Why Credit Card Fees Won’t Go Up

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Well, with credit card fee's and percentage rates skyrocketed, and now we're even paying 'you paid your balance in full and on time" FEES.. I think I'll read other columns. Rick doesn't have a clue....

You've watched them try Rick, and guess what? They've done it.

Sonny of AZ 9:59AM October 22, 2009

Not only will I cancel to avoid a fee I will not use a debit card either, which is another source of fees.

They really have you though. You can't do anything anymore without a credit card to guarantee payment. More merchants should take up using Paypal and other forms of payment transfers.

Scooch of CA 7:27PM June 07, 2009

I think this article is dead on! The CC & Banks in general are one of the last industries to maximize their own rev/profit by creating elaborate schemes to get their customers to fail & make huge profits off of fees. They've created the most one-sided contracts that enable them essentially to do/charge just about whatever they wanted, and now their little egregous racket is finally up. They've always hid behind the vail of personal responsibility, but then they adopt shady business processes such as shortening billing payment cycles and reverse batch processing to increase the # of bounced checks, etc... I think banks in general better brace themselves, because credit unions and new financial innovations are going to cook their goose.

AC - Atlanta GA

AC of GA 12:25PM June 06, 2009

the card companies will do is to try to get more fees out of the merchants who accept them.

As for card fees, I have several cards and mostly use just one, paid off monthly. The card industry thinks I'm a deadbeat--their inside term for those not paying interest. Think I'm going to pay fees on the several other cards? Nope.

Muser of NM 11:28AM May 21, 2009

Mr.Newman,

You are correct in your suggestion that those people who have credit cards, and other means of payment, will choose to cancel their creddit cards if pushed. Your article mentioned credit unions. They are easy to join. If a person is a veteran, or has or had one in the family, they can join the Pentagon FCU.

So, if citibank, bank of america, or any others send me a letter advising of fees, I will call them and give them a choice: Shut up or cancel the card. I'll use greenbacks!

Mike- Cherry Hill, N.J.

mike wood of NJ 1:58AM May 21, 2009

I'm not sure the laws of newtonian physics apply to banks and other financial institutions. Or maybe its the people who run these institutions ignore them. They certainly didn't pay any attention to the law of gravity.

Neil of SC 3:37PM May 20, 2009

For the past 12 years I haev payed for everything with cash. I bought my house, stereo, LCD TV, car, etc All with cash. I figured I have saved 231,000 in interest payments and fees and points by doing so. That's a $19,250 a year savings in the last 12 years.

15 years ago? Buried under a mountain of debt and almost broke. Today? Living better than I ever thought possible.

Chris of OH 12:56PM May 20, 2009

If you pay off your credit card balance every month, then it isn't too great a switch to use cash and checks if pushed.

Luther of IL 11:18AM May 20, 2009

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Rick Newman

Rick Newman

The global economy is mysterious, even scary. Chief Business Correspondent Rick Newman connects the dots. In addition to his writing for U.S. News, Rick is the co-author of two books: Firefight: Inside the Battle to Save the Pentagon on 9/11, and Bury Us Upside Down: The Misty Pilots and the Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail.


Read Rick's latest blog entries here.

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