To the point
PC Financial today announced the launch of its new credit card to help you earn more PC Optimum points.
Features of the new PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard
A few more points
PC Financial has launched its first credit card with an annual fee. This new PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard card costs $120 per year and, in return, earns more points than other PC Financial cards.
It looks just like the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard. Predictably, there may be some confusion between the two. So, here are the characteristics of each to differentiate them:
|
PC Financial World Elite Mastercard
|
New PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard | |
| Annual fee | $0 | $120 |
| Optimum Points earned at Loblaws stores (points / $1 purchase) |
30 points at Wholesale Club, Maxi and Provigo only |
40 points (everywhere) |
| Optimum points accumulated at Shoppers Drug Mart (points / $1 purchase) | 45 points | 50 points |
| Optimum points earned at Esso and Mobil (points/litre of purchase) | 30 points | 50 points per liter + 20 extra points if 150 liters purchased in a month |
| Everywhere else (points / $1 purchase) | 10 points | 10 points |
| Minimum annual income required | $80,000 individual income or $150,000 household income | $80,000 individual income or $150,000 household income |
| PC Express Pass subscription | – | Free |
Please note that the Optimum points accumulated above already include the base points accumulated at Shoppers Drug Mart (15 points / $1 purchase) and at Esso and Mobil (10 points per / $1 purchase).
Free subscription to the PC Express Pass
The best thing about the new PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard is that you get the PC Express Pass for free.
This pass costs $99.99 plus tax (or $114.96 including tax in Quebec, for example). This is almost equivalent to the $120 annual fee for the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard.
People using this benefit get free pickup and delivery on orders of $35 or more. This can be advantageous for people who already use this pass.
If you already have a PC Express Pass and are taking out this new card, you will receive a prorated refund of your PC Express Pass subscription fees on the credit card after a few business days.
However, your subscription to the PC Insiders program will be cancelled if you take this card, and you will not be able to re-register (as this subscription is no longer available as of September 2022). You will then receive a pro rata refund. We must consider it carefully.
Other features of the new PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard
In addition to all this, it offers, among other things:
- Up to 4 additional cardholders free of charge ;
- Emergency medical insurance for trips of 10 days or less;
- Identity theft assistance.
PC Mastercard cardholders automatically approved
Certain existing eligible PC Mastercard cardholders are automatically approved for this new PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard card.
They can check their eligibility and then upgrade directly in their PC Financial online account. Here’s how to do it:
- Log in to PC Financial to access your profile or open your mobile application;
- If you are eligible, a PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard logo will appear on the home screen;
- Click on this thumbnail and follow the instructions to change your card.
Bottom Line
If you don’t intend to use the PC Express Pass, this new card won’t earn you as much as the PC Financial World Elite Mastercard.
Yes, you’ll earn more points with the PC Insiders World Elite Mastercard. However, it remains to be seen whether the extra 5 points at Shoppers Drug Mart (worth 0.5 cent), the extra 10 points at Loblaws (worth 1 cent) or the extra 40 points at Esso and Mobil (worth 4 cents) are worth the $120 annual fee.
You would then have to spend at least enough to break even this cost, and this would then start to pay off:
- $ 3,000 worth of gas at Esso or Mobil
- or $12,000 at Loblaws group grocery stores
- or $24,000 in purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart
If you go to different grocery stores, we recommend that you opt for a “general-purpose” credit card with a “Grocery” purchase category:
- Up to 5 points per dollar at all grocery stores with The National Bank’s World Elite Mastercard®
- 4% cash back at all grocery stores with the CIBC Dividend® Visa* Card Infinite*
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
