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Updated April 29, 2020
The Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard is a strong no-fee credit card available to just about every Canadian, no matter their financial situation. With perks that include 4% cash back at Canadian Tire and other stores, plus 5¢ per liter savings on gas, this is a great card for anyone with a daily commute or regular shoppers at Canadian Tire.
However, the changes made to the American Express Cobalt Card on February 14, 2020 make it a much stronger card than the Triangle Mastercard. We recommend any Canadian looking for an exceptional low-fee card apply for the Cobalt Card before the current promotion of up to 30,000 points disappears.
Basic Features of The Triangle Mastercard
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Annual Interest Rate | 19.99 – 27.99% depending on your income level |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.5% |
| Cash Advance Fee | $4 charged when a transaction is posted to your account |
Yes – you read it right. The Triangle Mastercard has a $0 annual fee. However, there is a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, so you may want to leave this card at home if you’re travelling abroad to somewhere like Europe or Asia.
What Is Canadian Tire Money (CTM)?
Canadian Tire Money is the rewards currency for Canadian Tire. In the early days, CTM was made of physical paper notes, and was issued at a cashback rate of 0.4% of every purchase made at Canadian Tire stores. You could trade in the paper notes as cash for future purchases at Canadian Tire stores.
Today, CTM has gone paperless. It was first replaced with the Triangle Rewards and is now known as electronic Canadian Tire Money (eCTM), but CTM and eCTM are exactly the same. Once you receive your Triangle Mastercard, your card gets linked with your CTM ‘e-money’ account so that you can accumulate points in both places.
If you don’t have a Triangle Rewards Card, not to worry – every Triangle Mastercard holder is automatically enrolled in the Triangle Rewards program so you can collect CTM. CTM never expires: it stays with you, even if you don’t use it, for as long as you like.
Your CTM can’t be transferred to other rewards programs, and it can only be redeemed at Canadian Tire stores. You can also donate your CTM to charities or community groups if you choose.
Triangle Mastercard Benefits
The biggest benefit of the Triangle Mastercard is the cashback you receive in the form of Canadian Tire Money (CTM).
| Benefit | Details |
| CTM Earn Rate on Purchases | • 4% at Canadian Tire & participating stores (see below) on the pre-tax purchase amount. • 0.8% on purchases everywhere else. |
| CTM Earn Rate on Gas | • 5¢ back per litre on all fuel types at Canadian Tire Gas+ and Husky locations. |
| Equal Payment Plan | • 24-month financing with 0% interest on purchases above $150 at participating stores (see below). |
| No Receipt Returns | Return products without a receipt with ease at participating stores (see below). |
| Other Benefits | • Weekly bonuses • Personalized offers • Access to members-only events |
The “participating stores” where you earn 4% CTM are:
- Sport Chek
- Atmosphere
- Mark’s Work Wearhouse
- Sports Experts
- Hockey Experts
- Sports Rousseau
- L’Entrepôt du Hockey
- L’Équipeur
- And obviously Canadian Tire!
With such a broad network of retailers where you earn CTM, the Triangle Mastercard’s rewards system is perfect for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
Triangle Mastercard Earn Rate #1: 4% CTM At Participating Stores
The 4% CTM earned with the Triangle Mastercard only applies to the pre-tax purchase amount, not the total amount, which means that the cashback you’ll receive will be less than 4%.
Here’s how the math works out:
| Purchase Amount | $100 |
| CTM Earned | $4 |
| Average Sales Tax in Canada | 13% |
| Total Cost Including Tax | $113 |
| Real % of CTM Earned | 3.53% |
If your purchase costs $100, you’ll earn $4 in CTM. And with an average sales tax of 13% in Canada, the total purchase comes to $113, which means the $4 in CTM you earn is 3.53% of the total purchase paid. Even though the real earn rate is 3.53%, not 4%, it’s still nearly a 10x step up from the 0.4% cashback Canadian Tire used to offer.
Triangle Mastercard Earn Rate #2: 5¢ Per Liter Savings On Gas
When you use your Triangle Mastercard at Canadian Tire Gas+ or Husky gas stations, you save an incredible 5¢ per liter on gas. As of late 2019, there are more than 300 Canadian Tire Gas+ and more than 500 Husky gas stations across Canada.
So with gas prices averaging around $1.22 for the second half of 2019, those 5¢ per litre savings are equivalent to another 4% savings on your spending.
Important Note: The Cobalt Card also offers 2x the points on gas purchases at all gas stations across Canada, which is a return of about 2-4% depending on how you use your points. So if you don’t have a Canadian Tire Gas+ or Husky location near your house, it’s just one more reason to opt for the Cobalt Card instead.
Triangle Mastercard Earn Rate #3: 0.8% CTM Everywhere Else
On top of earning 4% cash back on pre-tax purchases at Canadian Tire and participating stores AND 5¢ per liter savings on gas, you also earn 0.8% CTM on all other purchases on the Triangle Mastercard. This includes any travel purchases you make, bills you pay with your card, or anything else. There’s no limit to the amount of CTM you can earn.
Other Ways To Earn CTM
On top of these earning rates, Canadian Tire offers CTM bonuses as well. They send exclusive e-mail offers to members with special discounts, and also make offers available in the Canadian Tire app.
Canadian Tire also puts on Triangle Rewards Days, a multi-day event where bonuses range from 10x-50x the CTM on your purchases at Canadian Tire and participating stores in addition to what you already earn.
Additional Perks Of The Triangle Mastercard
Equal Payment Plan
The Equal Payment Plan allows you to pay for purchases over a much longer period than the traditional 30-day payment period on credit cards. For purchases of $150 or more, you can pay across 24 monthly payments.
The Equal Payment Plan doesn’t charge any interest, so as long as you pay your monthly bill, you won’t pay a dime more than you would otherwise. To use the Equal Payment Plan in-store, simply ask the cashier for financing. To use the Equal Payment Plan online, select the Equal Payments option on the checkout page.
No Receipt Refund
As long as you used your Triangle Mastercard to pay for the purchase, no receipt is required to return an item. This is an extremely convenient benefit for those of us who aren’t great at keeping track of all the paperwork in our lives. Of course, the CTM you earned on that purchase will automatically be deducted when you return the item.
Triangle Mastercard vs. American Express Cobalt
The Triangle Mastercard is a great free card, but if you’re willing to spend just $10/month, you can get a whole lot more with the American Express Cobalt Card. The Cobalt Card has a welcome bonus of up to 30,000 MR points, which you can redeem for rewards worth $600 or more.
Here are a few more features of the Cobalt Card:
- $100 USD annual hotel credit for spa, restaurants and other amenities at The Hotel Collection participating properties
- Complimentary room upgrades at The Hotel Collection participating properties
- 5X the points on eligible eats and drinks, including groceries and food delivery
- 2X the points on eligible travel & transit purchases, including gas
- An exceptional travel medical insurance plan
- Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan
- Purchase Protection Plan
- Up to 9 free additional cards
- And even more…
If you’re looking for a low-fee card that gives you way more than the Triangle Mastercard, the American Express Cobalt Card is the card for you.
How To Get A Triangle Mastercard
Getting a Triangle Mastercard is dead simple since Canadian Tire does not have strict requirements for approving applicants. There’s no minimum annual income or minimum credit score to apply for the card, so if you want to save 5¢ per litre on gas and get all of the other benefits of the card, it could be a good card for you.
In Summary
The Triangle Mastercard is a valuable card to have in your wallet, especially since there are no annual fees or costs involved. And since your CTM never expires, you can accumulate it for years before splurging on that new snowblower, bicycle or thoughtful Christmas gift.
However, with the exceptional offer currently available on the American Express Cobalt Card, we highly recommend getting a Cobalt Card instead. It offers you far more bang for your buck than the Triangle MasterCard, and we’re certain you’ll be glad you applied.
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Canadian Tire Mastercard customer service is something to be desired!
I applied for their card in February 2019. A month later I got a promotion at work and moved from Manitoba to Ontario. I still hadn’t received a decision on my credit card app so I assumed I was declined.
Fast forward now to January 2020. I was in their store and decided to apply again. I was informed by the store associate that I already had an established account with them and given a telephone number to call. I called in when I got home and since I didn’t have an account number to provide I was asked a series of security questions (current address, phone, etc.). Unfortunately, their records indicated my previous Manitoba information so my current Ontario information I provided did not verify. My account was “flagged” and I was told that I had to go into a store in person and present my identification.
I did as instructed and went into a store and told the associate I was inquiring about an account that was open in my name. I presented my I.D. and the associate called into credit card customer to have my account looked-up. I was told a Mastercard account was approved back in March 2019, I was assigned a credit limit of $3K and I had a zero balance. A plastic card was mailed to my old address but was returned.
When I told the store associate that I needed the address on my account updated and a replacement card issued I was told I would have to call into customer service for assistance. The customer service I received when I called in was less than satisfactory. In fact, the rep was somewhat rude. I was told my account would not be updated and a new card issued until I went into a store and presented by identification as I was previously told. I explained I followed the instructions I was given but it appears that wasn’t good enough. I was told I should inform the store associate that my identification needed to be called in and documented. So it appears it was my responsibility to tell the store associate what to do and how to do their job. Get real!
Besides, the store associate did call their customer service in order to have my account information and credit limit looked up. I was told I would have to return to a store and repeat the process. By this time stores all over Ontario were closed due to Coronavirus so there was no way for me to go in. I researched CTFS website and found an email address I could use to contact them. A message was sent and a week later I received a reply stating the nature of my request could not be handled via unsecured email and I would need to call into customer service and speak to a representative over the telephone.
Remembering what happened before I did the next best thing … I put my request in a writing and along with copies of my identification and utility bills (to verify my address) I mailed a letter to their customer service address. That was over thirty days ago and they still haven’t bothered to respond. I have excellent credit and monitor my reports every couple of months. I noticed CTFS had been reporting the account to my credit file since it was first opened back in March 2019.
To my surprise I noticed they just cut my limit down to $1,500. A bit unfair when you take into consideration that account has never been used and I can’t get anyone over there to update my address and send me a replacement card. If you are thinking about applying for their credit card I suggest considering a different bank. They simply aren’t worth all the wasted time and headaches you could possibly face. CTFS needs to realize they need me more than I need them!
Received my letter of approval today. Went into store, and was told my ID wasn’t good enough (all I have is a Quebec Health card – with photo). I don’t drive. I don’t have a passport. They called in and said nothing I offered was good enough. I called in while the employee was waiting, and was treated like crap by the person I spoke to. They wrecked my credit rating with their approval, and get nothing out of it. So very disappointed with this situation.
Hi AJ, I’m really sorry to hear that, though it’s true that sometimes credit card providers will not accept provincial health cards as the primary piece of identification on your account. Have you tried calling Canadian Tire Financial Services at 1-800-459-6415 to ask them about this directly? It’s possible that the employee you spoke with at the store was incorrect and you will still be able to be approved, so I’d definitely try calling them just in case.
As for your credit rating being, we suggest looking deeper into the impact this had by checking your credit score with Credit Verify. You can see your score with their 1-week $1 trial, plus a whole host of other helpful information. Here’s where you can sign up, I hope it helps.
Hi
I brought my ID to Canadian Tire a week ago.
How can I be sure that they faxed the completed form requested .
Hi Veronique, I suggest calling Canadian Tire Financial Services at 1-800-459-6415 to ask them about this – it’s not a question we’re able to answer.
I have a supplementary card and I am the primary card holder. I wanted to add the supplementary card into my on-line account but it doesn’t let me do it. However, there is an option of adding a supplementary cardin the on-line account. What should I do?
Hi Laura, I’m not sure why you wouldn’t be able to add your supplementary card online, but I suggest reaching out to Canadian Tire Financial Services directly by calling the phone number on the back of your card. They’ll be able to assist you there.
I applied for the Triangle card 2 days ago. I just got a voicemail from CTFS saying to call them. Why would they be calling exactly?
Hi AJ, it’s very hard to know why Canadian Tire Financial Services might be calling, but sometimes they need to verify your identity or ask additional questions to ensure you meet their standards for the card. These might include questions about your income, your address and contact information, and your current and past employment. I suggest calling them back to see what they need to know.
I applied for the Triangle Mastercard on April 13th and haven’t heard from them neither by email nor mail since. How long can it take before knowing if I’m approved or not?
Hi Nancy, I suggest calling Canadian Tire Financial Services at 1-800-459-6415 to ask them about the status of your application. Other readers have commented that their applications have been slow, too, which may be a consequence of COVID-19.
Is the 12 and 24 monthly payments automatically done or is there something I must do at check out
If you’re shopping in-store, ask the cashier for financing. If you’re shopping online, select the Equal Payments option on the checkout page.
I received a letter in the mail after applying, saying I was approved, but didn’t tell me any limit, but did tell me to go to the CT store to verify my I’d. I did that, and they faxed it back. But my question is why would I be offered a card and be approved without knowing what I’m approved for?
Canadian Tire does things a little bit differently from other credit card providers, so it’s tough for us to say why they would ask you to do this. If you still don’t know what your credit limit is, you can call the number on the back of your card.
It has been more than 15 days since I applied for the Triangle Elite master card. I did receive a call for my work contact number; I have given them my employer contact and informed the agent that due to Covid 19, I am not sure if someone will answer.
How do I know the status of my application? I have not received any other call after that.
Hi Rana, I suggest calling Canadian Tire Financial Services at 1-800-459-6415 to ask them about the status of your application.
Do u guys send a new card, my card is expiring May 2020
Hi Seth, Canadian Tire should have sent you a new card already, so I recommend calling the number on the back of your card to ask them when you can expect it.
I have outstanding Credit and a low balance on my card. However I just noticed my credit limit dropped from 18,000 to 9,000. What are the reasons for this?????
Hi Grant, it’s tough to give an exact reason for why that might’ve happened, but you can call the Canadian Tire Financial Services number on the back of your card to ask them. They should have an answer for you.
I initially had a credit limit of $20,000. I also had several other cards with similar lines. After recieving a letter to use it or lose it, I called and they said I can make even a small purchase to keep the card active. I never heard of that before but OK, so I did. After that, they have every six months steadily decreased my limit from 20,000 to 15,000 to 10,000 to 5,000 and now $3,000. When I initially called about why they decreased my limit when I used the card, they were suddenly rude for no reason, irrate, and claimed that they can do what ever they want out of hte blue. It was a very strange call and my limits went down every six months ever since.
Anyways, in short this card stinks. I am going to cancel it.
Hey Jack, sorry to hear about your poor experience with the Triangle Mastercard, this seems really out of character for Canadian Tire, which normally has quite understanding customer service reps. Thanks for sharing your experience either way. You might want to consider the American Express Cobalt Card instead, which we mention a few times in the post, and believe is a better, more valuable alternative to the Triangle Mastercard. I’d be shocked to hear if Amex did something like that to you.
Hi, I applied and received the card. When I went to activate it I was denied. The only reason I applied for the card was to avoid using cash. Haven’t and don’t need credit. Can I secure to the limit with cash? I already have the thing.
how do I check my up to date balance online?
Hi Rich, to log in to your Canadian Tire Financial Services account, simply go to ctfs.com and click Login.
Hello,
What are the requirements to be be approved for this card? Example minimum income and credit score? Can the self employed apply as well?
Hi John, some of the Canadian Tire cards (like the Triangle World Elite Mastercard) have a minimum income requirement. However, this card, the Triangle Mastercard, does not, and yes, the self-employed are also welcome to apply. As for a minimum credit score required for the card, Canadian Tire doesn’t make that information public, but in our experience it’s very easy to be approved for the card. Good luck!
Is there a purchase limit let’s say my limit is 8000 and I buy a car for 7000 will it past or it’s cap .
Hi Rob, making a purchase that keeps your balance below your overall credit limit should be fine, though sometimes credit card providers do have additional security checks in place if you try to go significantly over your average balance in a single transaction. In that case, you’ll generally just need to call Canadian Tire Financial Services and let them know about the transaction before making the transaction, or once you’ve attempted to process it. They’ll ask you a couple of security questions to verify your identity and from there you’ll be good to go.
Good Day Yore Oyster, I applied for the TM on March 14th without any expectation of getting approved.. It came in the mail yesterday with an initial credit limit of $2500, I was in shock! Anyways, before I call CS, I thought I’d ask an expert like yourself.. What is the maximum cash advance limit for a $2500 credit limit? Your response would be gr8ly appreciated.. Have a gr8 day..😎
Hi Aslam, congrats on being approved for the Triangle Mastercard! You should be able to withdraw the entire $2,500 as a cash advance if you choose, though you’ll have to spread the withdrawals out over the course of several days.
Please advise how I can apply for a secondary card .
Thanks
Hi Rita, call the phone number on the back of your existing card and a customer service rep will help you apply for a supplementary card.
I’m just wondering if someone was able to have more than 1 triangle card in there name at the same time. Is there a limit? Thanks
Hi Tim, if you’re talking about having different Triangle cards, such as the Triangle Mastercard and the Triangle World Elite Mastercard, you can definitely do that. As for having multiple Triangle Mastercards in the same name, that’s not possible.
I’m on my third card. The first one was cancelled because a merchant “swiped” the card. LOCKED!
Received a second card…”chip read fail” I DID NOT let merchants swipe it but frustration led to phone calls to CTB.
Low and behold, ANOTHER card was sent to me and I was told “Our cards do not support ‘old technology’ which is why the chip can’t be read on some machines. The ‘lock’ feature is a courtesy in the event your card was lost or stolen.”
My latest card…CHIP FAIL AT MY LOCAL CANADIAN TIRE STORE!
I’ve lost out on lots of Canadian Tire Money because the card doesn’t work everywhere.
I’m in East Vancouver BC
Getting rather fed up!
Can I pay my Triangle balance in a CT store?
Hi Lorrie, no, you can’t pay off the balance on your Triangle Mastercard in a Canadian Tire store. You’ll need to pay it through a method like online banking instead.
What is the credit limit on a canadiantire triangle credit card
Hi Darwin, the credit limit on your Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard depends on your income, past credit history, and all of the other factors that impact your overall credit score. Everyone receives a different credit limit with their card.
Hello,
Where can I use my Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard to make a cash advance? Thank you.
Hi Lou, you should be able to make a cash advance with your Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard at any ATM that accepts Mastercard. Give it a try and let us know how it goes.
Can the card be used at any businesses?
Hi Maureen – yes, the Canadian Tire Triangle Mastercard can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, both in Canada and around the world.
Normally my payments fall on the 27th of each month and are usually get paid on the 29th of each month. Is there such thing as a two day grace period Following the payment date.
Hi Paula, we don’t recommend paying your bill after the due date, because then you will incur interest charges on your overdue balance. Many credit card providers will offer a grace period of a couple of days the first time you miss your payment date, but if you do it consistently, they’ll start charging you.
Do I need both a triangle points card and a Canadian Tire Mastercard. Just got the Mastercard can I toss the points card?
If you’ve always got your Mastercard with you, you won’t need the points card, since all of the points will automatically be applied to your account on every Mastercard purchase. Still, it doesn’t hurt to have both.
When using the equal monthly payment option does it use the full amount of credit available for the transaction size or just the monthly payment amount. Say your full amount was $650.00 but monthly payment is $27 ish dollars which will show up on your balance usage.
Hi William, only the monthly payment amount will show up on your balance (in this example, $27), so you can continue to use the rest of your credit for other purchases.
Is 12/24 months payment plan applicable even if you buy from non CT store?
Yes, the 12-month and 24-month payment plans work at all of these stores:
I applied online a week ago. I received an email last week but still no card.
Hi Kay, normally applicants hear from Canadian Tire within a couple of days, but since Canada Post is severely backed up right now due to the Christmas rush, your card may be delayed in getting to you. I’d wait until a few days after the holidays and if you don’t hear from them by then, give them a call or apply for the card again. Merry Christmas!
Hi I got approved about a month ago and sent my application form to get my card and it’s been about 4 weeks now and I still haven’t received it
Hi Hailey, that’s really odd. I suggest you give them a call at 1-800-459-6415 to ask about the whereabouts of your card, because it should’ve only taken about 1 week to arrive.
I applied for the triangle MasterCard over 2 weeks ago,I never recurved a e-mail or anything in the mail yet, idk if I been approved or not, how long could it take? To hear of approval or not,
Hi Jack, normally you should hear from Canadian Tire within a couple of days. However, since Canada Post is severely backed up right now due to the Christmas rush, your response may be delayed. I’d wait until a few days after the holidays and if you don’t hear from them by then, give them a call or apply for the card again.
I applied for my triangle mastercard instore and was instantly approved. How long will it take before I receive my card in the mail?
Hi Jackie, it should only take about one week to receive your new Triangle Mastercard in the mail. Give us an update when it arrives!
Does it have to be one item or can it be a bunch of things adding up to 200 before taxes in order to do a 12 month payment?
The total purchase size needs to be at least $200 for the 12-month payment plan. The easy way to think about this is that your receipt should show at least $200 before taxes. So the 12-month payment plan will become available if you buy something for $100 and something else for $150 from the same merchant at the same time, but not if you buy them across two different receipts (eg. one from one retailer and one from another). The same goes for the 24-month payment plan at the $500 level.
I want to report a scam on my triangle m/c. Is there a number you can give me?
Hi Jeannine, I’m very sorry to hear that you’ve had a fraudulent charge on your Triangle Mastercard. I strongly suggest calling the number on the back of your card, or 1-800-459-6415, as soon as possible so they can freeze or cancel your card and prevent any further damage.
How much is fee that charge for cash advance transaction, let’s say transfer with Paypal.
Hi Sarah, the cash advance fee on the Triangle Mastercard is $4 per transaction.
I purchased something 2 months ago and used a 12 equal monthly payment plan so my question is if I purchase something over $200 now can I get the 12 equal payment plan again?
Hi Hannah – yes, you’ll be able to use the 12-month payment plan again on your next purchase above $200. If you buy something above $500, you’ll be able to use the 24-month payment plan as well.
How do I know if I have been approved
Hi Darren, you should receive an email from Canadian Tire Financial Services (CTFS) directly letting you know that you’ve been approved for the Triangle MasterCard.
How long does this usually take to find out if you are approved or not?
Generally it just a couple of days to be approved. When did you apply?