I'd rather pull my teeth out than go into a bank branch to activate a credit card

It's annoying and backwards but it really doesn't take that long.

I felt the same when Scotia wanted me to come in. Finally found the time 2 months later and had the card activated within 5 minutes.

If you really want the card then go in and do it. If not then don't. It's not that big of a deal.

At the end of the day, they're doing it to not only protect themselves but also to protect you.

rustyone wrote: ↑ For some reason my new BMO airmiles credit card can only be activated by physically going into a branch.
I also received another BMO world elite card the same day in the mail that was easily activated online.

Oh, and don't waste your time calling in looking for help because "resistance is futile".

I've been a BMO cc user for over 10 years!

This is cramping my churning and burning.

So you applied 2 ccs on the same day. May be BMO wants to make sure the same person is doing this.

ml88888888 wrote: ↑ So you applied 2 ccs on the same day. May be BMO wants to make sure the same person is doing this.

I received both cards to the same address on the same day, one not requiring in branch activation, ( the premium card ) and the other standard card requiring in branch.
The frustrating part is when you call into the cc customer service, they cannot override even though they authenticate me, and see I have 4 bmo cc's.

So I go the branch to take my lumps and there are about 20 people in line.
Which tooth should I pull out first?

I had a similar situation with Scotia. I picked up the card from a branch and the took it home. When I tried to activate it, they said I needed to go into the branch to activate it.

I cancelled the account instead.

rustyone wrote: ↑ Which tooth should I pull out first?

I vote Molar.
And can you take video please?
And if you really want BMO to know how frustrated you are, I recommend you do it in branch!

batcave wrote: ↑ I had a similar situation with Scotia. I picked up the card from a branch and the took it home. When I tried to activate it, they said I needed to go into the branch to activate it.

I cancelled the account instead.

But I want those promo air miles first, this is RFD after all!

MayorOfToronto wrote: ↑ It's annoying and backwards but it really doesn't take that long.

It does if you don't live anywhere near a branch. If you live in Flin Flon, the nearest branch is 350km away.

Check out this Nunavut RFDer's experience with Canadian Tire Bank's ID verification:

xgbsSS wrote: ↑ CTFS was useless when i did this. They insisted going to the store. If you notice, I live in Nunavut. The agent first told me she didn't believe me there was not Canadian Tire stores in Nunavut ("we are across the country! It's in our name!").

Oh man, take it easy. When I started the churning train someone told me churning at your own risk. There are numerous DP report that new cardholders have to visit the branch for ID proof.

Kiraly wrote: ↑ It does if you don't live anywhere near a branch. If you live in Flin Flon, the nearest branch is 350km away.

Check out this Nunavut RFDer's experience with Canadian Tire Bank's ID verification:

Why have a CT card that earns CT points and is best used at CT stores if you don't have any CT near you?

Anyway..

Hey, @rustyone, do you happen to live in Flin Flon?

Have never had to activate in store.

Majority of the time it was online or phone [just press a few buttons] but a few did want activation thru phone with live rep.

Kiraly wrote: ↑ It does if you don't live anywhere near a branch. If you live in Flin Flon, the nearest branch is 350km away.

Check out this Nunavut RFDer's experience with Canadian Tire Bank's ID verification:

Just an update to this...

I found the reason and this is a chronic issue in Canada where our Credit Files are not being updated regularly. I have lived in Nunavut for years, yet my credit report always had my old Edmonton address despite my bills updating the address for years.

So the solution I found is the following...

Request a free credit report from both Transunion and Equifax by paper method

https://www.consumer.equifax.ca/persona ... t/#by_mail
https://assets.equifax.com/assets/canad ... stForm.pdf

https://www.transunion.ca/product/consumer-disclosure
https://www.transunion.ca/content/dam/t ... orm_en.pdf

Both these companies have the worst customer service and this is why we have such poor credit report mismatching while not actually protecting consumers. But I find doing it by paper forces your address to be updated and it works.

Now whether this works with BMO in this particular predicament is a whole different issue. I am told in many instances, if you live near a branch or close enough to the branch, the default is branch pickup so they can verify your ID.

MayorOfToronto wrote: ↑ Why have a CT card that earns CT points and is best used at CT stores if you don't have any CT near you?

Because I do on occasion fly down south? Also you can use it online too?

Either way I have huge bills and insurance investing I can greatly benefit from by using CT bill pay so why it is valuable for me.

I was eventually able to get the card by using the method above and re-applying.

@Kiraly I'm rather touched you remember my CTFS predicament lol Medical school didn't work out for me which would have been $17500 in tuition a year where I was waitlisted (UofS).

But I currently am funding universal life policy quite aggressively so have accumulated quite a bit this way. I think the few hundred dollars in eCTM has been very valuable for me.

rustyone wrote: ↑ For some reason my new BMO airmiles credit card can only be activated by physically going into a branch.
I also received another BMO world elite card the same day in the mail that was easily activated online.

Oh, and don't waste your time calling in looking for help because "resistance is futile".

I've been a BMO cc user for over 10 years!

This is cramping my churning and burning.

Funny I have the exact same story. I have a BMO card that could only be activated by going in - I downgraded it from a card that had an annual fee, so they credited me back the annual fee and downgraded the card to a free one.

It's been something like 6 months now and I still can't be bothered to go to the branch and activate this... I don't even care about the card anymore, I just want my money back.

gei wrote: ↑ Funny I have the exact same story. I have a BMO card that could only be activated by going in - I downgraded it from a card that had an annual fee, so they credited me back the annual fee and downgraded the card to a free one.

It's been something like 6 months now and I still can't be bothered to go to the branch and activate this... I don't even care about the card anymore, I just want my money back.

If you cared enough about the card then you'd find time to go in.

If you cared enough about the money they credited to the card then you'd find time to go in.

If not, then you'd just ignore it as you're doing.

Right?

So if OP cared enough to get this card then he'd find time to go in and get it dealt with. Otherwise pull your teeth and move on.

@rustyone, I suggest starting with your incisors.

Identity Theft is on the RISE, Banks are doing their part, you should do your part too, just go into the branch there are SOO many BMO locations in the GTA, you can find one on every major neighbourhood

GoodFellaz wrote: ↑ Identity Theft is on the RISE, Banks are doing their part, you should do your part too, just go into the branch there are SOO many BMO locations in the GTA, you can find one on every major neighbourhood

RFD makes me laugh out loud sometimes. Of course there's a branch near the OP because the GTA has branches everywhere. A quick look at the OP's posting history reveals he's NOT in the GTA.

Kiraly wrote: ↑ RFD makes me laugh out loud sometimes. Of course there's a branch near the OP because the GTA has branches everywhere. A quick look at the OP's posting history reveals he's NOT in the GTA.

Based on a quick google maps search there are about 5-6 BMOs around little old Cambridge.

So, again, if OP really wanted this card then he'd make the time to go to a branch and get it dealt with. It's for his own benefit at the end of the day. Identity theft is a real problem and not an easy one to get over.

MayorOfToronto wrote: ↑ Based on a quick google maps search there are about 5-6 BMOs around little old Cambridge.

So, again, if OP really wanted this card then he'd make the time to go to a branch and get it dealt with. It's for his own benefit at the end of the day. Identity theft is a real problem and not an easy one to get over.

Where does your detective skills lead you to think I am, Cambridge? Negatory good buddy.

I think you're missing the point here. With 2 bmo CC'S already in possession, and 2 more arriving on the same day to the same person and address, why are there two different methods of activation and why can't they override that when I validate my credentials over the phone.

It's actually easier to apply for another card than dealing with hassle of a branch visit.