
Credit cards can be a convenient way to make purchases, but they often come with a plan fee fixed finance charge that can add up quickly.
A plan fee is a charge added to your credit card balance each month, usually ranging from $2 to $10.
This fee can be a significant expense, especially for those who carry a balance from month to month.
For example, if you have a credit card balance of $1,000 and a plan fee of $5, you'll be charged an additional $5 each month, totaling $60 per year.
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What Is a Finance Charge?
A finance charge is a fee charged for the use of credit or the extension of existing credit. It may be a flat fee or a percentage of borrowings, with percentage-based finance charges being the most common.
The finance charge is often an aggregated cost, including the cost of carrying the debt along with any related transaction fees, account maintenance fees, or late fees charged by the lender.
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Finance charges are subject to government regulation. The federal Truth in Lending Act requires that all interest rates, standard fees, and penalty fees must be disclosed to the consumer.
Here's what you need to know about finance charges:
- They can be a flat fee or a percentage of borrowings
- Percentage-based finance charges are the most common
- They include the cost of carrying the debt and related fees
- They are regulated by the federal Truth in Lending Act
- Lenders must disclose all interest rates, standard fees, and penalty fees to the consumer
Finance charges can be added to your account, like at Missouri State University, where a finance charge will be applied at a monthly periodic rate of 1% to the remaining balance if all charges are not paid by the tenth day after the month in which the semester begins.
Finance Charges
Finance charges are a fee charged for the use of credit or the extension of existing credit. A finance charge can be a flat fee or a percentage of borrowings, with percentage-based finance charges being the most common.
Finance charges allow lenders to make a profit on the use of their money. Regulations exist in many countries that limit the maximum finance charge assessed on a given type of credit, but many of the limits still allow for predatory lending practices.
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The annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of credit as a yearly rate, which can be a useful tool for comparing different credit options. For example, Missouri State University applies a finance charge at a monthly periodic rate of 1% to the remaining balance, resulting in an annual percentage rate of 12.68%.
Finance charges can be expressed in the currency of the credit card, allowing borrowers to complete transactions in a foreign currency. Finance charges are also subject to government regulation, such as the Truth in Lending Act, which requires lenders to disclose all interest rates, standard fees, and penalty fees to consumers.
Finance Charges and Regulation
Finance charges are subject to government regulation to ensure consumers are treated fairly. The federal Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose all interest rates, standard fees, and penalty fees to consumers.
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 took it a step further by requiring a minimum 21-day grace period before interest charges can be assessed on new purchases. This means consumers have more time to pay off their balances without incurring additional fees.
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Regulations like these aim to prevent predatory lending practices, which can result in finance charges amounting to 25% or more annually. These regulations help protect consumers from unfair and excessive finance charges.
Here's a summary of key regulations:
- Truth in Lending Act: Requires lenders to disclose interest rates, standard fees, and penalty fees to consumers.
- Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009: Requires a minimum 21-day grace period before interest charges can be assessed on new purchases.
These regulations are in place to ensure consumers are aware of the finance charges associated with borrowing money. By understanding these regulations, consumers can make informed decisions about their financial obligations and avoid excessive finance charges.
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Eligible Cards
If you're looking to take advantage of American Express's Pay It Plan It feature, you'll need to have one of their eligible credit cards. These cards are available for consumer credit cards issued by American Express, as well as co-branded cards with airline and hotel partners.
Some top American Express credit cards to consider for Pay It Plan It access include the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express and the American Express Cash Magnet Card.
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Pay It Plan It isn't available for business credit cards from American Express, so cards like The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express are out of the question.
Here are some eligible American Express credit cards to consider:
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- American Express Cash Magnet Card
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- American Express Gold Card
- Amex EveryDay Credit Card
- The Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card
Payment Terms
You can pay off an Amex Plan It early by either paying off the entire statement balance or the current balance when you make a payment. There is no penalty for paying off Plan It early, so you'll want to do so if possible.
Paying off Amex Plan It early allows you to save money by limiting the months you'll pay the Amex Plan It monthly fee. This is a great way to avoid unnecessary charges.
The monthly minimum payment amount is calculated by dividing the total charges due by the number of scheduled payment dates and adding the finance charge. This amount can change based on activity on your account.
A finance charge will be assessed on the next statement date after a charge is first billed. The finance charge is determined by applying a monthly periodic rate of 1% to the unpaid balance.
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Your Account
If you're like many people, you're not sure how to manage your credit card debt. One way to keep your balance low is to use the Pay It feature from American Express, which allows you to pay off smaller purchases immediately.
You can also use the Plan It feature to pay for large purchases over time without paying expensive interest fees. This is especially useful if you're worried about the unknowns of paying a variable interest rate.
Just be aware that the Plan It feature comes with a fee, so make sure it's worth it for you to carry a balance. Even if the costs work out to less than regular interest charges, you're still paying money to borrow.
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Your Billing Rights
You have certain rights when it comes to your bill, and it's essential to know them.
You have 60 days to notify the university if you think there's an error on your bill. This is a crucial timeframe, so make sure to act quickly.
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To dispute a bill, write to the university at the address listed on your bill. You can also telephone them, but doing so won't preserve your rights.
When disputing a bill, provide your name and account number, the dollar amount of the suspected error, and a clear description of the error.
If you need more information, describe the item in question.
Here's a list of the information you should include in your letter:
- Your name and account number,
- The dollar amount of the suspected error,
- Describe the error and explain, if possible, why you believe there is an error. If you need more information, describe the item in question.
Don't worry, you won't have to pay the questioned amount during the investigation process. However, you're still responsible for paying the rest of your bill.
Use It?
If you like the idea of paying off small purchases immediately, Pay It could work in your favor, helping to keep your overall balance low.
You can use Pay It to pay off targeted smaller purchases throughout the month, which will help to keep your overall balance low.
Paying off large purchases over time can be done with the Plan It feature, which will let you pay an upfront fee to avoid all the unknowns of paying a variable interest rate on your credit card.
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Before you use Plan It, pay attention to the fees and only carry a balance when it makes sense, because even small fee plans and charges can add up in a big way.
It's worth considering Pay It if you're utilizing too much credit in relation to your overall credit limit and you want to lower your credit utilization ratio.
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Amex It
Amex It is a program offered by American Express that allows you to pay off purchases over time with a fixed monthly fee. This program is designed to help you avoid interest charges on large purchases you can't pay off right away.
You can use Amex Plan It to combine up to 10 purchases into a single plan, with each purchase being at least $100 or more. This can be done through your online account, where you can also combine purchases into one plan, or through the mobile application, where you can only pick one qualifying purchase for each plan.
The fixed monthly fee for Amex Plan It is typically less than any interest you would have accrued had you not enrolled the purchase in the program. This can be a big money-saver if you're able to pay off the plan early, which you can do without any penalty.
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Amex It: How It Works
Amex Pay It allows you to partially pay your credit card bill during the month, and the payment credit is applied to the overall balance, paying down the minimum payment for that month.
You can use Amex Pay It to pay off small purchases of under $100 throughout the month, reducing your total balance. Purchases eligible for Pay It will have a small icon next to them in your American Express account.
Payments made with Pay It are counted toward the minimum due on your credit card statement. You can make payments for specific transactions using Pay It, but the payment credit will still be applied to the overall balance.
There are two main parts to Amex It: Pay It and Plan It. Pay It is for smaller purchases, while Plan It is for larger purchases.
Here are the key facts about Plan It:
- You can combine up to 10 purchases into one single plan using Plan It.
- Each purchase must be at least $100 (or qualifying amounts of $100 or more) to be eligible for Plan It.
- You can use the American Express Plan It Pre-Purchase calculator to get an idea of payment plan options and fees before making a large purchase.
- Plan It allows you to pay off large purchases over a longer period, charging you a fixed monthly fee instead of accruing interest.
- The monthly fee is typically less than any interest you would have accrued had you not enrolled the purchase in the Plan It program.
What Is Amex
Amex is a well-known credit card brand that offers various payment plans to its cardmembers. American Express personal cards are eligible for these plans.
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Pay It and Plan It are two different payment plans offered by Amex. They're designed to help cardmembers manage their payments in different ways.
Pay It is tailored for smaller payments, allowing cardmembers to make manageable payments.
Plan It is geared toward splitting larger purchases into a monthly payment plan.
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Sources
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/finance_charge.asp
- https://www.missouristate.edu/FinancialServices/deferredpaymentplan.htm
- https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/fact-sheets/Shopping-for-Credit/
- https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/issuers/american-express-amex-pay-it-plan-it-guide/
- https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/amex-plan-it-introductory-offer/
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