Why the CRA might owe you money; Airlines continue to deny compensation claims: CBC’s Marketplace cheat sheet

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Nearly 9 million Canadians have $1.4 billion in unwashed CRA checks – could you be one of them?

Good news from the Canada Revenue Agency about a change? Now that’s a treat.

Over the next month, the CRA, Canada’s tax agency, says it will start sending reminders to tens of thousands of Canadians to let them know they owe money they haven’t claimed.

On Monday, the CRA said it has about $1.4 billion in unwashed checks on its books, some of which has been owed since 1998. As of May, 8.9 million Canadians had There are certain types of unwashed checks that have their names attached to them. Tax authorities say the average amount owed is $158.

Although the CRA processes billions of dollars in taxes and refunds each year, not all of that money goes to the Canadians who are entitled to it, mainly because people lose checks or change addresses. , meaning they never got it in the first place.

“We want to make sure where this money ends up. In the taxpayer’s pocket!” tax authorities said.

The CRA said it will soon notify approximately 25,000 recipients of Canada’s child benefit and related provincial/territory programs, GST/HST credits and Alberta Energy Tax Refunds if they are owed, and two Another group of 25,000 people will be notified this November and in May 2023.

But if you think you might be one of those lucky Canadians, you might want to be a little more proactive. Read more

Customers cry over Air Canada, WestJet continues to deny some claims despite new directive

Judging from the plethora of anecdotal evidence, flying has been a bit of a headache lately.

Prolonged flight delays and crew shortages have led to chaos at many Canadian airports.

But a recent decision by the Canada Transportation Authority (CTA) that is supposed to help clear the air about at least once has caused frustration: flight compensation regulations.

In issuing its decision on the WestJet incident on July 8, the transportation regulator made it clear that, in general, airlines cannot refuse to compensate passengers for flight disruptions due to lack of service. crew.

However, the clarification only sparked fury among some passengers, including Frank Michel, who was denied compensation by Air Canada, and Jennifer Peach, denied by WestJet, due to crew shortages, limitations restrictions and safety concerns.

“It’s insulting,” said Michel of the Marquis, Sask.

Under federal regulations, airlines are only required to compensate — up to $1,000 per passenger — if the flight disruption is within the airline’s control and not safety-related.

WestJet and Air Canada both declined to comment on individual cases, but both said they were in compliance with federal air passenger regulations. WestJet says safety is its top priority. Air Canada says airlines will not be penalized for canceling flights for safety reasons.

But Michel says the company doesn’t play by the rules.

“The CTA has made it clear that crew constraints are not an acceptable excuse,” he said. “It’s not a safety issue. It’s a management issue. You have to manage your resources.” Read more

You tip your hairdresser, but what about yours? It might just be a matter of time

You can tip the person cutting your hair. Should you do the same to the person who is fixing your car?

Customers are increasingly seeing the bonus option on card payment machines in industries where tipping has never been part of the cost before, from auto shops to fast food giants.

The phenomenon, known as “tip creep,” is leaving bad taste in the minds of some consumers, who have vented online about being asked if they’d rather pay 15% or more more than their price. a takeaway pizza, an oil change or a propane refill.

Simon Pek, an associate professor at Victoria University’s Gustavson School, said: “Tipping is now spreading to more places, so where before we weren’t talked about tipping, it is now. seems to have become a lot more popular.” of Businesses, who study tipping methods.

As customers diverge from carrying cash, it’s easy for any business to ask for a little more money by adding automated reminders – what psychologists call “tips” – to the machine. their card payments.

Inflation may also play a role. For example, business owners might see adding a tip button as a way to satisfy workers’ need for higher pay without necessarily impacting their bottom line.

“We’ll still see lower sticker prices, we’ll still buy the product, and then it’ll go up 10 to 20% more after that – it can be frustrating, but people still do it and that often cheaper for a company than Pek says. Read more

Do you have an inflation story to share? Email us at the address marketplace@cbc.ca

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Polio has largely disappeared thanks to vaccines. So why is it now back in more countries?
Infections, wastewater samples in the UK, US, Israel point to challenges in eradicating the virus globally.

Climate change is taking a toll on our mental health. These researchers want to help
Scientists across Canada are trying to learn enough about climate anxiety to prevent and treat it.

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