Quebec credit card rules: the 5% minimum payment, 21-day period and other Consumer Protection Act protections

In Quebec, the minimum monthly payment on a credit card must be at least 5% of the balance owing on the statement, according to the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC). The Consumer Protection Act also gives you at least 21 days from the statement to pay without credit charges on purchases, prohibits fees for exceeding the credit limit, limits your liability for fraudulent use to $50 before you report it, and, under the rules the OPC lists among its new protections, applies payments first to the debt with the highest rate, such as a cash advance. Merchants in Quebec may not add a surcharge for paying by credit card.

This guide belongs to the cashback versus points overview. It is general information, not legal advice. The OPC's own pages are the reference; they note that some content is being updated for recent changes.

The 5% minimum payment

The OPC states that the minimum payment on a credit card must correspond to at least 5% of the balance owing. An issuer may require more only if the contract already provided for it; it may not raise the percentage by amending the contract without your consent. The rule was introduced by amendments in force from 1 August 2019: contracts entered into from that date started at 5%, while for older contracts the minimum started at 2% and rose by half a percentage point each year. The last step, from 4.5% to 5%, took effect on 1 August 2025, so since then the 5% floor applies to every credit card contract in Quebec, according to the OPC.

Why it matters. A higher minimum clears debt much faster. Illustrative comparison on a $3,000 balance at 20.99%, with a $10 floor:

Even at 5%, the minimum-only path is slow because the payment shrinks as the balance falls. A fixed payment is far cheaper. See the minimum payment worked example.

Statements and the 21-day period

According to the OPC, the issuer must send the statement at least 21 days before credit charges can apply: the OPC gives the example of a statement sent on the 1st that can be paid before the 23rd without credit charges on purchases. Cash advances bear credit charges from the date of the advance. The statement must show, among other things, the credit limit, the minimum payment, the due date, the grace period and the estimated number of months (and years) needed to repay the balance with minimum payments.

Credit limits and exceeding them

• No over-limit fees. The OPC says you cannot be charged any fee for exceeding your limit.
• Alerts. If you gave an email or other digital address, the issuer must notify you when your available credit falls below $100 (or another amount you choose); otherwise it must notify you after a transaction takes you over the limit.
• Requested limit. Under the newer rules, the application must state the credit limit you want, and the merchant cannot grant a higher one.
• Ability to pay. Before opening a contract or raising a limit, the merchant must evaluate your ability to repay. The OPC notes that banks and financial services cooperatives are deemed to meet this obligation, so it mainly affects financing companies and alternative lenders.

Changes, fees and cancellation

• Fee and rate increases require a written notice at least 30 days before they take effect, and under the newer rules changes that increase the credit rate or fees may be made only at the consumer's request.
• Membership or renewal fees do not have to be paid before you start using the card.
• Cancelling: if you never used the card, you do not have to pay membership or usage fees. If you used it, pay the balance first, then cancel and check your credit file later to confirm the account shows as closed.

Payment allocation

Federal rules for banks let the bank allocate payments above the minimum to the highest-rate balance first or proportionally. Quebec's newer rules for variable credit say payments go first to the debt with the highest rate, such as a cash advance. Which rule governs your card can depend on who issued it; the OPC and FCAC can tell you which regulator to contact.

No credit card surcharges in Quebec

Elsewhere in Canada, merchants may add a disclosed surcharge of up to 2.4% on credit card payments within network rules. The FCAC confirms that surcharging is not permitted in Quebec, where the Consumer Protection Act (s. 224(c)) prohibits charging a price higher than the advertised price, which must include everything the consumer has to pay; this all-inclusive pricing rule is why surcharges for paying by card are treated as unlawful in Quebec. If you are charged one, contact the OPC. See interchange fees and surcharges.

Do Quebec rules apply to bank cards?

Banks are federally regulated, but the Supreme Court of Canada held in 2014 that certain Quebec consumer protection provisions on credit card disclosure could apply to banks. Since then, the federal Financial Consumer Protection Framework has expanded federal rules for banks. If you are unsure which rules apply to a specific card, the OPC (for Quebec law) and the FCAC (for federal law) are the places to ask, and a lawyer can advise on a dispute.

Complaints in Quebec

1. Complain to the issuer in writing.
2. For a bank, follow the federal route to OBSI; see complaints.
3. For a caisse, credit union or other provincially regulated issuer, contact the OPC and, for financial institutions under its supervision, the Autorité des marchés financiers.
4. The OPC provides a formal notice template and information on going to the Small Claims Division of the Court of Québec.

Frequently asked questions

Does the 5% minimum apply to lines of credit?

The OPC's page on credit cards and lines of credit treats them together; check the contract and the OPC page for the variable credit product you hold.

Can my Quebec issuer charge me for going over my limit?

According to the OPC, no fee may be charged for exceeding the limit.

Is a cash advance treated differently?

Yes. Credit charges on a cash advance run from the date of the advance, even if you pay the full balance by the due date.

Where do I find the law itself?

The Consumer Protection Act (chapter P-40.1) and its regulation are on LégisQuébec; the OPC explains them in plain language.

Sources

• Office de la protection du consommateur — credit cards and lines of credit: payment, statements, exceeding the limit, loss and fraud, new protections
• LégisQuébec — Consumer Protection Act, CQLR c. P-40.1, and its regulation
• Financial Consumer Agency of Canada — surcharges and federal credit card rules
• Québec.ca news, 15 July 2025 — 5% minimum payment for all cards from 1 August 2025
• Autorité des marchés financiers — caisses and other Quebec-regulated financial institutions
• Supreme Court of Canada — Bank of Montreal v. Marcotte, 2014 SCC 55 (the Quebec Act's disclosure rules on conversion charges apply to banks' credit cards)