Personal Finance

Ontario Photo Card

  • Last Updated:
  • Nov 18th, 2013 6:46 pm
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Newbie
Oct 24, 2013
6 posts
1 upvote

Ontario Photo Card

Can anyone relate their experience using the Ontario Photo Card for non-drivers and the big 5 banks. I've noticed some banks have updated their website to accept it while others haven't, meanwhile serviceontario/mto insist the cards are as valid as a drivers license.

Not for basic accts bc photo id isnt required but for things like picking up a credit card.
25 replies
Newbie
Apr 2, 2013
60 posts
18 upvotes
Fredericton
Seems like:

CIBC - Yes
TD - No
BMO - No
Scotiabank -No
RBC - No

The best thing to do is to go into and bank and ask but I'd say that they would have to keep their website information up to date.
Newbie
Oct 24, 2013
6 posts
1 upvote
Thanks, After doing a bit of research, as of December 2012 it's listed in Scotia's investment booklet as valid schedule A but not online, BMO and CIBC have it listed on their as a schedule A card. I'm still unsure about TD & I think I saw a thread that showed RBC having it on the list now too. For some reason Mogo (which i think is a ripoff payday loan co) has it as schedule B
My problem was I let my old NS license expire a few years ago bc I live downtown in major city and Ontario wants me to start over w a learners, As for a passport I haven't left the country in 15 years nor do I intend to again and the thought of having to use a Canadian passport in Canada goes against my politics
Honestly it's ridiculous even the poor eastern provinces getting a DL or Equiv ID has been a walkin/walkout procedure for 20 years, here it's 1500 different rules, stuff takes 4-6 weeks and then the legislation isn't even up to date so they can be used as intended.
Deal Expert
Mar 25, 2005
22706 posts
3697 upvotes
atlantix wrote: Thanks, After doing a bit of research, as of December 2012 it's listed in Scotia's investment booklet as valid schedule A but not online, BMO and CIBC have it listed on their as a schedule A card. I'm still unsure about TD & I think I saw a thread that showed RBC having it on the list now too. For some reason Mogo (which i think is a ripoff payday loan co) has it as schedule B
My problem was I let my old NS license expire a few years ago bc I live downtown in major city and Ontario wants me to start over w a learners, As for a passport I haven't left the country in 15 years nor do I intend to again and the thought of having to use a Canadian passport in Canada goes against my politics
Honestly it's ridiculous even the poor eastern provinces getting a DL or Equiv ID has been a walkin/walkout procedure for 20 years, here it's 1500 different rules, stuff takes 4-6 weeks and then the legislation isn't even up to date so they can be used as intended.
Then get a DL? Its as close to walk-in, walk-out as you can get. With an exchange, they ask for an eye test. I have no idea what kind of political values say you cannot use a Canadian PP in Canada; its ID like any other.
Newbie
Oct 24, 2013
6 posts
1 upvote
1. A passport isnt id like any other. It, along with a visa where necessary is for entry to other countries, and I don't want to go through the hassle of keeping such a valuable document around.

2. I'm not spending $150 & starting all over with a 2 yr learners DL & it takes a month to arrive anyway

3. I asked for people's experience using the photo card. I'm aware of the other options available
Sr. Member
Feb 28, 2013
945 posts
82 upvotes
Toronto
I opened an account with TD about 4 years ago without any valid photo ID. The woman who did it had to get her manager to OK it but, I think because I was a student they had more incentive than normal.

They gave me a credit card a few months later too without ever seeing any photo ID. Perhaps students would be good candidates to go into the identity theft business because banks want to secure that business.

Don't they just mail credit card to your home address? Ive always had it that way. Why are you picking it up in a branch?
Newbie
Oct 24, 2013
6 posts
1 upvote
[...]

Beans: All new cards have to be picked up in branch now even cap1 makes you take id to canada post as they toughened up the money laundering laws. They won't even make change for you unless you have an account.

The Canadian Bankers Association has the Ontario Photo Card listed so I'm going to assume it's now accepted same as a drivers license.
Sr. Member
Feb 28, 2013
945 posts
82 upvotes
Toronto
That's not true unless that has changed within the last 2 months?
Newbie
Oct 24, 2013
6 posts
1 upvote
They have to verify your identity when you open a new account. Online applications ask questions from your credit report to verify you but they can request a copy of id at any time. Follow the news? Banks report any "suspicious" financial transactions to FINTRAC. Even stuff like a shopkeeper making a $570 deposit in change. I've heard (but am unsure) that even reloadable cards are subject to id now bc folks have been caught with $100k+ worth of them
Deal Addict
Jan 30, 2012
1836 posts
1399 upvotes
TORONTO
atlantix wrote: Beans: All new cards have to be picked up in branch now
False. Not once have I ever picked up a credit card in a bank - they have always been mailed to to me.
atlantix wrote: even cap1 makes you take id to canada post as they toughened up the money laundering laws.
Also false. A bank has an obligation to identify its customers before issuing a credit card, but there are many ways to do so. Asking a third party to look at your photo ID is just one of the accepted methods. Capital One seems to ask some people for ID, but not all.
atlantix wrote: They won't even make change for you unless you have an account.
If you're not a customer, generally speaking a bank doesn't have to do business with you. There are some exceptions, such as cashing a federal govt cheque.
Deal Expert
Mar 25, 2005
22706 posts
3697 upvotes
atlantix wrote: [...]

Beans: All new cards have to be picked up in branch now even cap1 makes you take id to canada post as they toughened up the money laundering laws. They won't even make change for you unless you have an account.

The Canadian Bankers Association has the Ontario Photo Card listed so I'm going to assume it's now accepted same as a drivers license.
How do FIs without retail banks distribute cards? There is nothing requiring banks to force CC pick up. CapOne only uses CP verification when one's identity cannot be confirmed otherwise. Many FIs do this, including MBNA/TD. Since they do not have a physical person to verify ID, they use CP's clerks.
Deal Addict
User avatar
Dec 8, 2010
2564 posts
992 upvotes
If you don't have a passport or driving license, and they won't accept valid, government issued photo ID, I'd write and complain. Govt issued photo ID is govt issued photo ID.
Newbie
Oct 24, 2013
6 posts
1 upvote
Well this has gone way off topic but from my experience if you have a pre-existing relationship w a bank, they have already verified your identity & will mail cards. If you do not have a pre-exisiting relationship they will verify your identity online when you apply. If you respond to a mail or email offer they will require identification to pick up the card. It's just common sense.
It really doesn't matter, I have a bank acct, credit cards w a $10k cl for over 15 yrs. I recently let my license expire & switched to photo card. I had an offer for a rewards card & was considering accepting. All I wanted to know was if the banks had given anyone a hard time over the card as it wasn't released until 2011 and I've heard a mix of stories about banks refusing/accepting it
Deal Addict
May 11, 2005
2182 posts
218 upvotes
Ajax, ON, Canada
I've managed to stumble upon this thread right now and I'm really upset that not many businesses (not just banks) are "living under a rock" and they are not aware on what the Ontario Photo Card is all about.

The businesses though that it is not considered valid ID (despite being government issued) and they often assume that it is a fake. While many businsses DO have the right to refuse service, they DO NOT have the right to refuse this government issued photo ID card.

I've did some series of blog postings about the Ontario Photo Card in the past and in fact, I did some of those postings - which can be viewed here (I know that it is considered "Bad manners" to post something like this on this board for some second opinions, but I have the right to express myself and voicing these concerns)

In addition, I've also written a letter to my local newspaper about the Ontario Photo Card. It can be viewed here.
Sr. Member
Feb 28, 2013
945 posts
82 upvotes
Toronto
Other than the LCBO what business are you going to all the time that requires your photo ID? No, the beer store doesn't count either. Convenience stores for cigarettes perhaps? As a person with a disability, are you working or is this all on your ODSP?

Because you can open accounts, get credit cards, board domestic flights, pick up mail etc. without photo ID.
Deal Addict
May 11, 2005
2182 posts
218 upvotes
Ajax, ON, Canada
Beans1234 wrote: Other than the LCBO what business are you going to all the time that requires your photo ID? No, the beer store doesn't count either. Convenience stores for cigarettes perhaps? As a person with a disability, are you working or is this all on your ODSP?

Because you can open accounts, get credit cards, board domestic flights, pick up mail etc. without photo ID.
I'm on ODSP for the majority of that reason. Back to this topic and like I said, not many people are totally aware on what the Ontario Photo Card is. Before the Ontario Photo Card was introduced, I have to use my passport and provide proof of where I live. The only document that I had used for my proof of address - is my student transcript from my college that I used to attend (that transcript was dated June 2008!).
Deal Expert
Mar 25, 2005
22706 posts
3697 upvotes
mada726 wrote: I've managed to stumble upon this thread right now and I'm really upset that not many businesses (not just banks) are "living under a rock" and they are not aware on what the Ontario Photo Card is all about.

The businesses though that it is not considered valid ID (despite being government issued) and they often assume that it is a fake. While many businsses DO have the right to refuse service, they DO NOT have the right to refuse this government issued photo ID card.

I've did some series of blog postings about the Ontario Photo Card in the past and in fact, I did some of those postings - which can be viewed here (I know that it is considered "Bad manners" to post something like this on this board for some second opinions, but I have the right to express myself and voicing these concerns)

In addition, I've also written a letter to my local newspaper about the Ontario Photo Card. It can be viewed here.
What legislation mandates that businesses accept gov issued ID?
Deal Addict
May 11, 2005
2182 posts
218 upvotes
Ajax, ON, Canada
Kasakato wrote: What legislation mandates that businesses accept gov issued ID?
I haven't find any evidence of that legislation, but all businesses should (and must) accept the Ontario Photo Card. Even though that they can really assume that it is not considered valid ID (they thought it's a fake) despite being government-issued, they must accept it (as it would as a driver's license).

If I were you, I would probably raise this matter to your local MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament).

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