Call Centre of the Year located in the heart of Niagara

OAKVILLE, ON, Nov. 18, 2011 /CNW/ - Once again, Niagara has more to brag about than world-class vineyards. On November 17, SQM, a leading North American call center industry research firm announced Canadian Tire Financial Services Limited (CTFSL) as the winner of its prestigious Call Centre of the Year award. The announcement was made at SQM Group's 13^th Annual Most Prestigious North American Call Centre Industry 2011 awards ceremony held in Toronto.

"We are very proud of our Contact Centre teams," said John Levasseur, Vice President of Customer Service and Operations, Canadian Tire Financial Services. "They are customer care champions, people who believe in our Customers for Life philosophy, and are fully engaged in supporting the Canadian Tire brand." The group of more than 600 employees receives over 400,000 inbound calls per month. They provide customer service for the company's products and services, including the Canadian Tire Options MasterCard, Canadian Tire Home Services, as well as customer service support for the Canadian Tire retail stores and new online tire store.

"No company is more Canadian than Canadian Tire - and the same is true for our contact centre operations. We are proud to serve our customers from right here in Canada," said Levasseur.

SQM benchmarks more than 450 leading call centres in North America annually. In their study, SQM contacts customers within two business days of a customer's call to the call centre. In a short telephone survey, customers evaluate the call centre on first call resolution and their overall satisfaction. In addition, SQM conducts an online survey to a minimum of 100 representatives in the call centre, ranking the company on first call resolution, customer and also employee satisfaction. The call centre with the highest combined customer and employee "top box" (very satisfied) rating earns the title of Call Centre of the Year.

About Canadian Tire Financial Services Limited
Located in Welland, Oakville and St. Catharines, Ontario, Canadian Tire Financial Services Limited ("CTFSL") is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited. CTFSL is primarily engaged in marketing and promoting Canadian Tire branded financial products and services. CTFSL is the parent company of Canadian Tire Bank. Canadian Tire Bank issues the Canadian Tire Options® MasterCard®, among other credit cards, with currently over 4 million accounts. The Options MasterCard is accepted at over 24 million locations worldwide, and offers Canada's oldest and most recognized loyalty program, Canadian Tire 'Money' On The Card®. In addition, Canadian Tire Bank offers high interest savings accounts, tax free savings accounts and GICs and CTFSL operates the Canadian Tire Roadside Assistance® program.