If your $50 CAD Record Suspension fee is declined due to an incorrect payment method, an expired credit card, or an improperly filled-out money order, the Receiver General for Canada will not process your payment. As a result, the Parole Board of Canada will halt your application and return your entire package.
Securing a federal Record Suspension is a major step toward clearing your criminal record in Canada, but a simple financial oversight can easily derail the process. The processing fee for a Record Suspension (formerly a pardon) is payable to the Receiver General for Canada. If this payment is declined, the federal government simply will not process your paperwork.
Administrative delays caused by submitting personal cheques (which are not accepted), expired credit cards, or improperly filled-out money orders are incredibly common. Because it takes months to compile your police checks and court documents, a payment rejection can lead to a disastrous domino effect where your supporting documents expire while waiting for the mail to be returned.
Step-by-Step Process in Canada
Whether you reside in Winnipeg, Regina, or St. John’s, the financial procedures for federal applications are universally handled in Ottawa. Here is what happens when a payment fails and how you must address it. 💰
Step 1: The Payment Processing Attempt
When your application arrives at the Parole Board of Canada (PBC), the administrative clerks first verify that the payment is included and valid. If you paid by credit card, they run the authorization form. If you paid by certified cheque, money order, or bank draft, it is deposited to the Receiver General. Since the PBC strictly does not accept personal cheques, submitting one will result in your application being returned immediately without any attempt to process it.
Step 2: The Application is Returned
The PBC does not pause your file and call you to ask for a new credit card number. Standard Canadian federal procedure dictates that incomplete applications-including those with failed payments-are packaged up and mailed back to the applicant’s home address. This return transit can take several weeks.
Step 3: Identifying the Cause of the Decline
Once you receive your returned package, carefully read the attached federal letter. You must determine why the payment failed. Common reasons include writing the payment to the wrong entity (it must be the “Receiver General for Canada”), submitting a personal cheque (which is strictly unaccepted), or a typo in the credit card expiration date. 📍
Step 4: Preparing a Secure Replacement Payment
To avoid a second rejection, it is highly recommended to use a guaranteed form of payment. Go to your local bank or Canada Post office and purchase a certified cheque, bank draft, or money order for exactly $50 CAD. This ensures the funds are secured upfront and will clear when the government attempts to process them.
Step 5: Reviewing Documents for Expiry
Before mailing the package back to the PBC, check the dates on your RCMP fingerprints and Local Police Records Check. If the payment delay caused these documents to pass their 12-month validity threshold, you will have to redo them before resubmitting.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
A declined payment creates hidden costs that go far beyond the original $50 CAD fee.
- RCMP Fingerprint Redo: If the processing delay causes your RCMP fingerprint check to expire past its 12-month validity period, you will need to pay another $25 to $100 CAD to redo them.
- Guaranteed Payment Fees: Purchasing a bank draft or a Canada Post money order will cost between $7.50 and $10 CAD in service fees.
- Document Renewal: If the delay caused your police checks to expire, you might spend an additional $50 to $120 CAD obtaining fresh documents.
- Postage: Re-mailing a thick application package with tracking via Canada Post usually costs about $15 to $25 CAD.
| Cost Factor | Estimated Cost (CAD) | Avoidable? |
|---|---|---|
| RCMP Fingerprint Redo (if expired) | $25.00 – $100.00 | Yes, submit correct payment first time |
| Bank Draft / Money Order Fee | $7.50 – $10.00 | No, it is a bank service fee |
| Re-mailing Package | $15.00 – $25.00 | Yes, if payment clears first time |
How Long Does the Process Take?
The standard timeline for clearing a summary conviction or an indictable offence record is lengthy. Adding a payment decline to the mix severely disrupts this timeline.
It generally takes 2 to 4 weeks for the PBC to attempt the payment and initiate the return. It takes another 1 to 2 weeks for the package to arrive at your home. Once you fix the payment and resubmit, the file goes to the back of the queue. Overall, a declined payment can delay your Record Suspension by 2 to 3 months. ⏱
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who do I make the cheque payable to?
All payments for a Canadian federal Record Suspension must be made exactly to the “Receiver General for Canada”. Using any other name will result in the payment being rejected.
Can I pay the PBC processing fee in cash?
No. The federal government absolutely does not accept cash through the mail. You must use a credit card, certified cheque, bank draft, or money order.
Will they call me if my credit card is declined?
No. Federal privacy and administrative protocols prevent clerks from calling to obtain new credit card information over the phone. Your package will simply be mailed back to you.
Is it better to use a money order or a credit card?
Many applicants prefer using a bank draft or Canada Post money order because the funds are secured immediately, completely eliminating the risk of a declined transaction or an expired card number during processing delays.
Can a law firm pay the fee on my behalf?
Yes. If you hire a lawyer or a Canadian law firm to handle your Record Suspension, they will typically issue a certified firm cheque to the Receiver General on your behalf, ensuring the payment is flawless.
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