Maxed out on credit card fees

Exactly, these banks are simply modern day loan sharks, they don’t give a damn about the customer, they are greedy and deserve to go under. I was 1 day late on a payment, but it was postmarked before payment due, didn’t matter… they hiked my apr up to 30% and charged me a huge fee. There’s no way I could pay the minimum payment on that, so I was forced to take all my money instead of eating and pay off the entire card. I paid off the card in the first week of month and I received a bill at the end of the month for that entire months worth of interest on a card I completely paid off ( so I thought ). Instead of eating I had to pay that interest, money GONE for nothing. After suffering ( yes I have been laid off work ) and not eating, I said screw it, I took cash advance, maxed out the card and they can screw off, I have to survive and could have been find if they didn’t screw me over with apr hike and fees. They can not get anything from me, I will just wait till the statue of limitations has passed.
It’s not people’s fault when the economy goes bad, everyone gets laid off, there are no jobs available, yet have to still feed out family and survive. You expect us to deal with those fees and apr hikes, hell no. The bank would not listen to me being 1 day late, they didn’t care, wouldn’t give me a single break. Something has to be done, I know I’m not alone in having ruined credit from year 2009, millions of us in the same boat.

Note there are some of us who intended never to over our limit but ran into financial difficulty & then lost our jobs due to lay offs. These companies are not forgiving in the least. I have always paid my bills on time but when I started having financial difficulties I missed a payment because it was either pay it or feed my family. Which would you choose? Because of this my credit card company imposed a late fee & an over the limit fee. This just led to a spiral effect that compouded – they more than doubled my next payment because of fees. How do they think I can pay this when I could not make the minimum due the month before? This they very well know & this is how those scammers make their money Now that I am laid off from my job they are even less forgiving. I tried to call & negotiate with them so I could get caught up but of course they will not budge one inch. The only choice I am left with now is simply not to pay. You want to know why credit card companies pass the debt of others onto us as consumers? Because they are greedy & are not willing to work with people on a payment plan that works for both parties.

I am in agreement with Shawn. I see those who complain about these fees as people who are living beyond their means through the use of credit cards. It is called personal financial responsibility. Grow up and learn how to live within your income. Be responsible. Then, you have no reason to complain.
I always limit my charges to my budget. That way, I can always pay my bill in full each month. Full payment equals no fees. Voila!

Yes this world is full of greedy scams such as auto repair shops, predatory lending and many times people cannot avoid company’s suspicious price hikes. But when it comes to credit cards, truly the customers are to blame. I simply cannot believe how so many people can be so naive, so irresponsible as to get into massive credit debt then have the audacity to blame the credit card companies!

There is just no excuse to poorly managing your own finances. People need to realize credit cards are not free money given to you. Whenever you use them you are essentially taking out a loan and saying you don’t have enough money to buy something. The only way to use a credit card is as a convienience card (ie: use it for shopping online or to pay off many small purchases with one transaction). YOu have only yourself to blame for falling into the traps credit comapany’s set up for those dumb enough to fall into them. Take responsibility and get educated.

The latest “gotcha” from banks is raising the interest with no good reason. I’ve never been late and they (Wells Fargo and Bank of America) raised my interest from 10 to 17.99. I believe this is a result of the money they are loosing in the housing market (foreclosures). So, someone has to pay and that is the consumer.

If you don’t want to pay fees.. don’t be late– duh!!!

Credit cards fees do not destroy anyones credit… being late does!

This is a loan with zero security for the companies… of course there are going to be fees.

Pay your bills on line has saved my credit rating…
maybe you should do the same…
and stop complaining!!!

If you don’t want to pay fees.. don’t be late– duh!!!

If people quit spending beyond their means and paid more attention to their credit card bills and bank balances they would not be paying high fees. The banks have the right to charge fees – why should the bank be penalized when the overdrafts are the consumers fault. It’s time to stop blaming others for your own mistakes. If you botch up your accounts you should be the one to pay. Too bad if the fees add on additional costs – pay attention and you won’t have to worry.

This is where the Fed’s could be usefull and set standards on what banking could charge, any thing over $100.00 or more no more than a $5.00 fee should be enough any thing under no fee. Fee’s are out of controll we live in the computer age these busness do not handle any paper like in the old days computers were to make things faster more efishent and the most inportant CHEPER for the custmer The Industry has turned it upside down There excuse is handling fee like I said they for the most part don’t handle any paper like they use to and one person for most part handles a lot more custmers with the computer so less employee’s and less paper work so where do the customer get a Break

This entire thread is sad commentary on the state of 21st century America; no matter what happens, it’s not my fault. If I don’t pay my bills on time it’s the bank’s fault. If I go over my spending limit it’s the bank’s fault. If I spend twice what I earn in a year it’s someone else’s fault. Yes, the bank’s someone else’s fault.

To quote Forrest Gump, “Stupid is as stupid does”. Is the concept of paying on time and due dates unclear to you? Do you know what a credit limit is, and why your bank assigned one to you? You must KNOW that the bank is going to sock you with all sorts of fees is you violate the rules; it’s punishment for being stupid.

The greatest irony here is that every message was posted over the Internet, meaning everyone has access to a computer. Instead of moaning about how your check was lost in the mail (and my dog ate my homework), why don’t you try paying your bills over the Internet, using the credit card’s web site? You can normally schedule payments at any time, and check your balance as well. There is no excuse for going over limit short of a true emergency (and a department store sale is NOT an emergency).

It’s your life, and you are responsible for it, not Bank of America or American Express. If you continue to act irresponsibly, expect to pay for it.

Credit card fees destroyed my credit. When I was out of a job, I had smallish balances on my credit card. After missing a few payments, my minimum payment went from $50 to $500 in just a few months. My cards became maxed out in less than six months. Calls to the credit card companies informing them I was out of work amounted to nothing – no one cared and promises were never kept. REMEMBER, phone calls don’t preserve your rights. Letters do!

To make matters worse, one card continually received charges from a charity which I never agreed to donate to. I was socked with over-the-limit fees, missed payment fees and interest. My balance on this card when from $100 to over $2000 dollars all for charges which were never mine. Calls to the credit card companies were answered by call centers in India and elsewhere, and these operators didn’t have the knowledge or understand to help.

In the end, bankruptcy was my only option. When you are out of work for a year, it takes almost that long to accumulate any appreciable savings. Do credit card companies think that the moment people get another job that their economic situation becomes instantaneously more improved?

People need to wake up and realize this — credit card companies WANT you to default. They hope that: 1) if you do get a job, you’ll pay off all the excess charges that they applied to your account and balance or 2) that you’ll default so that they can sell your balance to a junk debt buyer and get a tax write off

The credit card industry has no incentive to work for the consumer. They “win” regardless of what happens to the consumer. And a year or two later, that same credit company will be inundating the consumer with that same credit card! The whole system of dealing with people who can’t pay needs to be revamped because the credit card companies stand to make more money by keeping consumers solvent than letting them default and go bankruptcy. This industry cannot and should not be trusted to police itself. It almost like allowing the wolf to guard the hen house.

I am in agreement with everything I have read on here. 2 days late, $39 late fee, 30% interest, Bank of America. I want to hurt someone. I feel cheated, ripped off, and I think that the next time I hear on the news about how the credit card companies are brillions of dollars in the hole, I will laugh beyond all reason. The US Government is trillions in the hole, and are taxes are not punished with sinful rate hikes. I should have just stuck with cash………………

I paid my credit card bill for February early. I mailed my payment January 17…they received it and processed it on January 29, 2008. Because I sent the payment early, they are now telling me I never sent a February payment- I sent 2 January payments. Then I get charged a $30 late fee for February and also March (because the payment is due on the 26th and they receive it on the 5th) They count my March 5th payment (due March 26) as a LATE payment for February. Now, I am past due and $98 later, they still refuse to even discuss it with me. Steer clear of HSBC folks.

Isn’t it ironic how these Credit card companies will knock you down if they receive a late payment from you, even if only a day or two late, and rarely at that. Not only are you punished by these CC companies imposing a costly late fee upon you, they increase your annual percentage rate, and place a black mark on your credit report. You are treated as if you did wrong by them (shame on you)…. and now you have to pay for it, when in reality they are ruthless, and are banking (no pun intended) on late payments. All credit card companies want you to be late. They thrive on it! I have but two words (that I can use) for all these CC companies — LOAN SHARKS!

Credit card companies are like drug dealers: They seduce you until they get a hook into you then you are theirs.

I have not found a single card company that has straight forward language in their contracts. Every one of them have outrageous fees of all type. They all use the same boiler plate that they can change the terms of the contract without your approval at any time and will not grandfather your terms into the new contract. If this is not predatory, I don’t know what is folks. There is only one way to fix this and that starts by lobbying your congressman at the state level since this is an issue that hangs over every single card holder, it would be easy to collect the signatures to put it on the ballot and get credit card fee reform signed into state law. I have never had a late payment or over limit fee, but I hate the threatening language of their contracts.

The original poster said it best- take some responsibility!

HOWEVER- my dad always said, “It takes two to tango…”

The companies do everything they possibly can to find a way to hit you with fees and rate jumps. I had a card that I got for emergencies; the first month I put up a small balance, paid it off. The next month I didn’t even use it- and on my very next statement, my rate jumped from 0% to like 19%. apparently there was a usage clause. I closed that account mighty quick.

The only problem- closing an account will lower your score!

People need to be more responsible and stop this American trend of going overboard. But companies need to stop this PREDATORY LENDING bs. It will never end though- all our elected officials are bought and paid for…

Credit card companies and banks are deceptive. Cut up ‘em all and have someone you trust do your finances! Go back to the old ways of keeping cash under your mattress! You have nothing to lose but the value of the American Dollar. Even that is losing ground.

Credit Card companies are money hungry gouls! I have paid MORE THAN THE MINIMUM BALANCE every month on all my cards.. and i’m NEVER 30 days late.. maybe once or twice I was a day or two beyond the due date..simply because it’s hard to manage all the bills since they are all due on different days.. They took that as an okay to raise my rates to ridiculous levels.

And we thought loan sharks were dead. Watch out were you swim when shopping with plastic. Keep your balance at zero.

Credit card companies are out of control with the late and especially over the limit fees. Why don’t they just decline your charge if it puts you over the limit? Why do they allow you to go over then charge you for it? I try to keep track but sometimes you go over because you don’t know what your available spending is to exact the penny, particularly if you are away from home, on vacation, or business. The late fees should be assessd after a 5 day grace period and then in line with what your balance is. My 20 year old son got a $39 late fee and $39 over the limit fee on a balance of $325. He was $25 over the limit. Absolutley absurd and bordeline criminal!

I’ve learned to read the disclosures very carefully. I used to just throw away any card that said they’d raise the interest to 30+% if you ever missed a payment, or in some cases, your credit report indicated that you missed a payment with another creditor! Now it seems they all resort to such tactics. I rarely use credit cards any more, but do rely on debit cards (which cost my merchants much less to process).

I too was hit by a late fee from American Express when a payment I made got lost in the mail. I only knew they had changed my APR when I happened to notice it on my next statement. Good thing I was paying attention. I canceled my account and will never do business with American Express again.

In my own experience, I’ve found Capital One to be a good card company to work with, and I have several of their cards.

Companies give great offers and 0% APR to transfer balances, getting you hooked just hoping you’ll miss a payment or be late. They clearly don’t make any money charging you 0% interst, so why else would they do that unless they expected you to “default” and then be able to charge you 32% interest on a balance the average consumer can’t pay off readily. That’s just sorry.

Another questionable practice by the Credit Card industry are the so called “rewards” cards (sometimes called “miles” or “signature” cards). They try to convince you that it doesn’t cost YOU anything, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, some cards even upgrade you automatically so they can charge merchants who accept your cards special higher fees. Sure, it doesn’t cost you anything directly, but who do you think pays for it. Every time you use one of those “special” cards at a merchant, the merchant gets charged an ADDITIONAL fee, above and beyond what they normally pay VISA/MC/AMEX/DISCOVER for the privilege of accepting your plastic. This is something that business owners really have no control over. You can’t not accept certain types of VISA cards, for example. If you take one, you have to take them all. So what happens? Businesses send more of their profits to VISA/MC and have to raise the prices they charge YOU to cover it. So, YOU are actually paying for it, it’s just not obvious. I’d love to know what percentage of people who have such card actually use ANY of the benefits provided by such. I never have, and I think all of my cards have been “automatically” upgraded for me. This means that I’m paying more for my goods and services, so the merchants can pay more to VISA/MC, for a service that I’ve never used. Pretty good racket and which is why I’m leaning more on cash. If you can, use your debit. It cost your merchants less to process and will help them keep their prices lower. Better yet, use CASH.

It’s going to take more consumers and merchants getting fed up to make this change. Check out how much money VISA/MC made last year. That’ll sure give you the warm and fuzzy. There’s your $39 late fee.

Clearly, the disclosure laws are good, but not working to the benefit of the average consumer. As consumers (and merchants), it’s time to stand up for our rights. After all, credit card companies make money from us when we carry a balance AND from the merchants every time we use our cards. It’s pretty brilliant, sadly.

Credit card fees are ridiculous. But so is the American willingness to deficit spend. Perhaps if the government rolled back all interest rates on consumer debt to below 5% simple interest per year credit card companies would stop issuing credit cards to EVERYONE and we as a nation might learn to live within out means and save for emergencies. This will never happen because the banks have bought the best US Congressmen and Senators money can buy–Republicans AND Democrats.

I had fronted some fees for a move and was waiting on a reimbursement check from my fiance’s employer. I chose to wait until the check came in before I paid, and I therefore made my monthly payment five days late.

Because I was five days late, they increased my interest rate from 12.99% to 29.99%. I expected a late fee (which I willingly paid), but not this. I had been with my lender for almost a decade, and had never been even a single day late in that entire time. When I called and asked it be returned to its original rate, they refused, even after I spoke at length with a supervisor.

My response? I moved the balance to another credit card company at 9.99%, even lower than the original rate.

If you have good or even only decent credit, you cannot be held hostage by lenders.

We need to get our elected officials to deal credit card companies the same as we are treated. No sympathy!

the fees are fraudulent —check your billing dates and clearance times–many bills go out with less than 2 weeks to pay and since many won’t post a payment for 5 days after reciept(wamu can hold a CASH payment for 5 days paid in their own branch) or delay clearing checks or not clear checks till after their due–on purpose—$39 penalty is better than adding $2 interest.They don’t want to be paid on time and do everything to make it happen.personally i pay my bills the same day recieved at the bank in cash–usually 2 weeks early

Credit card fees must be regulated. As far as I am concerned the high fees charged by credit card companies are unfair and, in my opinon, border on being illegal. The Federal Government should take a hard look at these fees and begin regulating them. I suggest individuals who feel the same should contact their Senator & Congressman (woman) and ask that these high fee charges be regulated.

Apparently, All we have to do, is simply not pay, and the Fed will dream up some sort of rescue plan for us too.

American Banks, are simply swindling the world. The best way to defend against credit cards is to simply have JUST ONE. And pay it off monthly.

Americans are impulse people, we buy on first sight. This is how banks think this is so much faster. ATM Commercials are trying to convince us even on TV, that it’s faster to use a Credit card/Bank Card than it is for cash.

When they mask fees, and hide the double dipping of calculating as well as those “Special Deals” Cancel ALL those types of cards. It tips the economy, back into OUR favor! Now it’s in their favor.

There is NO government Law that SAYS you must get into debt! In order to win at Gambling, the safest bet, is not to bet, the same holds true for credit card company’s.

To answer your 3 questions: YES, YES, and YES!! I think credit cards cause people more headaches than almost anything else. The time for something to be done to bring them into line with common sense is overdue.

The entire problem was that not many employers think “South Dakota” when thinking office workers. Since 49 states have usuary laws, those fellow citizens decided not to, hence all the banks do their credit cards out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. If Americans paid their welfare checks we’d be better off. Great to have a Constitution and lawyers who take advantage of it.

I’ve been questioning this practice for many years and personally I am sick of it! I finally feel that I am getting ahead and if I am even a day late I pay a $39 late fee and if I am close to my limit the interest brings me over the limit and then I am hit with another $39…I thought that the interest they charge was supposed to be the fee for lending us the money and their business costs! Seems to me that they are taking advantage of many people like myself, who unfortunately live from paycheck to paycheck.

Now, they’ve even added fees to make a payment with a live person on the phone or doing an overnight payment on line! Yet, if I mail my check it takes them 10 days to process it! Stuff happens in life and what happened to old fashioned grace periods…and I even notice that some credit card companies bill a month ahead, or are not even giving you a full 30 days between each billing cycle!

I believe that they are the biggest culprits of keeping people in debt! Yes, I think that its getting out of hand and it should be regulated to be more fair.

Most consumers are very lazy and when something bad happens they blame everyone else! Take a look in the mirror to see the true problem. If you can’t read then don’t get a credit card and if the terms and condition are too lengthy then don’t sign up for the card….dah! I hope I can come up with a business that would attract the same stupid consumers…..I will be laughing all the way to the bank.

If a person has the wherewithal to make a change of credit card companies, they should do so and at the same time, let their current credit card issuer know of their decision. Many times, unless the card has been delinquent frequently, this will cause the issuer to refund the charges.

It is outrageous that the credit card issuers do this and have been legally allowed to get away with it. I believe that this practice has been a part of the bankruptcies in the credit industry. This needs to stop – and consumers should receive restitution as part of any Congressional action.

If everybody stopped charging everything all the time and paid cash, prices would fall by the 3.5% service charge, and help fight inflation too. We’re getting ripped off at the price end too!

Although I have never been hit with a late fee or had interest rate problems, when I called Well Fargo, wwhere I do all my banking, they admitted that they utilize all the tactics discussed in the article. I told them that it was outrageous and the I was cancelling my credit card with them. As everyone else finds out, the could have cared less.

Greed kills, and greed may soon kill the credit card companies. They may be next in the melt down of the credit markets, like the sub-prime mortgage mess. They deserve jail. I recommend that everyone read “Maxed Out”, a great book about the history of the credit card industry.

It’s easy to punish the credit card companies. Don’t use there cards.

I pay off my cards in full each month. Recently though, I missed a payment with American Express, whom I’ve been with for 20 something years. I called and asked for them to refund the charge for the late fee, and the interest since I’ve been a great customer for over 20 years. When the man on the phone said he couldn’t do it, I said close my account. I was given a manager who apologized and credited my account. If they hadn’t done it, I’d have taken my business elsewhere. That’s how the game works…

What this is all about is stealing money from people, when they sould only pay what they used in the first place. They should only put a one time fee each month, not make people suffer with bills over their heads.If people could just recongnitize that the Credit Card company is stealing thousands of dollars, they would probably want nothing to do with credit cards. That is my opinion, and I hope everyone agrees with me.

Credit Card companies have been given a blank check by the Bush Administration and most importantly the former Republican Controlled Congress of past 12 years. For it was under their leadership during 2005 that bank credit card companies lobbied them and got every piece of legislation put in a Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005 which in turn was one of the biggest rip offs to the American Consumer of Credit.

AND these people are out of control, they are not accountable to anyone, there is no watch dog or government agency to police them or fine them or to complain to. AND they can and they will change or make up the terms or rates or fees on your card as they go along. Everything is designed by Republican voted law in their favor.

Thank your GWB and republican congress. you really care about the middle class working person.

Beware of Capital One. I signed up for a credit card with a fixed rate of 5.9% for my husband. I also had one with a fixed 9% rate (I thought was rather high) and then three years later Cap One sends me a letter stating that they are reverting my cards to a variable interest rate at todays market rate ………. I called and of course I only got the $5.00 an hour clerk who could care less; I located an old letter from some VP who had signed off on a credit increase and sent off a letter telling them where to stick their cards…… I told them if I wanted a variable rate I would have chosen a variable rate card. I reminded them that I had other choices when I signed up for their card and only did so because they were offering a fixed rate. I immediately paid them in full and shredded the card. Do not close your cards as in doing so you wipe out all those years of history that are important for your Fico Score. For the record I have never been late, or over the limit on any of my cards or debts yet it did not matter to Cap One……….

I don’t understand how it can be fair to the consumer after beeing late, paying all the late fees and other charges on credit cards and even that you pay in full all off the balances on your cards that you get hit with a 7 year black mark on your credit?! How do you justify that? And a 30% interest rate what is that? This is nothing more than scam!

This is very simple…use credit to buy a home or a car. Pay cash for everything else. Save your money the CC companies hate that.

I never thought I could live without credit cards. Almost two years ago, I got rid of them all. I use my debit card or cash for everything.

I think a lot of credit card providers are the predatory lenders of the unsecured credit world. They tempt you with advertising that makes you think you are a big shot because you have their card, and can do things no one else can. They suck you in with teaser rates, and give people more credit than they can handle (the carrot). Then they pound you with late fees and exhorbitant interest (the stick).

This whole part of our economy needs a good enema before we’re in so deep we hit a major depression.

I think the CC companies need to be identified for what they are. They claim they are consumer focused yet everything they do is to entice consumers to run up balances and make minimum payments. I find Chase to be one of the worst. The electronic payment deadline used to be late in the day, now it is 4 pm ET. I’ve tried to access their system to schedule a payment and their system is unavailable for sytem maintenance. I called their hand on this after it happened 3 months in a row and luckily had proof of their sytem being down. Chase first claimed they had no system problems until I provided proof. They then quickly refunded fees. I am in the process of finding a new issuer and can’t wait to call Chase and close my account after being a 20+ year customer.

Many of these fees are simply dishonest. As a result, my credit cards are no longer convenient.

Now I pay cash whenever possible. Amazing how easy and trouble free things can be.

Credit card companies are making millions of dollar on this practice. I had a sutiation where Bank of America send me my statement with a due of saturday. When I made the payment on the saturday, I was hit with a fee of $29.00, the bank said saturday is not consider a business day but they were quick to charge me the late payment fees on a non business day. This is a horrible practice.

The CC companies become loansharks when the consumer spends over their limit. What is interesting is that consumers think their card will be declined when their limit will be exceded. In reality and at best, they only do that for those with poor credit histories. They let transactions go through for those with good credit histories which then triggers the irrational loanshark rates of 30% for those with good credit. What is odd about this is that it forces people with good credit to pay off and cancel their card. It also then makes those same people seek cards from other companies instead of doing business with this company again. One has to wonder what the motivation is for this.

I agree that the CC companies are the ultimate in predatory lending; the only way to beat them is not to play the game. I was the poster-boy for bad financial decisions, when a couple of years ago I finally got it together and got rid of debt. Once you’ve been there, there’s nothing else like it. PAY THE CARDS OFF AND DON’T USE THEM AGAIN!!! You don’t need credit cards; if you think you do, what you need is to educate yourself to the alternatives. It’s not that difficult.

I just feel so helpless, congress is in the pocket of he big banks who have such a powerful lobby. It’s criminal what the banks are doing, before a person knows it, they are behind the eightball, and the banks have been able to push thru the bankruptcy laws, that a person can get stuck there for life. Yet the banks are able to get “bailed out” wheneve they get into trouble.
‘Liberty and justice for the rich”

simple:
If for some reason you get fees for being late, call the cc company and tell them you want it removed. They will do this because as you have seen there are many,many choices of cc cards out there and they want your business. If they dont them simply cancel your card and switch to another. I need to state that this is for the individuals that normally pay on time. People who habitually pay late deserve what they get.

Most will agree we as consumers are responsible for making sure we do things right and on time. We mess up , we pay the price, but Credit card companies, change the rules all the time. Some post payments at the time you make them online, others like Chase have a two day delay or if you want to make a “just in time” payment , on the day before the due date or the date, they charge you a fee. In today’s banking world, the internet is instantious, so why the no holiday or or weekend postings, it is all done by computer anyway. And God forbid if a Holiday occurs on a Monday and you make your payment after 5 PM on a Friday, it will not post until Tuesday with the late fee. Now lets talk about Universal default the new darling of Credit card companies. I moved in July of last year and called all of my Credit card companies to make the change of address. One bill from Kohls Dept Store was not forwarded or missed the cut off period for the change of address. In the hassle of moving I admit I missed a 10$ payment from them unknowingly. In Sept I get a notice that my charging priviliges were suppended until I got my account up todate. I called and was treated like a criminal and told it would be reported to the Fico Nazies. I paid in full and two months later find I was reported and ALL of my Credit cards picked up on the 10$ late pay and jacked my interest rate on all my card to 29.9% . I have never had a late pay in my life and they did this to me. Seems Kohls had the new address to send me the late pay but not the bill in question. Fair Issac is anything but Fair, the banks want you to be late, that way they can jack your rates and charge you more interest on everything from home loans to cars , your Credit cards, to now Home owners insurance and next will be health insurance. Banks want us in debt, and in debt that we can never repay. This stealth practices need to be stopped or atleast have a way to correct one small mistake, but instead it is what they want and after all we are responsible for not keeping it up today , it is like playing a whole team in dodgeball and you are the only one on your team.

I take issue with the solicitations offering 12 months at a “0% APR” where a balance transfer fee is involved. Typically, balance transfer fees are set at 3% of the balance transferred. If the banks have the ability to calculate a two-cycle average daily balance method for compounding interest, I feel they can at least be more honest about the true APR they are charging. In the example above, there is no way to pay less than the 3% fee on the intro late lasts 12 months. The math seems fairly simple. Banks are inviting more regulation and class-action lawsuits with deceptive advertising practices around balance transfers. Hopefully, ethical management at large banks will step in before the regulators and lawyers, but only time will tell.

35% huh, isn’t there a law against usery. Oh yah, free checking, low interest on your savings accounts, outlandish atm fees, ballon loans, hidden fees … Money talks and banks have more than enough to loose on risky sub-prime loans and they have really Good lobbiest, to bad no one is lobbying for the American Consumers. To bad Congress listens only to money, money, money .. that’s what makes the world go round – life is a caberate my friend.

I do all my banking on line. I think I write 3 checks a month if that to pay all my bills. Several things have happened
One of my biggest conplaints is the constant changing of the due date, Watch you due date, check how much and many times they change over the course of a year. Next is being able to log on line and pay the bill. Recent changes in the security systems and log on on has forced me too constantly redue the log in process and keep changing the questions and answers. I understand security but come on let get it fixed. Now with my Apple computer I am not able to use it built in browser Safari and have to resort to either Netscape and Firefox. Forget Microsoft, I won’t touch that with a 10 ft pole. Then there are the webstes themselfs. Best for me are HBSC, and MBNA. Worst are GEB and Wells Fargo. Can’t wait to get rid of those two whenever! Wells Fargo is by far the worst of the worst. Sam’s Cluib, a GEB card was nearly impossible. Lost payments, not sending statements , not helpful when in the hospital for 3 weeks with no computer access. You name it just worthless. I paying off credit cards and putting them in a lock box at the bank. They will be my “last resort” if I need something.
As for credit scores and credit reporting agencies, there another sleazy bunch that need looking into!

This is another example of criminal behavior at the hand or big business. I am on a personal quest to stop giving my money to these companies, reducing telephone and cable services to their basic minimums, not using credit cards AT ALL and paying only cash for what I need and not buying anything I really don’t need. Americans need to send a strong message to banks and corporations and stop buying STUFF and SERVICES we really don’t need!

I can understand over limit fees, but I cannot understand 2 overlimit fees for one overlimit. But that’s what a lot of CC companies do. One overlimit fee at the time of the transaction and another overlimit fee at the time the account rolls at the end of the month. These 2 overlimit fees can literally be within hours. I had an overlimit on one of my CCs and I called the CC company and asked how much I needed to pay in order to avoid any further overlimits. I paid the amount I was told and yet I got another overlimit and because of that they raised my interest to 32%. When , I explained that I paid the amount they said I needed to pay, I was told that I should have made a $5000 payment (on a $7000 credit limit) after the first overlimit so that I would not get the second overlimit. I paid off the CC and quit doing business with that bank.

BOA,,,,,,,,,,Bank of America,,,,or snake as in BOA constrictor………
BOA is out to BREAK everyone they can,,,they are out to fleece the customers they entice with BS advertising.

Credit Card Companies Should Lower their interests to match the lower interests given by the FED. They are not above the law, so why should they have special privedge to charge exhorbitant fees… A credit card should not be allowed to charge over 11% interest… And thats it.

I am concerned in that my credit card limits have been steadily increasing. Between my top three cards I now have a credit limit of close to $75,000. If I were to max out my credit cards I would barely be able to make the minimum monthly payment. How come they will raise my limit, but they will not decrease my interest rate? Maybe if they would lower my rate, I might actually carry a balance and they could then make some money by legitimate interest expense rather than the small fees they like to dish out. Don’t even get me started on the big banks.

I recently had to pay a GE Money Bank card bill by telephone– they said there was a $10.00 fee for a phone check- and I accepted that. But, when I got my next bill– they added onto the $10. check charge $1.50 plus interest “finance”– my total cost for trying to be responsible and pay my bill on time was interest in the amount of 111 per cent yes- one hundred eleven!)– I paid off my bill in full and cancelled this card.

I had a US Bank VISA card. I purchased something online and got an email enrolling me in a ‘club’. I called US Bank and told them I was concerned this company would be posting transactions to my credit card going forward without my consent. I asked if US Bank would simply close the account and issue me a new card. The rep told me that wouldn’t work because US Bank has a policy of allowing merchants to continue to post transactions to a CLOSED acount. I couldn’t believe it. She said I would have to dispute each charge in writing every month. I asked what would happen if someone stole my card number and merchants continued to post transactions to it – she said that would be unfortunate, but that US Bank has this policy to protect their merchants. I think US Bank is confused with regard to who their customers are. I closed the account. As it turned out, the merchant I had made the purchase from cancelled the ‘club’ membership, but I’m so glad I found out about that policy the easy way.

P.S. While the practices of the CC Co.’s borders on usurious, don’t expect the government to save you from interest, penalties and late or over the limit fees. The best way to protect yourself is to regulate yourself and your spending behaviour first and then address the problem by using CC’s for those expenses that can easily be paid in one or two statement periods or when the long term return of the purchase justifies the expense and the added interest (i.e. purchases for business where the items and interest can be written off or for education and work where the long term return of investment justifies the expense)

I agree that two-cycle billing is highway robbery. So are late fees. Isn’t the “late fee” the interest you pay on your CC? Why are they allowed to charge interest and also charge late fees?

What I find most reprehensible is the manner in which interest charges are calculated. With most CC’s now, you can miss your payment by $1, for example, pay $2,999 when you owe $3,000, and instead of paying interest in the $1 you didn’t pay back, you are charged interest on the average monthly balance you charged during that month! Say you charged $100 per day for a month. This would make an average monthly balance of $1,500 or so, for which you might pay 23% (or something outrageous) on. That’s $28.75.

With two-cycle billing it gets even worse. You would also be charged interest on the average monthly balance for that card for the PREVIOUS month as well EVEN THOUGH YOU HAD PAID THE BILL IN FULL FOR THAT MONTH !!! That’s another $28.75.

If your $2,999 payment is 1 day late, you can tack on the $39 late fee. So, the total for being $1 short and 1 day late is $96.50.

I was absolutely astonished the first time this happended to me, and I read the fine print on the Agreement.

How on earth have the CC companies been allowed to get away with this?

If I deposit $1,000 in a bank at 3% interest, I have $100.25 after one month. I wouldn’t expect to check my balance after one month and see $196 in the account. And yet this, in reverse, is what the credit card companies are doing to us with these short term loans that CC’s represent.

The CC companies make the pay-day lenders look like charitable institutions!

It is clear the CC companies in general run a shady (for the customers, not for themselves) fee scam. Think about it. They reel customers in with teaser rates and conditions/rules which they arbitrarily create, then they change the conditions/rules, and rates, as they please, when they please and the consumer, always, always ends paying. Furthermore, the whole business is run on a punitive mindset; if something goes wrong, then you are severely (APR from 11% to 30%!) punished, with rates way beyond reason; but…wouldn’t one think that it is in everyone’s interest to negotiate a middle ground? In who’s interest is it to bankrupt the customer or to ruin their credit rating? What is the point of making someone who is obviously having financial trouble have more trouble? Am I the only one who finds the whole thing irrational and surrealistic?
Finally, I agree that the consumers need to be responsible for their mistakes, but I object to shifting ground rules and a punitive mindset.

The best way to make sure you don’t get a late fee and guarantee your rate is to make all your payments on line. As soon as you get your statement go on line and enter in your payment amount and the date you want to pay (by the due date of course) and then forget about it. This method has saved me a lot headaches & hassles.

The CC company practices are so abusive this days that I have decided to curtail nearly all optional spending in order to eliminate my CC debt. Small mistakes costing 10’s to 100’s of dollars is outragious enough. Worse, though, is the jump in APR that is risked. Any more, not carrying credit card debt is the only responsible choice–too bad it’s so hard or impossible for some to do it. I know it’s very hard for me and my family on my meager salary–but I’m paying myself 15-30% returns for every dollar not owed to someone else.

Funny thing is, now that I’m only buying what I can really afford, I’m realizing how much is marketed to me that isn’t something that’s really needed.

I may be considered an ‘old fart’ by most, but I remember when banks paid 4-5% on savings balances and ONLY charged 7-8% on home martgage loans and maybe a little higher on other loans. They profited on that 3+% difference. Of course they didn’t loan money to deadbeats, South American countries with no intention of paying back, are paid their executives an average of 364 times the common worker. They created their own mess, the lawmakers need to put then on a very, very tight leash – maybe even a choker. The middle class American needs to take back his power from crooked organizations, foreign companies (look at who REALLY owns your bank – most are NOT American), dirty politicians (see who some of the biggest campaign contributors are and reference previous phrase), and corrupt executives with Golden Parachutes, ungodly stock options, and stupid salaries. Credit Unions are a great start, local Americans running their own show! Watch those nasty banks though, as they attempt to legislate those very American credit unions out of business. Vote with your feet and beat them to the local credit union and try real hard to find an honest lawmaker and judge (Good Luck) that will let the banks and the big credit card companies get what they deserve – Chapter 11, but with FULL restitution and NO government buy-out.

‘Nuff said

The credit card companies charge fees for one reason: consumers can understand how and why they are getting charged a certain interest rate, since it’s (relatively)simple, and shop based on that information.

Fees, on the other hand, are buried in the fine print, and subject to ridiculous terms and conditions that can change simply by them sending you another fine print insert with your statement.

The same bank that can’t process a check deposit so that it hits your account the next day DEMANDS that you ensure your payment shows up when they want it too…

Also, how is it legal for them to share this information and raise your rate? One bank issues you credit, and you have a clean record with them, and then no matter what the reason, if you miss a payment even with another creditor, you are shafted.

I lived in downtown New York after 9-11 and my student loan providers were very flexible… Yet credit card companies pull the most awful sneaky things.

Bottom line: if they change the rate or charge a fee, you should have the leage rate to simply convert the credit card to a simple loan at the rate you signed up for ORIGINALLY. They lock you in with teaser rates and then drive yo into the ground – and when some por soul has to default, the same jerks who gave the risky credit to him inthe first place whine to Congress and make bankruptcy even more difficult.

The article is about credit card FEES, not the debt problem in America.

Everyone who owns a credit card gets hit with a fee once in a while. Even the responsible ones. Everybody messes up occasionally. Or the mailman could mess up and shove your bill in the wrong slot, delivering your bill to an apathetic neighbor who just trashes it instead of giving it to you. What is a “responsible” person supposed to do about that?

When extenuating circumstances cause me to be a day or two late on a payment, I have always called the company and asked them to reverse the late fees and associated charges. They have done so 99% of the time. There’s enough competition out there that they don’t want to lose the 3.5% transaction fee on your business over a $40 late fee.

And as for the few times they have not complied with my request: I have NEVER kept doing business with a credit card company who would not reverse a late fee. In 12 years of using credit cards, this has only happened to me twice.

I learned too late of the onerous practices of CC companies. The rules by which they operate are so arcane that not even a Philadelphia Lawyer could sort them all out. If you cancel a card that is paid out it will HARM your credit score unless you hold the account open for another year or so. If you are late with a payment on your AMEX card the interest rate on your Visa will go up regardless of whether the delay in posting the payment is actually your fault or not. If someone steals your identity it is YOUR responsibility to fix it even if it was the sloppy practices of the card issuer that led to the theft in the first place. If you don’t have CC’s then your credit score suffers. If you have too many, your score suffers and every time you respond to one of their silly mass mailings your score gets dinged. Fie on the lot of them.

I used Bank of America for 20 years and they started all the underhanded things like that to get fees. I closed all my BOA accounts out and moved to another bank they wanted to know why. All the ATM convenience in the World would no longer keep me a Bank of America customer. I think credit cards should work like insurance…you make your payments on time and don’t have any accidents and your rates go down. They also should not have huge limits on acounts for people who can not possibly pay that off – ever…

Credit card companies are in business to make money, plain and simple. They don’t care if I never buy another pair of shoes, but they’re willing to front the money if I do decide I want that cute pair and don’t have the cash to buy them. I have been guilty of late payments and have paid for it and that’s my fault. People need to take responsibility for themselves and their spending habits and stop blaming others for their own debt. Oh, and McDonalds didn’t make me fat, either.

In college (1965-69) my business law professor told us that the date of the postmark on the envelope that contained a payment was the date the creditor had to consider as the date paid. It was called “constructive receipt”. How have the credit card companies wiggled out of that requirement? I have payments that go to California & Atlanta, GA and delivery times vary greatly. Our legislators should at least clean up this loophole. If we could simply pay for a certificate of mailing at the post office on a large bill everyone would have at least some protection from the games some credit card companies currently play, like throwing some payments out in order to pick up extra fees.

I’ve just cancelled a MasterCard where I thought the issuer was acting unethically. I NEVER have late fees, and yet I found that twice I have been hit with a $35 late fee with this card—and usually the transactions showed the payment showing up one day after the due date. When I called to complain, I was told the issuer did not process payments on the weekends or holidays—and yet everyone else seemed to get my payments in plenty of time. I’m convinced this company deliberately sat on payments to make them late—that is not a company I want to do business with. I payed off the balance and closed the account. I’m too old with too much credit to put up with this type of behavior!

I just got hit with this. My Credit Card, MBNA, now Bank of America moved up the due date 2 weeks. So oblivously I missed the payment.

So on top of robbing me the late charge, they charge me a finance charge on the charges I just made within the last 2 weeks. Unluckily for me, I just charged a big vacation on the card. So I ended up paying over $70 in finance charges. Calls to customer service was just useless.

I plan to never do business with Bank of America again.

Basically the CC Companies are the Modern Day Loan Sharks. If you happen to get hit by 1 Company with Overlimit and Late Fees, the other Cards you carry can and will follow suit and raise your rates even if you have not been late with them. For those with high debt, go to a non-profit Credit Counceling Company and get into a repayment program. Interest Rates will vary between 0% and 12%, no Late Fees as long as you do not miss a payment to the Credit Counciling Company. And when you enroll, cut up those Cards.

I find it amazing that while the mortgage industry is in turmoil and more and more regulations will be imposed on them, that credit card companies get away with high interest rates, late fees and over the limit fees. Why don’t credit cards have grace periods and oh by the way, when you are going over the limit, why don’t they refuse the charge. They will refuse the charge “if they don’t like your spending habits”. Why can they pull your credit and decide that you need a rate increase because your score dropped, yet you never missed a beat. I think the credit card reform is in order!!

If you are tired of excessive fees and interest rates, try your local credit union. They have reasonable rates, low fees and I don’t know of a single one that practices “universal default”.

It used to be that a interest rate of over 30% was considered loan-sharking. What was one a crime is now considered standard business practice. Something needs to be done before credit card rates goes to 40 % or even 50% for those who default. I use my debit card just like a credit card. My credit “limit” is how much I make, not what the credit companies give me.

Cut up all your cards but one and pay it off every month, if we all would do it there would be a lot less credit (card) problems. It is the national addiction to credit that is keeping the issuers in business.

I was laid off and became a victim of the mortgage debacle. When i could not sell my home, i was foolish and used my credit card to absorb some of the day to day costs of living. I maxed out my cards, was late once on each and then got nailed with late fees, over limit fees, and of course the 32% interest and now 32 years of perfect credit down the drain. I did finally sell my house, I found a new job and i am paying off those stinking thieving credit cards and will never get into debt again.

The real problem is that people are irresponsible. We don’t need regulation from Washington. No matter how high the interest rate and no matter how high the fees, the same irresponsible people will use credit cards and not pay them off in full each month. You could put the “fine print” in 20 font, and write so simply an idiot could understand the terms, and it won’t make a difference. People love to live beyond their means. If you cannot afford something without using a credit card, how on earth are you going to afford the same thing with interest tacked on the top? My generation waited to buy things until we could afford them and that little bit of common sense is long overdue for a comeback.

Cost of doing business (bull) may cost them 2 cents, bet they didn’t hire extra help and every thing is computerized. This is an open road to legal highway robbery that the gov. gives them. funny how they like to kick you when your down.

Been going thru this for 3 yrs. Pd. half the balance, they still wouldn’t lower the rate, said to wait one more month. I asked if they would lower it if I pd off the balance, there was hesitation…

I closed my Discover account over this issue. I missed a payment, purely by oversight, and was 1) charged a late fee and 2) charged a substantially higher interest rate from that day forward.

When I called to cancel I was handed over to an ‘account specialist’ who 1) offered to reduce the interest rate, 2) commented that ‘if I had called’ the interest rate could have been reverted, and 3) promised me all sorts of goodies if I’d remain a customer.

This is inconsistent with a company who had, not long before, decided I was a risk due to a one time missed payment.

In fact I had called when the rate was increased, and was sent a form letter asking me to sign it so Discover ‘could get credit reports’ — a delaying tactic and ploy, since Discover, as a current creditor, is free to ask for my credit information whenever they wish.

To me this is about basic decency and honesty in business practices.

In my opinion Discover’s practices are neither, and I will never do business with them again. As I stated to the ‘account specialist,’ I no longer wish to do business with a company who uses unfair means to make more money, who responds to requests by sending unnecessary form letters, and is deceitful.

The account specialist quickly said “well, all the other companies are doing the same things.”

I learned better in first grade.

I have since closed two other accounts and am in the process of paying off all the rest.

I’m sick of it.

Vote with your wallets!

How can a credit card company legally advertise a 0% interest rate and have a 3% transaction fee? Isn’t that considered a cost of credit?

If you don’t carry a balance from month to month, you wont ever be close to going over your limit, nor will you pay finance charges. Additionally, use a calender to remind you to pay your bill on time. Mark it a week before the due date, and pay it online (or a week and a half if you mail in a check). I have a re-occurring alarm set up on my computer, because there’s a good chance I’d forget otherwise. It’s called being responsible.

Credit card companies can charge whatever fee they want when you don’t pay on time – in essence, when your payment is late, you are breaching the contract that you agreed to with the credit card company back when you signed your card and started using it.

If the legislature really want to work on the credit card debt problem, they’d prohibit companies from aggressively recruiting new credit card users from college campuses, and limit the pre-approval offer process – these two methods of recruiting credit card holders are aimed at the most vulnerable groups who haven’t yet learned how dangerous credit cards can be and who have no idea how to handle the responsibility that goes along with carrying that magic piece of plastic. What do most sensible people do with all the credit card offers that arrive in the mail? They shred them…

Credit card companies, as well as paycheck and title loan companies are no more than legalized loan sharks. Our government does need to step in and do something about all of them.

It’s true that at this time fees and interest rates are too high. There should be a law to regulate fees and maximum interest rates. Credit Card companys are charging fees and interest uncontrolled.

First of all when you using credit card that means you spending that you do not earn. Problem arising when people forgot to pay bill ontime. By paying minimum payment you save all the fees.

Having paid off and cut up all our credit cards, my wife and I don’t have this problem. Yes, you can too!

Having had worked as a bill debt collector for a bank, I saw first hand the abuse of consumers by the bank by hitting them with extra fees and increasing the interest rate while they were down and out because of losing their job or medical reasons. It is no wonder that people are to the point that they don’t care if their credit gets ruined or tarnished because of not being able to pay when they are having financial problems. I am of the opinion as those consumers that were victimized by the system as they were in a bind that if I was in the same situation, I would just say, “the hell with the creditor for I am not going to get cancer or be in the hospital with some illness simply because I can’t pay no more, when all they do is abuse their power to get more money out of me.” To be honest, I don’t blame the consumers anymore for not caring if they pay anymore or not. The most important thing is having a roof over your head and food plus gas and money for the utilities and the rest of the creditors can go to hell.

Remember the days when your “due” date was the same date your statement closed? I find it infuriating on the rare occasion when my payment arrives one day past the “due date” (which the credit companies arbitrarily decide), but in time to appear on my statement. I have impeccable credit and a high credit score – and the credit card companies want to make money off of good customers. Apparently, the 17% – 22% interest they charge isn’t enough. I’m sick of these greedy banks and the legislators doing NOTHING to stop them.

I admit that the consumer is responsible and the credit cards do indeed disclose their fees in the form of very small print that the average American probably doesn’t understand. The disclosure of the policy doesn’t make their policy right. I am also curious about usary laws and when there are going to be some limits placed on credit cards and banks. It seems like recent legislation all favors these institutions. Lucky for the banks they have all our money to pay off our “representatives”.

Follow this link to 2491 comments about credit card abuse and then write your congressman
http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/index.cfm?doc_id=R%2D1286&doc_ver=1

If I am hit with a late fee or any other penalty associated with being late and a Credit Card company is not willing to remove them I just close my account on the spot. I also never ever do any business with the bank that I had an issue with on any level personal or business. If all the people were doing the same, creditors would be a lot more cooperative. Money talks!

how about when they jack your interest rate high as hell with one late payment. even 1 day!!! and for all of you “pay your bills on time screamers”some people do struggle occasionally. so you need to get way over your arrogant selves!!!!!!!!!!!

Credit card companies are gouging customers unnecessarily when they miss a payment by a day or two; or because of sickness or other catastrophic problems that might cause a person to forget. However, in the past, when that happened, all I had to do was call the company and the fee was waived. But, they also told me that it was a one time deal, and not to be late again. Customers need to put their payments on automatic draft so this won’t happen.

For interest rates to go towards 35% is usurious under most state laws. It simply demonstrates how Wall Street has Washington in their hip pockets.

I’ve had a Citi card for many years. I had never been late. A payment arrived 1 day after the due date. On the next statement I had a $39.00 late fee and an interest rate of 31.77%

No other credit allows the creditor to change terms and conditions during the indebtedness. Credit card companies can do whatever they want whenever they want.

Washington is impotent! It can’t protect us from greedy lenders.

No one is forcing anyone to use credit cards, and everyone should be aware of common pitfalls to watch out for unless you have been living under a rock … in which case you probably don’t have credit cards anyway.

I pay my card in full every month, but on occasion I have made mistakes that resulted in exorbitant interest and/or penalties. In every case I called the card holder and explained the situation and ALL charges were reversed.

Most credit card companies are very reasonable providers as long as you are a reasonable consumer.

Hey, for the fool that said to pay your bills on time, do you think that if you pay your mortgage bill late, that they charge you 20% interest instead of the 3-8% that your paying now? Get real, These companies are getting away with this, because our government is letting them do it, and also because they are a part of it. The Democratic party, for example has a CC that charges a standard rate of 23-27%. Look, until the government does what it’s supposed to do, and for those of us that don’t remember what that is, it’s supposed to govern “we the people” and protect us from injustice, then we are all screwed. Don’t believe me? Look at the bind that Citi is in right now with it’s SIV’s, of how about the issues and shadiness surrounding Countrywide and the insider trading that went on in 03-04′, and quite possibly may still be going on (Mozillo?). Who loses out in all this? That’s right, all of us. We should make our government more responsive to these issues. That’s our jobs, and were failing at it…

The banking indusry (credit cards included) needs massively more regulation. They are out of control and destroying many innocent peoples lives and business.

aren’t credit card companies close to the usery law definition?

the reason well one of many reasons why poeple are in debt because its hard to pay a credit bill in full when you are charged with unneccesary fees. there should be a law to regulate this fees or terminate the fees. somethimes a credit card is needed for emergency circumstances. I think the goverment should do more monoriting with the credit card companies.

first of all avoid paying late therefore you skip the problem of these unsensesless charges which in fact should be regulated, but we can fight back stop using your credit card, pay cash yo´’ll save a lot of money and time, also by doing this you only buy what you really need.

regards from Santiago, Chile,
oscar perez inskip

I am careful enough with my cards to not need to worry about over the limit fees, but once in a while straddle the due date. My last late payment was due to the due date being on a Saturday, and the following Monday being a holiday. Since my online payment was made late on Friday, the payment didn’t register until Tuesday. I argued the point, and as a courtesy my card company reversed the charge.

The thing I’m more upset about is the interest rate. Card companies are eager to raise the rate with the Fed Prime rate, but why do I have to call them to lower it when the Fed rate drops?

The real problem with credit card fees and interest rates is that the very people who are susposed to be looking after our interests in Washington and the various state regulatory commissions are in fact looking after the interests of the business world. How anyone can say that 35% interest is fair for anyone to be charged is beyond comprehension. Not so long ago the maximum was around 20%, now almost any credit card company charges more to its more ‘unworthy’ clients. It would seem that the whole industry is operating on the theory that they can make more money on late fees than on regular fees. That it is fair to charge the few that don’t pay on time so the many that pay off their bill aver month can have a free ride, all the while the credit card companys can have the use of the money for their other interests.

I think the credit card companies have the freedom to whatever they want. When will the laws support the common man?

Pay your bills on time and this isn’t an issue. Jeez people, take some responsibility.