Skip to main content

I went over my credit limit and I was charged an overlimit fee. What can I do?

A card issuer cannot charge an overlimit fee unless you have opted in to permit the card issuer to allow charges that put you over your credit limit.

Before you opt in, the issuer must give you certain disclosures, including the amount of the over limit fee. After you opt in, the issuer must send you a confirmation that you have agreed to allow over limit charges.

If you have agreed to permit over limit charges, you generally can be charged a fee of up to $25 the first time you exceed your credit limit and a fee of up to $35 if you are over your limit a second time within six months. However, the fee cannot be larger than the amount by which you exceeded your credit limit.

If you elected to allow the card issuer to allow charges that exceed your credit limit, you have the right to change that election at any time by notifying the card issuer. However, the change will not apply to transactions that occurred before you notified the card issuer.