Brett Surbey
Brett Surbey

Brett Surbey

Freelance writer

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Man looking at phone

Investing May 22

Finfluencers are filling a gap for Canadians, but 76% of their content could put your money at risk

A new study shows 76% of finfluencer videos are misleading or harmful — here's what Canadians need to know before taking financial advice from someone online

Man wearing glasses holding receipt sitting at a desk

Managing Money May 20

Insolvency filings hit a 15-year high — what every Canadian carrying debt needs to know right now

Consumer insolvency filings have reached a 15-year high as Canadians struggle with rising shelter costs, groceries up 30% and looming mortgage renewals

Mice sitting together in a home

News May 15

Nova Scotia tenants living with pests, rodents and no repairs — what Canadians can do under the law

Halifax renters living with cockroaches and rodents say landlords are ignoring their repair requests — here's what Canadian tenants can do under the Residential Tenancies Act

Scotiabank fraud

News 58333 views

Fraudsters drained a couple's Scotiabank accounts — and the bank won't commit to paying them back

A harrowing case of fraud for an Ontario family reveals a hard truth: consumers are likely to be on the hook in complex fraud cases, not banks

CERB repayments

News May 09

CRA wants $10 billion back in COVID benefits — what Canadians must know now

The CRA is hoping to collect more than $10 billion in COVID-19 payments this year and many Canadians are having to repay thousands in government benefits

Poverty in Canada

News May 05

Statistics Canada confirms 4.5 million Canadians are living in poverty — here's how to protect yourself

New data from StatCan showcases that the cost of living is climbing higher and higher, with 11% of Canadians living below the poverty line

Failing water meters

News May 02

Toronto landlord gets $31k surprise water bill due to faulty meter transmission unit — what you should know

A Toronto landlord’s catch-up water bill reveals just how much consumers are at the mercy of service measurement devices, even if they’re ineffective

Cucumbers in a bin

Managing Money Apr 29

Cucumbers up 28%, coffee up 30%: why grocery prices keep climbing and how Canadians can cut their bills now

While beef and coffee have been making headlines, vegetables are starting to show signs of major inflation as well

Surveillance pricing

News 1061 views

Surveillance pricing targets Canadians online — here's how to stop paying more than you should

There’s more that goes into the price you pay for a product than you think

Booking.com screen

News Apr 24

Booking.com data breach puts Canadian travellers at risk — how to spot the scam

A confirmed data breach at Booking.com is fuelling a new wave of reservation hijacking scams — here's how to spot the red flags and what to do if your information was compromised

Judge banging gavel

News Apr 23

A B.C. court ruled $5.1 million wasn't a gift — what this means for Canadians giving money to loved ones

A B.C. Supreme Court ruling exposes what can go wrong when Canadians transfer large sums to people close to them — and how to document your intentions before it's too late

Man being interviewed

News Apr 21

Montreal landlords are raising rents as high as 20% — here's how Canadians can legally fight back

Landlords in Montreal can request almost any rent increase — but Canadians have more power to push back than they realize, including the right to contest rates above the TAL's 3.1% guideline

Photo of Esso gas station

News Apr 17

50% water in the fuel tank: The Ontario gas station incident every Canadian driver needs to know about

An Esso station in Elmvale, ON sold fuel with up to 50% water contamination — leaving drivers stranded and facing steep repair bills. Here's who's liable and how to protect yourself

Identity theft

News Apr 09

Ontario police are hunting an identity fraud suspect — and it's a warning for all Canadians

If you’re a victim of identity fraud, you need to read this

Woman being interviewed on TV in her home

Managing Money Apr 09

A $1,300 fraudulent Rogers bill destroyed one Canadian's credit score for 8 months — here's how to fight back

When bad actors open accounts in your name, the financial fallout can last years — here's how to spot application fraud early, dispute unfair bills and protect your credit score

Plane ticket typo

Life Apr 01

One spelling mistake cost this traveller $6,000 — and it could happen to you

There’s no such thing as a small mistake when it comes to international travel

Happy couple

Retirement Mar 31

Should you take CPP early or tap your RRSP first? What one couple's story reveals

What’s the best way to fund your retirement?

Woman being interviewed on the news.

News Mar 17

A $50K roofing nightmare: High-pressure sales tactics robbed an Ontario woman — how to avoid a loss like this

Emotional manipulation is one of the most successful acts of duplicity

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