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Bill payment relief

Updated: Jan 31, 2021

Worried about your bills at the end of the month?


With the pandemic, many people are in the same boat. In response, big banks, auto lenders, utilities, governments, and other service providers are permitting many bill payments to be deferred for a few months. Plus, we recently learned the six big banks are cutting credit card interest rates in some circumstances. In most cases, you must contact the lender for deferrals as per the list below.

This list is current to April 6th.


Rent

Evictions are banned during April. After that, evictions are banned during the pandemic for tenants who make reasonable proposals to their landlord for partial rent payments (as long they are not committing crimes or damaging the property). Also, no rent increases or late payment fees are permitted during this period.

Car Payments

Most auto makers and lenders now have programs to allow borrowers affected by COVID-19 to defer loan payments, including Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota, Kia, Mazda, Nissan and more. The effect is to add the months of missed payments to the loan at the end, but interest is accruing.


This website tracks and updates all the auto loan deferral programs:


Internet Providers

Cell Phone Companies


Electrical Bill

Residential customers:

  • Can defer electricity bill payments for next 90 days

  • Call your utility provider directly to arrange for a 90-day deferral on all payments. All service providers directed by province to comply and not cut off service.


Natural Gas Bill

Residential customers:

  • Can defer utility bill payments for next 90 days

  • Call your utility provider directly to arrange for a 90-day deferral on all payments. All service providers directed by province to comply and not cut off service.


Calgary water, waste and recycling

All customers:

  • Have option to defer payments for 3 months without penalty or interest

  • Must contact Enmax to request: 403-310-2010. Deferred amounts will be divided up and added to the last six bills of 2020.


City of Calgary Property Taxes

  • The City announced on April 6 that it would defer property taxes for 3 months, from June 30 until September 30, without interest or penalties. Deferred payments will be added to the last three months of the year. Under law, the City is required to collect 2020 taxes (totalling $1.9 billion) during 2020.


Income Taxes

Taxpayers who owe:

  • No interest or penalties between now and Sept 1st

  • Have until June 1st to file; can defer tax payable until after Aug. 31 with no interest or penalties


Income Tax Installments

If required to pay CRA installments, e.g. self-employed:

  • Waived until September 2020

  • Have until June 1st to file; can defer tax installments until after Aug 31 with no interest or penalties


Student Loans & RRSPs


Canada Student Loan

Person re-paying loan:

  • Interest free moratorium until September 30, 2020

  • Automatic, do not need to apply for 6-month pause; includes pre-authorized debits


AB Student loan payments

Person re-paying loan:

  • 6-month interest free moratorium starting March 30

  • Automatic, do not need to apply for 6-month pause


Canada Apprentice Loans

Person re-paying loan:

  • Interest free moratorium until September 30, 2020

  • Automatic, do not need to apply for 6-month pause; includes pre-authorized debits


RRIFs

Persons aged 70+, required to withdraw minimum from their RRSP:

  • Required minimum withdrawal reduced by 25%


Defined contribution RRSP

In receipt of variable benefit payments:

  • Required minimum withdrawal reduced by 25%


Banks and Credit Unions


All the major banks and credit unions have COVID-19 policies on their websites now. Deferrals are possible for both personal and business customers, and each bank has instructions on how to apply. You need to contact your institution and request the time you need. Reaching them by phone right now is almost impossible, but many are permitting online requests for deferrals if you have an online account. They are updating their own FAQs about COVID-19 relief regularly.


ATB

ATB Personal Banking Customers:


First Calgary Financial

Personal and business members:


Servus Credit Union mortgages and loans

Personal and business members:


Bank of Montreal

  • Temporary reductions of interest rates on credit cards to 10.99% for customers receiving payment deferrals


CIBC

  • Can defer mortgages and other credit products

  • They have a financial assistance form online.

  • Will lower interest rates to 10.99% for customers who request to skip a payment

  • Phone: 1-877-454-9030 (Opens your phone app).

Royal Bank

  • Have relief programs for mortgages and other credit products

  • One month relief can be requested by online form; longer term deferrals are available through the advisers

  • Has online booking tool for call backs from bank advisors

  • Will cut credit card interest rates by 50% for customers receiving deferred payments

  • https://www.rbc.com/covid-19/

Scotiabank

  • Can apply online for deferrals of mortgage payments and auto loans

  • ·Temporary reductions of interest rates on credit cards to 10.99% for customers receiving payment deferrals

  • See: scotiabank.com/covid-19 and their regularly updated FAQs

TD Bank

  • You can request to defer the equivalent of up to six monthly payments. Interest will accrue and be added to the outstanding mortgage balance. People can apply online with an EasyWeb account.

  • Will cut credit card interest rates by 50% for customers experiencing hardship

  • https://www.td.com/ca/en/personal-banking/covid-19/

National Bank

  • Deferred mortgages

  • Will refund additional interest accrued on deferred mortgage payments

  • Waive fees for transfers and stop payments on cheques and pre-authorized debits

  • No overdraft fees on checking and high interest savings accounts





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