[jeffrey]

All of the nation's top ten bank credit card issuers, including American Express and Discover, have raised late fees during the last three years by an average of 23%. During this same period, the number of VISA and MasterCard accounts past-due has soared 50%, from 12.3 million to 18.5 million. In the spring of 2001 nine of the top ten issuers charged a $29 late fee. In April 2004, five issuers charge $35 and four issuers assess a $39 late fee. The average late fee charged by the top ten issuers in April 2001 was $29.60, compared to $36.50 in April 2004. However, unlike 2001, all of the top issuers now have tiered late fee structures, which provides some relief to consumers very, very low balances. Most issuers assess their highest tier late fee if your outstanding balance is more than $1,000... [read more at cardweb.com]

To learn how to reduce late fees as well as other fees associated with credit cards, read the SavingAdvice.com article Reducing Credit Card Fees