CBS News
5 unnecessary credit card fees to stop paying before 2025
Getty Images
As the holidays approach, inflation is ticking back up again and putting extra pressure on people’s budgets. When you add in the other economic pressures that are looming — and the traditional uptick in holiday spending that occurs during this time of the year — it makes sense to try and find ways to free up more cash in your budget. After all, when money is tight, every dollar counts, especially in terms of managing your finances.
While reducing your spending and increasing your income are two common approaches to this task, getting rid of the unnecessary credit card fees you’re paying can also free up some room in your budget. While credit cards can offer valuable rewards and other perks, the extra costs they come with can chip away at your budget. But the good news is that many of these card fees could otherwise be significantly reduced or avoided altogether. All it takes is a little strategic planning.
By taking action to get rid of these fees now, before 2025 rolls around, you can free up funds for other priorities, like savings or investments. But which credit card fees should you try and get rid of before the new year? That’s what we’ll detail below.
Get extra help with your expensive credit card debt today.
5 unnecessary credit card fees to stop paying before 2025
If you want to get your finances in order for the new year, the following credit card fees could be having more of an impact on your budget than you’d expect:
Interest charges
Interest charges are one of the most expensive fees associated with credit card use, especially if you carry a balance from month to month. High annual percentage rates (APRs) can quickly escalate the cost of your purchases — and the average credit card APR has never been higher than it currently is at over 23%.
How to stop paying them:
- Pay your balance in full: You can avoid interest charges entirely by paying off your balance in full each month.
- Consolidate your debt: If you have multiple credit cards with high balances, consider consolidating your debt through a loan or a debt consolidation program, as these options often come with lower interest rates.
- Use a 0% APR credit card: Transfer your balance to a credit card offering an introductory 0% APR period. This gives you time to pay off your debt without accruing additional interest.
Find out what your credit card debt solutions are here.
Foreign transaction fees
Many credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee, which is typically about 3% of the purchase price when you use your card abroad or for international online shopping. That may seem like a small charge, but these types of costs can add up over time, especially if you’re making purchases through overseas vendors on the web.
How to stop paying them:
- Choose a no-foreign-transaction-fee card: To get rid of this charge, look for credit cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees, especially if you travel frequently or shop internationally.
- Use alternative payment methods: Consider using a digital wallet or local currency when abroad to avoid additional charges.
Annual fees
Some credit cards charge annual fees, which generally range from $95 to over $500, depending on the card’s perks. While these fees can be worth the extra costs if you use the types of rewards or perks that you’re earning, they’re not always a good deal. Do the math, and if you find that the benefits you receive don’t outweigh the annual fee, you may want to stop shelling out the money for it.
How to stop paying them:
- Switch to a no-annual-fee card: Many credit cards offer competitive rewards and benefits without an annual fee.
- Negotiate with your issuer: Contact your credit card provider to request a waiver or reduction of the annual fee, especially if you’re a long-standing customer.
Cash advance fees
If you’re regularly borrowing cash from the line of credit on your credit card, you’re almost certainly paying a hefty fee to do so. Cash advances typically come with fees that range from 3% to 6% of the borrowed amount and will typically immediately start accruing interest charges, so the costs are even higher overall.
How to stop paying them:
- Avoid cash advances: Use a debit card or, if you need to borrow money, try using a personal loan instead of relying on credit card cash advances, as the rate will typically be much lower.
- Build an emergency fund: Having cash savings to rely on can help you avoid needing a cash advance in the first place.
Over-the-limit fees
While this practice has become less common in recent years, some credit card issuers will charge hefty fees if you exceed your credit limit. So, if you have a lower-limit credit card or are regularly close to maxing out your credit limit, it can be surprisingly simple to end up with these types of extra charges.
How to stop paying them:
- Opt out of over-the-limit coverage: Contact your issuer to decline over-the-limit coverage, which will prevent transactions from being approved that exceed your limit.
- Monitor your spending: Regularly check your credit card balance to ensure you’re staying within your limit.
The bottom line
By identifying and eliminating unnecessary credit card fees, you can maximize the value of your credit cards while saving money. With the right strategies in place, you can enjoy the benefits of credit cards without the financial drawbacks. And, by taking action now to eliminate these unnecessary charges, you can significantly improve your financial situation before 2025.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect, Luigi Mangione, in maximum security as a New York grand jury hears evidence
NEW YORK — A New York grand jury is beginning to hear evidence in the case against Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office started presenting the case Thursday, seeking to indict Mangione for the fatal shooting in Midtown Manhattan. The DA’s office declined to comment on the grand jury proceedings due to the confidentiality.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she has spoken with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro multiple times to make sure Mangione is extradited quickly after he was arrested on unrelated charges in Altoona.
“I want to get him back here in the State of New York and run him through our criminal justice system. Because that horrific attack occurred on our streets, and the people of our city deserve to have that sense of calm that this perpetrator has been caught and he will never see the light of day again, if there is justice,” Hochul said in an interview Thursday morning. “You cannot assassinate an individual on the streets of New York. Not now, not ever.”
Mangione is being held under maximum security at Huntingdon State Correctional Institution in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The Corrections Department says he is not under suicide watch or in solitary confinement, but he does not get to interact with other inmates. They also say he has not been violent.
What happens next in the extradition process?
Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
First, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office has to officially file an indictment against Mangione. Hochul said Thursday the DA’s office is working to make sure the indictment will be “iron clad.”
“You don’t want to have anybody, a defense attorney, be able to attack what you’ve done. You have to get it right,” she said. “We expect that to be issued any day now, and at the second that happens, I’m issuing a warrant for extradition.”
Next, Hochul plans to issue what’s called a governor’s warrant, which Shapiro also has to sign. A spokesperson told The Associated Press he is “prepared to sign and process it promptly as soon as it is received.”
Under Pennsylvania law, a suspect can be held for 30 days while authorities seek a governor’s warrant.
“I will issue it, he will sign it. But the judge has already set a date for a hearing on Dec. 23. We’ll see whether that date has to hold,” said Hochul. “The governor and I both want him brought back to New York as soon as possible. So there will be some legal activities from the defense lawyer side, but I believe that the judge will say he’s going back to New York. So we’re expecting that to happen any day now.”
Once the warrant has been issued, Mangione has to appear before a Pennsylvania judge to confirm he is the person being sought in New York, either through fingerprints or DNA found at the scene.
In some cases, suspects can be extradited in a matter of days. But the process can drag on for several months if the defense challenges it. To fight extradition, the defense has to file a petition in Pennsylvania by Dec. 24.
Mangione’s attorney says his client intends to plead not guilty and wants to examine the evidence that police say they have.
“As lawyers, we need to see it. We need to see: How did they collect it? How much of it? And then we would have our experts… take a look at that, and then we would challenge its admissibility and challenge the accuracy of those results,” lawyer Thomas Dickey said in an interview.
NYPD sources tell CBS News once he is extradited back to New York, there are plans to upgrade the charges from second-degree murder to premeditated first-degree murder.
NYPD says evidence links Mangione to murder scene
Obtained by CBS News
As Mangione fights extradition from Pennsylvania, investigators say they are amassing a mountain of forensic and ballistic evidence tying the accused killer to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
So far, police say they’ve matched a gun found on him to shell casings at the scene and his fingerprints to those collected on a water bottle and a KIND Bar near a Starbucks, where the suspect was seen on surveillance video about a half hour before the shooting. Police also recovered a cellphone from an alley near the hotel and say those fingerprints are a match.
Law enforcement sources tell CBS News that Mangione had a spiral notebook with him when he was arrested where he wrote about considering using a gun over a bomb to carry out an attack because it was targeted, precise and didn’t risk innocents.
The working theory on a motive for the murder is animosity toward the health care industry, and authorities believe it may be rooted in a debilitating back injury that Mangione suffered.
Dorian Wright, an instructor at Power Yoga Hawaii, remembers the 26-year-old coming to his studio last year, mentioning he had pain.
“I remember with him, like a lot of people that come in with injuries, they tell me right in the beginning of class or while we’re doing certain poses, they’ll say, ‘Oh, I can’t do this,'” Wright said. “If I come to adjust them and help them, they’ll say ‘Oh, I can’t do this, my back.’ I do recall him saying something about his back.”
Sources say Mangione has not made any incriminating statements while in custody.
contributed to this report.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Credit card debt has become a critical issue for millions of Americans over the last few years. With credit card interest rates recently hitting a record high of over 23%, carrying a balance has never been more expensive. This issue is being compounded by rising credit card delinquencies and an increasing number of maxed-out accounts, which showcase the financial stress many people are under in today’s economic environment.
That financial burden is growing, too. Right now, cardholders owe a staggering total of $1.17 trillion on their credit cards, up from $1.14 trillion in the second quarter of 2024. That equates to the average cardholder being burdened by $8,000 in outstanding credit card debt — with many owing much more than that on their outstanding balances. These figures highlight the urgent need for cardholders to find effective strategies to tackle their debt.
Debt relief can provide a path forward, but success requires preparation, strategic choices and commitment. Whether you’re exploring debt consolidation, debt settlement or other options, the steps you take now can set the stage for lasting financial freedom.
Find out how the right debt relief experts could help you now.
How to succeed with debt relief
Navigating debt relief takes thoughtful planning and a clear understanding of your options. Here’s how to set yourself up for success during the process:
Understand your debt situation
Before pursuing any debt relief option, take a comprehensive inventory of your financial situation. Calculate your total debt across all accounts, track your monthly income and expenses and determine how much you can realistically afford to pay toward debt each month — as nearly any debt relief option you consider will require you to put at least some money toward what you owe on a monthly basis. This assessment will help you identify which debt relief options are most suitable for your circumstances.
Compare your top debt relief options online here.
Do your homework on your options
Debt relief isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Different methods work better depending on your financial situation, so it’s important to fully assess what’s available to you. Here are some of the more common debt relief program options to consider:
Debt consolidation
When consolidating your debt, the goal is to combine multiple high-rate debts into one loan with a lower interest rate, making your payments more manageable. Debt consolidation is typically ideal for those with good credit who can qualify for favorable loan terms on their loans.
Debt management
Offered by credit counseling agencies, a debt management plan involves negotiating lower interest rates and fees while creating a structured repayment plan. This option requires discipline, as it often takes three to five years to complete, but can result in lower payments and a streamlined payoff strategy.
Debt settlement
Debt settlement involves negotiating with your creditors to accept a settlement amount that’s lower than the total amount you owe. In many cases, these kinds of debt relief programs can result in lowering your balance by 30% to 50%, but while it significantly lowers your debt, it may hurt your credit score and come with tax implications. As a result, this option is typically most suitable for those with serious financial hardship (such as divorce, loss of income, medical emergency or a major unexpected expense) who can’t afford full payments.
Bankruptcy
As a last resort, bankruptcy can discharge most unsecured debts, including your credit card debt, wiping the slate clean. However, bankruptcy also has long-term consequences on your credit and finances, so it’s typically best for cardholders who have exhausted all of their other options.
Work with a reputable debt relief professional
If you plan to work with a debt relief company to settle or consolidate your debt, make sure to do thorough research on the companies you’re considering, as the quality of the services can vary — and it’s not uncommon for less reputable debt relief agencies to make unrealistic promises about outcomes.
During this process, it can help to look for companies accredited by the American Association for Debt Resolution (AADR) or the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). You should also check reviews from multiple sources, including the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot. And be wary of companies that:
- Promise specific debt reduction amounts
- Charge upfront fees before providing services, as it’s illegal to charge fees upfront except for in limited circumstances
- Pressure you to make quick decisions
- Guarantee they can stop all creditor calls or lawsuits
Stay committed to the process
Debt relief is not an overnight solution; it requires time, patience and discipline to achieve. To stay on track, celebrate milestones along the way. Acknowledge even the small victories, such as paying off one account, as these can motivate you to keep going. It’s equally important to avoid accumulating new debt by committing to living within your means and resisting the temptation to use credit cards. Surrounding yourself with a support system, whether it’s friends, family or financial counselors, can also provide encouragement and accountability to help you stay focused on your goals.
Educate yourself for the future
Achieving debt relief is just the beginning; maintaining financial stability requires building healthy habits. Start by improving your financial literacy — learn about budgeting, investing and managing credit effectively. Use credit sparingly and pay off balances in full each month to build a strong credit history. Make sure to also plan for long-term goals, such as retirement, homeownership or other significant milestones, to ensure that you are not only debt-free but also financially secure for the future.
The bottom line
Achieving debt relief is possible, even in today’s challenging economic environment, but you’ll need to put in some work to keep things on track. By understanding your debt, exploring your options and committing to a plan, you can take control of your financial future. Partnering with a reputable debt relief company, creating a realistic budget, and staying disciplined are also key steps toward success.
Most importantly, though, debt relief isn’t just about eliminating debt — it’s about creating a foundation for long-term financial stability. With the right approach, you can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities while regaining peace of mind.