Average late payment fees on credit cards will climb by 3% this month, the
largest one month jump in the industry’s history, as more issuers raise fees
above the $29 level. U.S Bank recently joined the trend in the wake of fee
increases by MBNA and Discover, which went into effect this month. U.S.
Bank is
now charging a $27 or $35 late fee, depending on the number of delinquencies
occurring within twelve consecutive billing cycles. Advanta was the first card
issuer to institute $35 fees for holders of its business card products. In
2000, Fleet Credit Card Services began charging a $35 late fee on all its card
products including the new ‘Fusion smart VISA’. Citibank boosted late payment
fees to $35 in August 2001. Discover and MBNA have instituted new late fee
structures effective this month. Both issuers will now charge a $15 late fee
for balances under $100; a $25 fee for balances between $100 and $1,000; and a
$35 fee for past due balances above $1,000. On average, late payment fees,
among issuers with portfolios over $100 million, have increased 5.5% over the
past twelve months from $27.10 to $28.58, according to CardData
(http://www.carddata.com).
Average late payment fees on credit cards will climb by 3% this month, the
largest one month jump in the industry’s history, as more issuers raise fees
above the $29 level. U.S Bank recently joined the trend in the wake of fee
increases by MBNA and Discover, which went into effect this month. U.S.
Bank is
now charging a $27 or $35 late fee, depending on the number of delinquencies
occurring within twelve consecutive billing cycles. Advanta was the first card
issuer to institute $35 fees for holders of its business card products. In
2000, Fleet Credit Card Services began charging a $35 late fee on all its card
products including the new ‘Fusion smart VISA’. Citibank boosted late payment
fees to $35 in August 2001. Discover and MBNA have instituted new late fee
structures effective this month. Both issuers will now charge a $15 late fee
for balances under $100; a $25 fee for balances between $100 and $1,000; and a
$35 fee for past due balances above $1,000. On average, late payment fees,
among issuers with portfolios over $100 million, have increased 5.5% over the
past twelve months from $27.10 to $28.58, according to CardData
(