Released: May 25, 2007

Credit cards: As rough as ever

Source: Jeanne Sahadi, CNNMoney.com

There are some things you can control with your credit card bill, including how much you charge every month and how much you pay back on time.

Beyond that, though, the ball is in your credit card issuer’s court. And, according to the latest credit card survey from Consumer Action, a nonprofit consumer education and advocacy group, the issuers are hitting plenty of overhead smashes at consumers.

For instance, Consumer Action found that if you opt to pay by phone, you could be hit with a fee as high as $15. If you pay at the very last minute either by phone or online, at some banks you may have to pay a convenience fee, which run as high as $29.

If you happen to be late - even by a couple of hours or because your due date fell on a holiday or a Sunday - many issuers are charging late fees that range between $25 and $39. In addition late payers are likely to be subject to a higher interest rate.

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