Well I have to admit, I’m about to use my credit card a heck of a lot more than I usually do – and with no signs of stopping. It also has nothing to do with Christmas either, I’ve actually saved some money for Christmas, want to know why?
RBC (my main chequing account bank) is about to launch an iPhone app which will allow me to pay bills via my phone. This may sound like an application that you’d only use for viewing balances or something – but I have an idea which seems to make sense (in my head at least).
Ever since I started budgeting and really getting a grip on my finances, I no longer spend money that I don’t know I’m spending. I watch my bank account daily, and also track my spending. So what I plan on doing, is pay everything with my credit card – and when I have two seconds, simply transfer the money from my bank to the credit card. Bill payments are free via RBC, so why not take advantage?
Which brings me to my next point.. why would someone want to go through this process? Easy.. Free Rewards!! I have an "Air Miles" Mastercard and I would have to guess that every year I get approximately $200 to $300 worth of free groceries just from whipping out the Air Miles card at Sobeys and also by my Mastercard purchases such as my home heating oil, some urban clothes, online purchases, etc.. Previously, I’d avoid using my Mastercard for most purchases as I didn’t want to use it if I didn’t have to, and sometimes I’d forget to make the payment immediately for the purchases I just made when I eventually did sit at a computer – this way I don’t have to!
Yes, hypothetically I could do the exact same thing now by using the web browser on my phone and such, but putting in all my login information and trying to navigate around on the tiny screen would be kind of a pain to do it on any regular basis, so I’m really looking forward to the launch of their iPhone app – I’ll be doing a full review of the application on the blog once it’s launched 
Powered by 
But will you receive the points for paying bills? Doing a transfer with online banking will most likely get recorded as a cash advancement and not a new purchase and airmiles will happily ignore those transactions as a way to avoid double dipping by transferring balances back and forth. I also have an airmiles mastercard and can only claim the points if the spending is a new purchase.
I’m not sure what you mean, why would they be cash advances? At Sobeys for example.. I will pay with my credit card.. say.. $75.
I will then, when I get to the car.. log into my RBC mobile app and then transfer a payment of $75 to my credit card.
It’s a valid purchase on the card, and a valid bill payment from RBC.. just like I’d make any other payment to my credit card.
Sure, buying something at sobeys is fine but when you said bill payments, I thought you were referring to paying your cell phone, maritime electric and other similar bills with your credit card using online banking.
I pay all but maritime electric via my credit card.. they dont' take it… oil, bellaliant, etc.
Maritime Electric does take credit card via their website but they charge a $5 processing fee for every $100. Are you paying direct or through online banking? I get points from Bell if I pay using their website but I do not get points if I pay using my online banking.