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Regarding the credit card, the reps are likely telling the truth. Your dad presumably has a much stronger credit rating than you do, so his interest rate went down.
Minimum payments are often as low as 1% of the balance. You're paying $650 in interest per year, and if your minimum payment is 1% of the balance each month you're paying a grand total of $720, meaning that of your minimum payments a meager $70 per year (around $6 per month) is going to the actual balance. If you don't start making bigger payments, you'll be carrying that balance for the rest of your life.
Although you don't have any control over the interest rate, you can request your credit limit be reduced, and that will usually be honoured. It's up to you -- if you think you have the self-control to avoid building that balance up further, having the additional credit available won't hurt you that much, but if you're uncomfortable with it usually a quick phone call can get it down. Be aware that there may be an administrative fee associated with this.
I have no idea what your spending habits are like, but you may want to cut back on non-essentials in order to start putting more towards the card. Cut down on nights out at the bar, start cooking your own meals if you can, and so on.
Banking fees like the one you described are SOP in Canada. Aside from maintaining the required minimum balance, I can't really tell you how to avoid it.
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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
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