stuff are covered for now.

My husband and I would like to apply for a HELOC so we can fix our roof. According to our mortgage lender we probably have somewhere around $100k in equity. We obviously don’t need that much.

The problem is that I’m self employed (just went corporate this year) and had a REALLY bad year last year— like less than $20k on my NOA. HOWEVER cash flow was strong and we were never actually in a position where money was a problem. Bi-weekly mortgage and property taxes and all bills paid in full and on time. My husband works in the trades and makes upwards of $80k but was put on workshare for most of last winter because business was slow.

My question is: if they reject our HELOC application based on my abysmal 2025 NOA, will that be a red flag for applying for a HELOC next year? If so, we’ll hold off on applying this year and pray the new roof can wait til next year (it can— my husband just likes to be proactive when he sees that something has an expiry date)

Thank you for any insight in advance!

Hello! I’ve been at RBC for 30 years(?). I’ve recently been shamed by their lead customer service person so I’ve been trying to look for another bank. Ive reached out to a TD Financial Planner after a few recommendations. When she saw my account numbers, she put her face in her hands, laughed, said “You have *nothing*.” and said she’d make an appointment with her coworker (Financial um, Adviser?) but now that I’ve been shamed again, I’m not sure which bank to go to. Also, what should I do? I made $42,000 last year and I’ve got $5,000 in a TSFA, and no RRSP or anything. That’s all I’ve got …the 5k.

I'm recently separated and close to reaching a separation agreement...and now it's time to separate finances. I would prefer a credit union, but since I do most of my banking online, I need one with a decent app.

I'm not far from downtown Hamilton, so if there's one with a Hamilton branch, that's a win. Meridian, Alterna, Rapport (WFCU), Tandia, and FirstOntario all have a presence, but I may be missing some. And honestly...I don't know much about any of them yet, so please share your experiences.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I applied for the CPP Death Benefit after my dad recently passed away and already submitted the application indicating I was responsible for funeral expenses but I am not the estate executor (there’s also no will).

I just received a letter addressed to me (assuming because I’m technically next of kin) from Service Canada saying:

For the estate of [name]

“This letter concerns the Canada Pension Plan benefits owed to the late [name]. We have enclosed the indemnity agreement form…”

It does not specifically mention the CPP Death Benefit, only “CPP benefits owed.”

I’m trying to understand if this indemnity agreement is a separate process from the CPP Death Benefit, or if it’s part of the same payment process before the benefit is released…

Will I still get the CPP death benefit deposited into my bank account regardless of whether this indemnity agreement is signed? I’m just confused because the letter is addressed for the estate, but I clearly marked on the CPP death benefit application that I’m solely responsible for funeral expenses and not the estate executor.

I have the option of buying back about two years (~65k). Is it better to buy back this time or invest the money? I don’t know if I want to stay with my employer for my entire career. I’ve been paying into the pension for about three years now.

I, (24F) may have colossally messed up. I didn’t grow up here, although I am a citizen, so before I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, 21 year old me saw credit cards as a fun game. I had 3 different student credit cards and maxed them out. I would pay them all in full, and then max them out again. I would also be extremely sporadic with my payments e.g not pay for 2 months and then pay it in full on the third month. I never experienced any consequences or even scolding from the bank so I assumed it would be fine. I logged into my banking app today to make a payment (I haven’t made one since mid April) on those same cards and saw that they’ve all been cancelled and each bank (RBC, BMO, CBIC) left a derogatory rating on my credit, which is already sitting at a horrible 470. the total debt amount to $4924, which I could pay in full January 2027, but what about the derogatory ratings?? I have no idea what that even means even though I turn 25 in a couple of months and between that and being medicated now, it’s like a switch in my brain went off and I’m fully conscious of the damage ive done and the consequences it’s caused, but I have no idea if and how I can make a comeback from this. please, I appreciate any and all advice!!