Category Archives: Money Tips

How to Order Cheques for a Tangerine (ING Direct THRIVE) Chequing Account

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Ok, first I opened a Tangerine chequing account and funded it from my existing ING Direct, now Tangerine.ca, Savings Account. Next I paid a bill from my account online. But then I needed to get some actual paper cheques. The school system seems to thrive (notice the amazing {and SEO-advantaged} pun!} on requesting incredibly small amounts of money often and usually by cheque. I bet the average family with 2 elementary-school-age children goes through more cheques per year than the average retired couple does per decade. So here’s how I ordered my first book of Tangerine cheques.

Ordering Cheques from Tangerine

  1. Login to your Tangerine accounts.
  2. Click on the View My Accounts link.
  3. Click on your Chequing Account.
  4. Under the Heading Tangerine Chequing Account – number, click on the link: Order My Cheques.

To Order the Specific Cheques You Need

  1. Read the information that says you don’t need new cheques if you have existing ING Direct cheques.
    Note that your first book of 50 cheques is free (as of June 2014) but additional books are $12.50 each.
    Make sure that your correct chequing account is selected from the drop-down list at the top right side of the Order My Cheques page. Before ordering:

    1. Check that the Name is correct.
      You cannot change your name on this screen.
    2. Check that the Home Address is correct.
    3. Check that the Mailing Address is correct.
      For example, you might want your cheques to be printed with your Home Address but be mailed to you at your work address.
      If you want to change your address, you have to stop and go to the My info and options page first.
    4. Select whether to print your cheques in English or French.
    5. Select whether to print your cheques with your Home address; your Mailing address, or No address from the drop-down list.
    6. If everything is correct, click on the Next button.
  2. On the Here’s What’s Going to Happen page, check the information is correct.
    If it’s ok, and you’re ready to commit to printing your cheques and/or paying for them, click on the Order button.
  3. Make a note of your confirmation number in case there’s any delay with your order.
  4. Click on the Continue Banking button.
    The cheques should arrive in the mail in about 1-2 weeks.
  5. If you’re finished banking, click on the Log me out link.
  6. Then, clear your cache and close your browser session for increased security.

UPDATE: I ordered cheques on March 31 and they arrived today, Monday April 8. That’s pretty good considering the Easter long weekend was March 29 through April 1 this year. (Yes, I guess I did order them on that weekend.)

I also ordered Tangerine cheques on Tuesday June 17. We’ll see when they arrive.
UPDATE: They just arrived on Wednesday June 25. (They are the new Tangerine cheques and they are very, very, very plain. Frankly they look like something I could have printed myself.)

The cheques are not going to win any prizes for most beautiful artwork, but they look just right for paying my child’s school $2.93 for an 8-page book of recorder music.

What do Tangerine Cheques Cost?

Only your first set of cheques is free. Additional sets of cheques cost a fee.

As of April 2017, an extra 50 cheques costs $20.

As of June, 2014, an extra 50 cheques costs $12.50.

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Do you still have to use cheques? How much does your bank charge for additional cheques? (I’m planning to set up a President’s Choice Financial joint chequing account soon to get free cheques. Bet they stop offering them as soon as I sign up!) Please share your experiences with a comment.
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Why Paying by Debit may Help Keep a Small Business in Business

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We have several small business owners in our extended family so we are a bit more aware of their issues than some of our friends. To stay in business, most retailers have to accept credit and debit cards as well as cash. (Although you may notice some dollar stores, like Dollarama, still do not accept credit cards.) When you pull out your wallet to pay, you may want to let your hand hover for a minute over your different pieces of plastic. The card you choose could help a small business stay in business.

Why Customers Used to Pick One Piece of Plastic Over Another

A few short years ago, most customers chose credit or debit based on a few simple factors. They chose to pay by credit card if

  • they didn’t have the money to settle the bill in their bank account now but they would before the credit card bill arrived.
  • they didn’t have the money to settle the bill in their bank account now and were consciously deciding to borrow money from the credit card issuer to buy the item.
  • they had a limited number of free debit transactions and they didn’t want to use one of them.

Why Customers Choose to Use Credit Cards Instead of Debit Cards Now

Now customers choose to pay by credit card because

  • the credit card offers reward points or cash back on their purchase.
  • the credit card offers insurance against damage or theft of the item.
  • as in the old days, they want to borrow money to make the purchase or they have a limit on how many free debit transactions they can make.

Why You Should Choose to Use Interac Debit Instead of Credit for Small Business Purchases

According to an article on the Canadian Federation of Independent Business website, an Interac debit card transaction costs the merchant less than twelve, 12, cents.

According to the same article, in March 2011, the merchant paid 1.3 to 3 PERCENT of the sale to the credit card company.

So if you are buying $25 of stuff at the local pharmacy, the merchant will have to forfeit about 12 cents of that money if you pay by debit, or about 32.5 to 75 cents if you pay by credit card.

If you buy $150 worth of stuff, the credit card fee is a whopping $1.95-4.50. The debit fee is still just 12 cents.

What Will It Cost You to Use Interac Debit Instead of Credit?

If you set up a bank chequing account with ING Direct or PC Financial you can get unlimited Interac Debit payments for free. It won’t cost you anything to pay by debit: but it will cost the merchant a lot less.

If you are buying something to use immediately (a snack, a drink, bandaids or over-the-counter pharmacy items, K-cups for your coffee maker, a model or toy, etc) you don’t need an extended warranty on it, nor are you likely to need theft insurance for it. Please pay by debit.

Yes, you will lose reward points and cash back offered only by your credit card. But many stores have their own reward points programs that do not require you to use a credit card. Join them instead or in addition. Ask yourself if you really want to come back from that free vacation flight only to find all your favourite small stores are gone.

If enough people would switch from credit to debit, retail prices would not have to increase as often to cover the rising costs. I know it’s unlikely for prices to be reduced—but I’m fairly certain that when the VISA/MasterCard/AMEX empire raises the interchange fee, most retailers automatically raise the price of every item they retail by an amount based on the increased interchange fee and the percent of store sales charged to credit cards.

At least let your hand hover for a second over the two pieces of plastic in your wallet. Then make a conscious choice for one or the other, rather than letting the credit card win without a thought.

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Do you do debit? Please share your experiences with a comment.