Making Sense of Credit Card Fees

In addition to the APR (annual percentage rate) and the finance charges, most credit cards have a number of 'fees' associated with their use. Some fees are unavoidable with a particular card (like an annual fee or a program participation fee), while others are triggered by certain circumstances. The most common fees are listed below. To get a better idea of what your credit card may cost to use over the course of a year, check your card's terms and conditions and your user agreement to see which fees may apply to you.

Annual fee:

An annual fee is charged for the privilege of having the card, whether you ever use it or not. Many credit cards offer no annual fee and a low interest rate to their best customers, or to those with excellent credit. If you're trying to recover from a bout with bad credit, your only choice may be a card with a relatively high annual fee. In that case, look for one with the lowest APR you can get, and be careful to avoid triggering other fees.

Cash advance fee:

When you use your credit card to get a cash advance, there is often a cash advance fee. It may be a flat fee per cash advance (say $5, no matter how much cash you borrow), or a percentage of the amount advanced - 5%. This fee is in addition to interest that you will pay on the amount.

Balance-transfer fee

Usually, when you transfer the balance of one card to another, the credit card company will charge you a balance transfer fee. Like the cash advance fee, it may be a flat rate, or a percentage of the amount of the transfer.

Late-payment fee

If your payment is not received and posted by your credit card company after the due date, you will be charged a late payment fee. The late payment fee will be added to your credit card balance. In many cases, if you are late with a payment more than once, or a certain number of times within a specified period, your interest rate will also rise in addition to the late payment fee.Over-the-credit-limit fee:

If you go over your credit limit on your credit card, you will often be charged a flat fee in penalty.

Credit-limit-increase fee:

You usually must pay a credit limit increase fee if you request that your credit limit be raised.

Set-up fee:

When you open a new credit card account, the credit card company may charge a one-time setup fee which may be anything from $19 to $149.

Return-item fee:

This is essentially a bounced check fee. If you make a payment on your account by check, and the check is returned by your bank for non-sufficient funds, the credit card company may charge you a returned-check fee.

Other fees:

Depending on the credit card company, and the card offered, you may be liable for other fees, including fees for making payments by phone, for checking your account online, for establishing an online bill paying service or for providing other customer service. Be sure to read your credit card's terms and conditions to see what charges and fees you're liable for paying.

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the credit card comparison sites http://www.credit-cards-info.com/ and also http://www.creditcards121.com/

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Credit Information:

Related Articles

Make Sure Your Credit Report Is Correct to Improve Your Interest Rates And Lower Insurance Premiums
Did you know that you could make sure to get the best rates on your auto and homeowners insurance simply by having a good credit score.Additionally a great credit score will allow you to get the best interest rates on your credit cards, car loans and even your home mortgage.
The Ghost of Expected Surprises
Here, Cratchet, what do you think you're doing?Uh, er, leaving sir.Leaving? It's 5 minutes to the hour.
Choosing the Best Low Interest Credit Card
With so many low interest credit cards on offer, how do you know which one to choose? Here is a brief guide for choosing your low interest credit card.The Chase Manhattan MasterCard is a great choice, for those with an excellent credit rating.
Establishing Credit - What You Need To Know Part 2
In my previous article "Establishing Credit - What You Need To Know Part 1" I discussed the need for a good credit history and what lenders were looking for prior to loaning an individual money or additional funds based on their credit history. This article will go into the necessary steps someone needs to take in order to initially establish their credit history.
Secured Credit Cards- Consumer Tips
Whether you have no credit or damaged credit, secured credit cards are a good tool for building a good credit history.Several months ago Tom, a member of CreditBoards.
Searching For A Low Interest Credit Card?
These days, people need to very carefully consider whattype of credit card they will carry in their wallets. Thereare so many options out there, and each individual hasdifferent needs.
It Takes Credit To Build Credit
Using a credit card wisely is an important step in building a good credit rating. If you're trying to re-build your credit or if you're young and just starting out, pay close attention the next time you receive a new card offer in the mail.
What To Look For In A Credit Card
When you are deciding what type of credit card to get it is important to compare credit cards to each other and find the best deal for you. There are a variety of different credit cards available, from low interest cards, cash back cards and even reward credit cards, it's hard to decide what exactly the best credit cards are.
Credit Report - Watch Out for Parking Tickets
The economic downturn of the last five years has affected millions of Americans, but it has also affected the budgets of states, cities and counties. With limited tax dollars with which to work, various government entities have had to try to stretch their budgets to allow them to continue to function.
Some Truth About Credit
Credit is currently and has been historically an integral component of our economy. Credit contribute a person's net worth, and financial power.
Credit Counseling: Could it Work for Me?
In the face of financial hardship, many seeking a responsible solution turn to credit counseling. Credit counseling is, all too often, the last stop before bankruptcy.
Learn How to Improve Your Credit Score
Having a damaging credit record can hurt you in many ways. It may prohibit you from making an important purchase such as a home, car, computer or vacation.
What Are the Most Common Ways to Commit Identity Theft or Fraud?
It's the number one source of consumer complaints at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and unfortunately, it's one of the simplest crimes to commit. Identity theft involves information from your daily life, from shopping, bill-paying, and even applying for a job.
Recognizing the Signs that You Might Need Credit Counseling
Most families in America today have a credit card; some have two or more. The type of credit card you own, gold, platinum, ext, is almost a status symbol in society.
Useful Tips On Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud
Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. While theft is the most obvious form of fraud, it can occur in other ways.
The Credit Card Surprise That You Need to Look Out For
Companies that issue credit cards want to make a profit. No one disagrees with that.
How to Evaluate and Raise Your Credit Score
Why do some people get offers for pre-approved credit cards and others don't? What do car dealers know about your financial health that you don't know? The answer is your credit score.Your credit score is a number generated by a mathematical formula to estimate how likely you are to pay your bills.
Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle!
Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle! (Part 1 of 2 on Credit Scoring)Just when most people finish with school and can stop worrying about test scores, there's a new kind of scoring that enters the picture. It's called credit scoring.
How A Prepaid Debit Card Can Help You Rebuild Your Credit
Consumers today are up to their eyeballs in debt. And many people don't realize it until their good credit has been devastated.
Five Reasons to Repair Your Credit Score - You Can Do It Yourself
There are multiple reasons that tell us why we should have a 700+ Credit Score, but these five facts will definitely give you the big picture and hopefully will drive you to want to fix your credit score starting today.Fact #1: Did you know that consumers with Credit Scores of 700+ are likely to get interest rates up to four points lower than those with scores under 640.