According to TD Canada Trust’s Customer Service web page on FATCA:
“TD is committed to providing impacted customers with support and information to ensure they receive a comfortable experience once the law comes into effect.”
Let the full-page ads begin:
@Deckard1138
Is that an electric chair? LOL , I am not a TD account holder. I noticed more TD banks in Florida than in Ontario last time I visited. It is very American.
I think that I’d prefer The Comfy Chair. 🙂
http://youtu.be/XnS49c9KZw8
This post is inflammatory (from the CBA point of view).
Which is to say that I congratulate the Isaac Brock Society on a series of very inflammatory posts exposing the extreme position of the Canadian banks which are putting their own assets before the essential human rights of their clients, and the saying that it will be a “comfortable experience”. I wonder how they would feel when they receive the notice from the IRS that they now have to pay 50% of their financial assets to the United States Treasury? Would they find that “comfortable” or more like a having nails stuck under one’s finger nails?
This makes me hate the banks. They are violating the Canadian charter of rights in order to make up for their bad investment decision to invest in US banking assets. I invested in the US too, and I’ve essential had to count it as a loss. But it’s not too late for TD to spin off its US assets and to become a Canadian bank again.
I wish I could meet the spin doctor who came up with that phrase to describe FATCA “comfortable experience” Yes, signing away your rights and being treated differently than every other Canadian can now be called being made “comfortable.” What are they resorting to handing out Xanax whilst having you sign away your rights?
@AtticusinCanada
I believe the spin doctor’s name was de Sade.
@Deckard1138
Your post is hilarious! I laughed so hard, and that’s hard to do when I haven’t had my coffee yet! I woke up thinking about all those pissed off Canadians posting on the CBC article. This is my new reality. Thanks for the laugh!
@Uncle Tell
I love Monty Python…You are great to put this up…Can’t stop laughing.
The chair slays me.
If the whole issue were not so pathetic, I would be rolling on the floor.
Comfortable discrimination. Do you get a free pen with that?
@All
Note point 5:
“5. Will TD participate?
” . . . , TD will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where TD operates.”
Comment: So Canada is now a “jurisdiction” where U.S. laws and regulations are “applicable”?
The really good news is that TD Bank is desperately waiting for one of us to ask politely for an interview with its high level spokesperson Craig Alexander, Senior Vice President & Chief Economist. Mr. Alexander, as do all TD employees, aims to make that experience so TD-special when his bank imposes FATCA on Canadians.
If you would like to set up your own interview with Mr. Alexander or just want to chat about TD’s plans to make our lives more comfortable, please email him at:
craig.richard.alexander@td.com
As FATCA certainly impacts “Personal Banking” you could also contact the media person responsible for this at TD:
Crystal Jongeward
Manager, Corporate Communications
crystal.jongeward@td.com
http://www.td.com/about-tdbfg/media-room/featured-spokespeople/spokespeople.jsp
Oh you guys are all so bad! I love it!
The TD banking experience I’m going to be the most “comfortable” with is to make sure I’m never, ever one of their customers!
@IRSCompliantForever
I would like to send him the chairs, picture and video….but I will refrain..
Since I don’t have a TD account and never will I will not be emailing him and his charming assistant
Orwellian speech… Get used to more of it…
Here is a “comfortable” experience
http://youtu.be/D7euWlQBKnw
@Just Me
crazy comfy……
What TD bank means in ” being comfortable” is like, when Hitler made people in Europe
“feel comfortable” . That sort of comfortable.
@ Deckard1138, @bubblebustin
to paraphrase what bubblebustin says about this FANTASTIC post ” I laughed so hard….that ……I [nearly] pissed …my[self]. ”
welldone welldone. please can we have “more” of this…… it speaks!!!
Thank you so much for making my day
…and I’m still laughing, thanks to you too!
I note also TD point 5: “While considerable uncertainty still exists regarding the obligations that Canadian Banks will face under FATCA, TD will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where TD operates.”
By this, TD means that it will comply with FATCA, but not with Canadian law, including PIPEDA, the Bank Act, and the Charter of Rights.
Note: the blog software system blocked my posting the following, allegedly because I already said it. I am trying again. [signed] Northernshrike
_______
I note also TD point 5: “While considerable uncertainty still exists regarding the obligations that Canadian Banks will face under FATCA, TD will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where TD operates.”
By this, TD means that it will comply with FATCA, but not with Canadian law, including PIPEDA, the Bank Act, and the Charter of Rights.
@_Deckard
I cannot stop laughing you inflammatory poster. Even managed to get the chair green!!Thanks for this. Nothing will get me down today!
@IRSCF
Are you kidding? Seriously? NOT!!!
@ All
Thanks for the feedback today – I’m glad I got a few chuckles from the gallery.
For those who aren’t aware of the Comfy Green Chair meme, this is has been a central part of TD’s marketing since 2001, so it’s one I don’t mind skewering as the clock counts down to FATCA Hell. Here is what the classic chair usually looks like:
![](http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/TD-Green-Chair.jpg)
I have also found some interesting references to this hugely successful, long-running marketing campaign:
Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) Conference Speech
Banking made comfy
I believe that anything we can do to morph this touchstone of TD marketing into something symbolic of our plight is quite fair and appropriate. We are, after all, on the verge of a veritable war for the hearts and minds of our fellow Canadian citizens. While it may be funny today, it will be deathly serious in the next few years. This won’t be a comfortable time for anyone.
They make it sound like TDs potential 30% is the customer’s problem. It’s TDs problem.
They’re going to love handling all those recalcitrant accounts.