Little Switzerland - Comenity Credit Card

[Ottawaman]

I was in Curacao recently and purchased a watch on credit with my shiny new Little Switzerland credit card. The sales person touted that Canadians were also able to apply and voila sure enough I was approved in minutes.

 

Problem is, their only methods of payment appear to be from US banks. They won't even take my MBNA Mastercard over the phone. WTF??

 

I'm trying to figure out what to do before my first payment date comes due.

 

What kind of financial institution can't take online payments via credit card? Paypal? Payee transfers...nothing!

 

Any other Canadians have a Comenity credit card with an American Store? What do you do?

 

 

[Liam W]

Do what I did - open a US Bank Account. In this sort of predicament it's been quite useful.

 

If you don't live close to a decent sized US city then I'd suggest looking at BMO Harris Bank (I know you can open an account with them without physically going to the US and if memory serves me correctly you can fund your initial deposit through a credit card), but if you do happen to be close to a city such as Buffalo then I would recommend Bank of America for this purpose. I know they have some form of free account which is useful. All you need is your passport and a credit card (if memory serves me correctly).

 

In the alternative, you can usually send them a US Money Order.

Edited June 18, 2013 by Liam W

[Burgerwars]

I was in Curacao recently and purchased a watch on credit with my shiny new Little Switzerland credit card. The sales person touted that Canadians were also able to apply and voila sure enough I was approved in minutes.

 

Problem is, their only methods of payment appear to be from US banks. They won't even take my MBNA Mastercard over the phone. WTF??

 

I'm trying to figure out what to do before my first payment date comes due.

 

What kind of financial institution can't take online payments via credit card? Paypal? Payee transfers...nothing!

 

Any other Canadians have a Comenity credit card with an American Store? What do you do?

 

 

I think you're asking how to open a U.S. bank account to pay U.S. card issuers with no problem. I think your easiest path would be to open an account with RBC Bank at a RBC Royal Bank branch. RBC Bank operates as a U.S. bank. Others that I can think of are Harris Bank that's owned by BMO, and TD Bank owned by TD Canada Trust. I'm in the U.S. but have had a RBC Royal Bank account and credit card for a long time. I also have a RBC Bank account, that allows for quick online transfers between both banks. I have the opposite problem. Edited June 18, 2013 by Burgerwars

[Burgerwars]

 

 

In the alternative, you can usually send them a US Money Order.

That too: http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/products/deposits/money-orders.html

Useful if you have very limited needs to pay U.S. creditors, etc. If you need to do it regularly, a U.S. bank account would be more economical.

 

 

Edited June 19, 2013 by Burgerwars