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Home » Money » Budgeting » 8 Fees You Should Never Pay For

8 Fees You Should Never Pay For

Updated: January 7, 2023 By Robert Farrington

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Fees you should never pay for

Every time you turn around, it seems like there's an extra fee charged for services of dubious value.

While sometimes fees are a necessary evil, when it comes to your money, there are easy ways to avoid paying fees that are unnecessary or easy to avoid.

Make it a rule to never pay for the following eight fees. 

Table of Contents
1. ATM Fees
2. Overdraft Fees
3. Late Fees
4. Annual Credit Card Fees
5. Credit Card Foreign Transaction Fees
6. Credit Card Convenience Fees
7. Activation Fees
8. Paper statement fees
Save Where You Can

1. ATM Fees

Nowadays, you shouldn't ever have to pay money to access your own money. If you find you're paying ATM fees, change banks! There are many online-only banks and financial institutions out there that no longer charge ATM fees. They’ll even refund you the fees you paid for out-of-network ATMs. Two examples are USAA and Charles Schwab.

If you’re still paying for ATM fees, it’s time to shop for a new bank.

2. Overdraft Fees

Overdrafting is when you make a purchase from your checking account but don't have enough money on your account. If you've signed up for overdraft protection on your checking account, your bank will honor your purchase, essentially allowing your balance to go negative. But they'll also charge a big fee for the privilege (usually between $35 to $50). 

It's usually a much better idea to decline overdraft protection and not make purchases that will cause your balance to go negative. If you do find you occasionally need overdraft protection, look for a bank that offers free overdraft protection (including USAA and Charles Schwab). If your bank doesn't offer this, check out our options for the best free checking accounts.

3. Late Fees

Many banks, credit cards and other accounts such as loans, charge a late fee if you don't make your regularly-scheduled payment by the due date (plus a grace period sometimes). While it's a good idea to make sure that you've organized all of your bill payments (and set them up on autopay if possible), the good news is that many late fees can be removed. 

If you find a late fee assessed to your account, just contact the service provider (bank, credit card, utility, etc). In many cases, they will waive the late fee charge as a one-time courtesy. This is especially true if you have been a long-time customer or if this is the first time you've had a late fee charge. If you do get your late fee waived, make sure you set up the bill to be paid on time going forward so you don't run into the same problem the next month.

4. Annual Credit Card Fees

Watch out for pricey annual fees on credit cards. Many of the best rewards credit cards don't have annual fees, so if you have a credit card that charges one, decide if it’s worth it to switch. 

In some cases, a credit card with an annual fee also has benefits that are worth the fee. This might be free checked bags, elite status, bonus points, or an annual hotel free night. If you've done the math and know your card is worth more than the annual, that's one thing. Be sure to check out the best credit card strategies to maximize your travel rewards.

Just be sure you’re not mindlessly paying an annual fee when there are lots of good alternatives that come without that $95 sticker price.

5. Credit Card Foreign Transaction Fees

Another credit card fee to watch out for are foreign transaction fees. Many credit cards charge a 3% fee if you pay in a currency other than your home currency. That 3% fee can add up if you travel often and frequently buy things in other countries. 

If you're a frequent traveler, make sure you are choosing a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. There are many cards that don't charge this bogus fee, even among credit cards with no annual fee.

6. Credit Card Convenience Fees

Keeping the focus on credit cards, avoid paying a credit card convenience fee. Many places won't take a credit card payment for free and will charge a 2 to 3% fee to pay by credit card. 

No amount of cash back or travel rewards will likely be worth paying 3% more than you have to. If you come across this situation, look for a way you can pay with cash or using a bill pay service from your bank instead.

7. Activation Fees

If you’re starting a service like signing up for a new cell phone, you sometimes have to pay an activation fee. In the case of cell phones, you usually need to sign a two-year contract and it usually comes with an activation fee. 

Ask the clerk to waive it. They will 90% of the time. If they don’t, threaten to go to the next closest cell phone store. There’s a good chance that the salesperson is motivated to complete the transaction and may gladly waive it. 

8. Paper statement fees

Many companies give you the option to get rid of snail mail paper statements. They give you the option to receive your documents and statements via email. 

Some companies may charge a fee to receive any statements or notices in the mail. Do your wallet and the environment a favor and sign up for emailed statements. 

Save Where You Can

Most of these fees are only a few dollars, but every little bit adds up. You might find it's $5 here, $12 there but before long, you're starting to talk about real money. 

Avoiding these small fees is another way to  microsave, and you'll be much better off if you put this money towards your emergency fund or other investments.

Robert Farrington
Robert Farrington

Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him on the About Page, or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.

He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared towards anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.

He has been quoted in major publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Fox, ABC, NBC, and more. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.

Editor: Claire Tak

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, or other advertiser and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comment Policy: We invite readers to respond with questions or comments. Comments may be held for moderation and are subject to approval. Comments are solely the opinions of their authors'. The responses in the comments below are not provided or commissioned by any advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. It is not anyone's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
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