What is an MTO RUS-SO eChannel Charge (and Other Important Charges)

Are you from Ontario?

Have you opened your credit card statement and seen MTO RUS-SO eChannel Downsview ON?

If you’re confused about where it came from and what it means – you’re in the right place.

We’ll explain everything about it and similar deciphered codes regarding credit card charges.

What Is an MTO RUS-SO eChannel Charge?

You know that your credit card transactions appear on your statement, along with the date, place, and the merchant’s name on which your payment was made.

So, it’s a red flag when you see a strange charge with odd abbreviations, which you can’t even remember making in the first place.

But that’s not the case now.

The MTO RUS SO eCharge is legit since the Ministry of Transportation in Ontario charges it. Furthermore, this charge was first reported to appear in credit card reports in December 2014.

On the other hand, it’s only reasonable for the Ministry of Transport to have your credit card details. This is because it regulates transportation, from road safety to vehicle registration.

What’s more, you can look at this charge as a reminder note that your driving license is about to expire, or it has already.

Otherwise, think about it. Would you be ready to pay the higher cost if you get a fine for an expired driving license (from $200 to $1.000)?

MTO License Renewal

Province laws in Ontario are pretty straightforward. They state that each driver must renew their existing driver’s license. Bare in mind that you might not be able to renew it in case of a suspension/ cancellation.

Don’t panic – if a year hasn’t passed since the expiration date, you’ll only have to pay a fee for renewal. If there’s more than a year to it, you’ll have to take the vision test, at least.

That said, renewing your driving license is only $90 – this cost refers to 5 years. And, if the renewal isn’t for a full five years, there will be a different cost.

The best and most convenient is that the entire process can be done online. Though, not everyone is eligible to use the online service for driving license renewal.

These are the conditions to be eligible for an online driving license renewal:

• Own a full G/ M/ GM license – that hasn’t been suspended/ cancelled.
• Haven’t changed your address in the previous 90 days.
• Don’t need to take any tests.
• You don’t suffer from medical conditions that interfere with your driving ability.
• There aren’t any outstanding penalties/ fines under your name.

Attention: Those with combo class licenses (G1M/ G2M/ GM1/ GM2) must know that only the full portion is eligible for online renewal.

Once you pass these, enter your driving licence’s number, postal code, and the 7-digit number from the back of your license. After you submit all the information, you’ll get your renewed driving license through the mail in four to six weeks.

You’ll have to personally go to the closest Ontario Service Centre to apply for a renewal in special circumstances. For example, if your driver’s license was invalid for over a year before March 1, 2020, you won’t be able to renew it online.

What is a CPC SCP Charge?

CPC/SCP stands for ‘Canada Post Corporation/Société Canadienne des Postes.’ In fact, this is the merchant category (MCC), of the Canadian Post Corporation.

When you notice the CPC SCP eCommerce Ottawa (CPC/SCP) charge on your credit card, recall any recent payments you’ve made in one of the 6.200+ postal offices across Canada.

Following CPC SCP Canada’s standards and regulations, this code doesn’t show up only when sending something. It can also appear when you receive a big package or something similar.

These are the Canada Post Corporation’s basic services:

What Are The iATS LLC Charges?

iATS LLC (International Automated Transaction Services) is a payments processing platform founded over two decades ago. It specializes in working with nonprofits and catering to their needs.

Nonprofit organizations have different ways of working and collecting funds for a noble cause.

That said,  iATS Payments was designed to allow nonprofits to accept and transfer funds more easily. This is done by minimizing high conversion rates and transfers from various accounts in different places around the globe.

Their online form allows nonprofit organizations to quickly receive donations, especially those made via online donation forms. Moreover, they accept various payment methods (major credit/ debit cards, ACH, and international transactions).

In a nutshell, this payment processing tool is used to simplify the donation process by collecting diverse donation types. Additionally, nonprofits feel secure knowing iATS ensures all donations/ transactions arrive in the single account of the nonprofit organization.

Thus, if you see these charges on your credit card statement, think about the last time you clicked the ‘donate’ button.

You may find this article relevant: What is a Purchase Interest Charge?

Other Important Charges in Canada

From the mentioned above, it’s clear that the main confusion is what certain charges on your credit card statement in Canada mean. And, we found out these charges are due to the existence of merchant category codes.

Furthermore, these abbreviations are usually given to government bodies or international companies when doing business in Canada.

So, we decided to present you with a detailed table to better understand these “unfamiliar” transactions/charges – and spare you from thinking it’s data/account breach.

Have a look at it.

Merchant Abbreviation	Full Merchant Description
(A – C)
AGF MTF	AGF Mutual Funds
AGR/AGR	Agriculture/Stabilization Payment
AHC	Alberta Health Care
AIP/RAA	Automobile Insurance Plan
ANN/REN	Annuity
AP/CC	Accounts Payable
APY/PAA	Auto Payment
AQUA FINANCE LOAN	Water softener products etc.
ARCH TRANSCO	Taxi company with portable internet access
BCF	BC Ferry
BCLC	BC Lottery Corporation
BDP*	Business Development Program of Canada
BDP*	BC Student Loan
BIPI	Brownstone Investment Planning Inc. (CIMC)
BLC/LBC MSP	Banque Laurentian Du Canada/ Laurentian Bank
BPI	Balance Protection Insurance
BPY/FAC	Bill Payment (Phone, Hydro, Cable, Fuel, Utility)
BUS/ENT	Business Pre-Authorized Payment
*<Customer’s First and Last Name>* MSP	Transaction from Paypal where a previous debit attempt was unsuccessful
C*<Any 5 digits after the C>*	Shell Gas Station
CA	Credit Application (1-888-283-1055)
Canada FED	Energy Rebates from the Government of Canada
Canada FPT	Government Deposit
Canada GSL	Canada Government Student Loan
Canada LP_v	Cogeco Cable
Canada PRO	Working Parent Family Bonus
Canada RIT	Return Income Tax/Tax Return Refund
CBC	Canadian Bonded Credit (1-866-830-7434)
CCQ/CHP	Customer Cheques
CDC/CCL	Canadian Dairy Commission
C.D.T.C INC MSP	Visa Desjardin
CFS/PFC	Canadian Forces Superannuation
CHQ #00000 W/ AMOUNT 41.73	Curves for Women fitness club
CLGEDUL	Edulinx
CM 888-505-5426 BUS	‘Cash Money’ store
CMS/GES	Cash Management
CNT/ITV	Cannot Trace
COT	Cotis Frequency Contributor (Edward Jones)
CPC/SCP	Canada Post Corporation
CPP/RPC	Canadian Pension Plan
CRS	Cutter Recovery Services 1-866-483-5024 x2237
CSB/OEC	CSB Interest
CSC Fee	Curzon’s Management Associates Inc.
CSLP GSL	National Student Loan Services Center
CSP	Canada Savings Bond
CST	Canadian Scholarship Trust
CT2 CMS	Pay Day Loan Store
CTC/CIE	Child Tax Credit
CTFA	CT Financial Assurance (TD Insurance,)
CVS	Cheque Verification System
(D – L)
DEB/DEF	Institution in Default
DEC/DEC	Payor/Payee Deceased
DEML	Atco Gas/Direct Energy
DERS BPY or MSP	Direct Energy Regulated Services
DCSERVICESCANADA	Daimler Chrysler of Canada
DFS ASS	Desjardines Fin. Secur
DIV/DVD	Dividend (Common or Preferred)
DON/DON	Donations
DTE/DTE	Post/Stale Dated
EAA/AAE	Employment Assistance Allowance
eCHK	InstaDebit
EI/AE	Employment Insurance
EJ Fee/Fraise MSP	Edward Jones Investment Company
EPMTX	Payroll Taxes
EXP/RDD	Expense Payment
FA/AF	Family Allowances
FED/FED	Federal Government
FEE/FRA	Fees/Dues
FMEP BC MSP	Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (Child Support)
FPT	Combined Federal and Provincial Tax
FSP/ROF	Family Support Plan
F.S.S.T  CST	Worker’s Compensation (in Quebec)
F.S.S.T  CST	Pay Day Loan Store
GAINSTPS MSP	Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System
G.E.T.F MSP/REP	Global Education Trust Fund
GLS/ETU	Government Student Loans
GS Canada	Green Line Service Canada
GST/TPS	Goods and Services Tax
HAC	Hamilton Auto Corp.
HCFI	Honda Canada Finance
HDC/SDR	Health/Dental Claim Insurance
HHL – PIA MSP	Halifax Herald newspaper
HRD/DRH	HRDC – Training
HSG/LOG	Housing Allowance
IA-PAC MSP	An RESP company
IAP/PAI	Internet Access Payment
ICM MSP	Pay Day Loan Store
INS LOC	Line of Credit Insurance (1-888-983-7070)
INS/ASS	Insurance (Life, Auto Property, Mortgage, Casualty)
INT/INT	Interest
INV/PLA	Investment
ISB/PSR	Income Security Benefits
KCI CMS	King Cash Investments CMS
L&M(BLOOR)MSP	Long & McQuade Ltd (Bloor)
LAF	L.A. Fitness
LNS/PRE	Loans (Personal, Farm, Home, Term Insurance)
LPP/PDL	Lottery Prize Payment
(M – S)
MBFSCC	Mercedes Benz Financial
MFC	McKenzie Funds Corp (Mutual Fund)
MFC (Followed by digits)	Manulife Financial Benefits Deposit
MFC TDAET10201 MSP	Manufacturers Life Insurance (Health Spending Account Claims)
MFQ	Quebec Child Tax Credit
MFQ/SAE	Ministry of Finance (Quebec EI)
ML CMS	Maple Leaf Loans
MOGO	Money on the Go (Calgary)-Similar to Money Mart
MRQ	Ministre Revenue de Québec
MSP/DIV	Misc Payments
MTF/FMU	Mutual Funds
MTG/HYP	Mortgage (Residential, Commercial, Farm)
MTO RUS-SO ECHANNEL	Ontario Ministry of Transportation
MTO RUS ECHANNEL	Ontario Ministry of Transportation
NCB (UCFS)	National City Bank (UCFS)
NCO DIN SER MSP	collections agency
NCO FIN SER	APEX Item – Could be a charge from a third party
NOR.CAN.EVAN.MI MSP	Charity Deposit
NSLSC	National Student Loan Services Centre
OAS/SV	Old Age Security
OF/IA	Offences and Fines
OLG	Ontario Lottery and Gamin
ON *Online	Old Navy
ONLINE – BR	GAP and BANANA REPUBLIC
ON MSP	Honda Canada Finance
PAP REJECTED	TD Visa PAP rejected
PAY/PAY	Payroll Deposit
PC # _____ –	Price Chopper stores
PC Mastercard	President’s Choice Mastercard
PDL	Pay Day Lenders
PEN/PEN	Federal Provincial or Private Pension
PFB/PFA	Provincial Family Benefits
PFC Fee	Premier Fitness Club
PFS	Primerica Financial Services
PHC	Provincial Housing Corporation
PHC/FAM	Provincial Health Care Premium
PLAN ADMIN FEE / TDWIS FEE	TD Waterhouse Annual Fee
PPSA	Personal Property Security Assurance
PRO/PRO	Provincial Government
PSC	Premiere Fitness
PSC Fee	Premiere Health Club
PSS/PFP	Public Service Superannuation
RCL CHEQUE FEE	Royal Credit Line Cheque Fee
RCSS	Real Canadian Superstore
REP/REE	RESP Contribution
RIF/FRR	Retirement Income Fund
RIT	Return Income Tax/Tax Return Refund
RLS/LOY	Rent (Residential, Commercial, Equipment, Automobile)
RPM MSP	Honda Canada Finance
RSC	Regency Sports Club
RSP/RER	RSP Contribution
SCU MSP	Servus Credit Union Ltd.
Social Development Canada	Collection Agency for the government of Canada
SPL Loan	Scotia Bank Loan (SCOTIA PLAN)
SRP/RDC	Spousal RSP Contribution
(T – Z)
TDSB	Toronto District School Board
The Cash Store	Payroll Loan
THS	Toronto Humane Society
TM CANADA INC	Ticket Master
TMSL VR	Trilogy Management Services
TOR HYD ELECT	Toronto Hydro
TXD/DIM	Debt CCRA Government of Canada
UCFS	National City Bank
USC	University Scholarships of Canada (RESP)
VA/AAC	War Veteran’s Allowance
WBP/CE	Water Bill Payment
WCB/CST	Worker’s Compensation Board
WSPA	World Society Prevention Animals
WU *<confirmation #>*	Western Union
YIG	Your Independent Grocer

*The table was taken from TD Bank’s official site.

Note: If any of the listed abbreviations don’t match what you’ve received on your credit card statement – it’s time to alert your bank and let them look into your recent purchases.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, not all abbreviations in your credit card statement are alarming.

There are numerous important charges in Canada, and we’ve listed all, though explaining just a few. Moreover, you’ll no longer be confused about the MTO RUS-SO eChannel charge and where it comes from.

In such a developed community of international AND digital transactions and payments, these abbreviations/codes help ease the transactions.

So, next time you’re worried about an uncertain purchase or a shady merchant appearing on your report – don’t be. Instead, return to this article and check our list of transaction abbreviations.