Fight Back

Foreword by Dave Chilton xi
 
Introduction xiii
 
PART 1: OUTSMARTING THE BANKS 1
 
1. Get a Higher Interest Rate on Your Savings 5
 
2. How to Fight Back when a Bank Cuts the Interest on Your Savings 8
 
3. Look Beyond the Big Banks for Higher Savings Rates 11
 
4. How to Get Higher Savings Rates without Getting Burned 15
 
5. How to Trim the Bank's Service Charges 18
 
6. How to Fight Back when You Miss a Discount You Deserve 21
 
7. Challenge Bank Fees for RRSPs and Other Registered Plans 24
 
8. Watch Out for Foreign Exchange Conversion Fees 27
 
9. Find the Best Credit Cards for Rewards and Benefits 30
 
10. Find the Best Credit Card if You Carry a Balance 35
 
11. Watch Out for Credit Card Balance Transfers 38
 
12. Watch Out for Expensive Credit Card Insurance 41
 
13. Beware of Penalties when You Break a Closed Mortgage 45
 
14. How a Customer Fought Back Against a Bank's Mortgage Penalty 49
 
15. How to Avoid Interest Penalties when Paying Off Your Mortgage Early by Paul Brick 52
 
16. Why It Pays to Know Your Rights by Ursula Menke 55
 
17. How to Outsmart the Banks at Their Own Game by Matt Goulart 58
 
18. How to Get the Best Service from a Bank by Douglas Melville 60
 
19. How to Get the Best Service from a Bank if You Own a Business by Douglas Melville 63
 
PART 2: KEEPING YOUR FINANCES ON TRACK 67
 
20. How to Check on Your Credit Report and Credit Score 71
 
21. How to Correct Errors on Your Credit Report by Ross Taylor 74
 
22. How to Fight Back when Your Credit History Is a Mess by Ross Taylor 77
 
23. How to Make Sure Your Credit History Stays Healthy by Ross Taylor 80
 
24. How to Fight Back Against Bad Financial Advice 82
 
25. How to Make Sure You Have the Right Investments by Douglas Melville 85
 
26. How to Fight for Your Rights as an Investor

Ellen Roseman is a journalist who sticks up for ordinary Canadians. As a long-time advocate for consumer rights, she's become a brand name for activism and a champion at helping consumers fight back against injustices. Her columns appear three times a week in the Toronto Star and her popular blog, EllenRoseman.com, has been online since 2007. She's the author of seven books, including Money 101: Every Canadian's Guide to Personal Finance and Money 201: More Personal Finance Advice for Every Canadian. She teaches investing and personal finance at the University of Toronto's continuing studies department and Ryerson University's Chang School, and is on the board of FAIR (Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights) and Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO).