
The increase in fees for exceeding the credit limit continues to slow down but remain above the $30 level. At mid-year, over-limit fees were up 2% to $30.71, compared to one-year ago. In June 2002, over-limit fees stood at $27.44. Since June 1993, over-limit fees have soared by 159%, according to CardData (www.carddata.com). During full-year 2004, the average over-limit fee increased 3.8%, compared to 4.8% in 2003, and 32.3% in 1997. Between 1994 and 1999, over-limit fees grew 96%, from $12.75 to $24.96. The most common over-limit fee among major issuers is $35, although some issuers charge $39 for accounts with higher balances.
| OVER-LIMIT FEE HISTORICAL | |
|---|---|
| Year | Average |
| June 1993: | $11.88 |
| June 1996: | $13.21 |
| June 1999: | $23.44 |
| June 2002: | $27.44 |
| June 2005: | $30.71 |
| Source: CardData (www.carddata.com) | |