Every year, banks make literally BILLIONS of dollars from Credit Card fees they take right out of our pockets. Here are 20 of the most common ones to look out for…

Inactivity Fee. Surely you can’t be charged for NOT using your card, right? Wrong. Some lenders will actually charge you if you don’t carry a balance for a certain time period. If this is the case – it’s time to get a new card!

Identity Theft Program Fee. Often dubious at best, some cards come with extra “Identity Theft” protection. You are often signed up by default as soon as you start using your card. Usually in the range of $5-$10 per month.

Credit Limit Increase Fee. Some card issuers like to charge you for a CLI, particularly if you have less than perfect credit. Will they milk you for as much as they can? You bet!

Balance Transfer Fee. When you transfer the debt from one credit card to another it’s known as a ‘Balance Transfer’. The fee is either a percentage of the funds transferred – usually around 3% – or a set amount.

Convenience Check Fee. This one gets charged when you use one of those “Convenience Checks” that are attached to your credit card Terms & Conditions when they first arrive in the mail – usually for the purposes of a balance transfer. Not as convenient as you thought, eh?

Cash Advance Fee. Often north of $5 or $5 (whichever is higher), this is one of the MANY reasons why you should never use your card to take out cash advances.

ATM Fee. Expect to pay a premium when you get a cash advance trough an ATM that doesn’t belong to your bank.

Over-the-Limit Fee. These days, banks are perfectly willing to let you go over your credit limit – and charge you through the nose for the privilege. Over the limit Fees have been steadily increasing over the years, so don’t be shocked if that pack of gum ends up costing you $35 or more.

Foreign Transaction Fee. Just because you CAN use your card almost anywhere in the world, doesn’t necessarily mean you SHOULD! Using the plastic to pay something overseas will hurt, big time – sometimes as much as 5%.

Currency Conversion Fee. Oh, you thought the Foreign Transaction Fee was bad? You’ll probably be hit with an additional 2.5% for making a purchase in a different currency too!

Annual Fee. The simplest and most common fee is the Annual Fee. It is usually charged on secured credit cards, cards with extra benefits (such as point or cashback programs) or low-credit-score cards. The Annual Fee is charged either monthly or annually, and it’s usually in the margin of $39-$59.

Program Fee. Some cards have a Program Fee. It is usually charged once, when the card is activated. It is common for credit cards for individuals with poor credit.

Participation Fee. Lenders have also came up with a Participation Fee, which is similar to the Annual Fee. It is charged either monthly or annually, and it’s usually in the margin of $29-$159.

Application Fee. When you first open a card, you can also be charged an Application Fee. Usually in the margin of $19-$59.

Reload Fee. Some lenders charge you a Reload Fee. It is common for prepaid plastics or secured credit cards. Usually varies depending on the amount that you are paying towards the card, although some companies have a fixed rate and a reload limit per month.

Transaction Fee. Another charge that can be imposed on your plastic is the Convenience or otherwise called Transaction Fee. It is usually charged every time when the card is used, some companie will give 2-3 free sipes per month.

Late Fee. As it’s name suggests, this is a penalty fee that is charged to your account in case you are late with your payment. Usually that fee also means that you APR’s are going up as well.

Duplicate Statement Fee. Want a copy of that monthly statement? It’s going to cost you – expect to pay up to $15 for a new one.

Card Replacement Fee. Lose your card and you’ll pay through the nose for it. Don’t be surprised if you get charged up to $25 for a new rectangle of 10-cent plastic.

Related posts:

1. Annual fees and why they’re silly
2. Credit Card Fees: The Fed’s Latest Proposal
3. Watch out for the traps
4. Watch Your Back: 8 Up and Coming Credit Card Fee-Creep Tricks
5. 5 More Credit Card Myths to Watch Out For!