What are Finance Charges on Credit Card?
Borrowing a loan or seeking credit in any form; one always tends to compare the interest rates and other fees to ensure maximum savings. So what must one consider to have the best savings?
People often confuse what is a finance charge, and often interchange it with APR (Annual percentage rate), but there is a difference between both terms. Finance charges are calculated monthly and in rupees while APR is calculated annually and in percentage.
Definition of Credit Card Finance Charges
A finance charge is a fee amount deducted by your lender to pay on your behalf. Finance charges can be in any form i.e. account maintenance, yearly fees, penalty charges, charges for transactions, alert messages, and more.
Based on the amount you owe or carry in your credit card, your finance charges differ. Different interest rates are applied for various transactions, and the finance charges are calculated based on the interest rates and the amount pending in those categories.
The finance charge is the additional amount that you need to pay along with the principal amount. It also includes the primary interest charges.
Considering finance charges makes you plan effectively, avoid paying more, and plan your finances better. It is necessary to know the components that form the finance charges, and its calculation formula to plan accordingly.
Components of a Credit Card’s Finance Charges
Based on the difference in transactions, credit card companies apply different finance charges to outstanding balances. Some components and factors that affect the calculation and formation of finance charges include:
-
Interest Charges
Interest charges consist of more than 80% of the finance charges. It is the amount to pay for the principal amount used. It is applied to outstanding amounts during the billing cycle, and it is influenced by the card's APR.
-
Fees
Finance charges include numerous other fees including annual fees which are fixed amounts charged for using the credit card. Late payment fees, charged for delays in payments, are also a type of finance charge. Delays in payments are also a type of finance charge.
Other examples are cash withdrawal fees and fees for foreign currency transactions.
Factors Affecting Finance Charges
Different factors affect the finance charges in various manners, and being a credit card holder, you must know and manage such factors.
-
APR: APR rates affect the finance charges. A high APR will result in high finance charges.
-
Credit Card Balance: The more outstanding balance you have on your credit, the higher charges you are levied; as the finance charges are calculated in percentage on the outstanding balance.
-
Payment History: Credit card issuers provide low APR and interest rates to cardholders with good credit histories and high CIBIL scores. Your CIBIL score affects your APR rates, and thus finally affects your finance charges.
Calculating Finance Charges
To calculate finance charges, calculate the average daily balance and daily APR rate and multiply them by several days in the billing cycle i.e. 28 or 29 days.
The monthly interest rate needs to be paid in addition to the pending amount. To calculate monthly interest rates multiply APR with outstanding balance.
Illustration
Avg. Daily Balance: Rs.700
APR rate: 17%
Billing Cycle: 30 days
Daily APR: 17%/365=0.00046
Finance Charges = (Avg. daily balance X Daily APR X billing cycle)
= 700 X 0.00046 X 30
= Rs. 9.66
= 700+9.66
= Rs.709.66
How to Avoid Finance Charges?
Since finance charges are a clear loss, one should know how to avoid such costs. You can follow the following practices:
-
Always pay your bills on time, and avoid late payments.
-
Do not pay your bills in part as the remaining part is calculated for interest.
-
Since finance charges formally include APR, you can have a credit card with a low APR to reduce your finance charges.
-
Consider cash withdrawal with a credit card as your last choice, as it is very costly.
-
You can consider balance transfers to repay your bills and ensure low interest rates.
-
Choose a credit card with low or no annual fees.
Conclusion
Finance charges are unwanted costs that you can reduce or avoid with proper credit management and monitoring. It is the cost levied on you for using a credit card. Try paying your bills on time, and have low APR credit cards as this is what you can control over the billing cycle and daily average balance.
Consider avoiding services that charge more fees on cash withdrawal or foreign transactions or use for cash equivalent transactions, etc.
What are Finance Charges on Credit Card? - Related FAQs
Credit card finance charge is the fee charged by credit card lenders as you are using their services. It also includes interest for late payment, penalties to avoid terms and conditions, other maintenance fees, and more.
A finance charge is a convenience charge that the financial service holder needs to pay for using services. It includes transaction charges, interests, maintenance charges, alerts, additional loan seeking, and more. For credit cards, it is late payment charges and transfer fees, etc.
The formula that is used to calculate finance charges includes daily charges for non-payment and amount for which the charge is to be calculated and tenure for non-payment to get finance charges.
Finance Charges = (Avg. daily balance X Daily APR X billing cycle)
Different finance charges which you may need to pay are interest, maintenance fees, cash advance fees, account maintenance fees, late payment fees, etc.
If you pay your bills on time in full during the grace period, you can skip the interest amount which is the majority part of the finance charge.
Credit Card Related Links
- Loan for credit card payment
- Top 10 Credit cards
- Difference between credit card and debit card
- Credit card Vs Personal loan
- Benfits of credit line card
- how to get credit line card
- what is line of credit card
- Difference between personal line of credit Vs Credit card
- Different types Credit cards in india
- Advantages and Disadavantages of credit card
- Credit line guarantee scheme
- How to transfer money from credit card to bank account
- How to apply credit card in india
- Get credit card without job
- How to add credit card in google pay
- How to block and unblock credit card
- Best lifetime credit cards in india
- What is Credit Card
- Best Credit cards in india
- Buy Phone on Emi without credit card
- Benfits of credit card in india
- How to check credit card status
- What is revolving line of credit
- Effective Ways to Increase Your Credit Card Limit
- Best CashBack Credit Card in India
- Can You Pay a Credit Card Bill with Another Credit Card?
- Best Ways to Make Credit Card Bill Payments
- How to Withdraw Cash from Credit Card?
- How to Add Credit Card in Paytm?
- Best Credit Cards with Airport Lounge Access in India
- What is a Pre-Approved Credit Card?
- How to Get Credit Card Without Income Proof
- How to Get a Personal Loan for CIBIL Score of 600
- Instant Loan Without CIBIL
- How to Get Personal Loan With Low CIBIL Score
- Can I Get a Personal Loan for CIBIL Score of 550
- What Is the Minimum CIBIL Score for Personal Loan
- Understanding About CIBIL Credit Score
- How to Clear CIBIL Problem
- Ways to Apply Loan for CIBIL Defaulters
- Details on CIBIL Score Range in India
- How to Increase CIBIL Score to 800
- How to Increase CIBIL Score from 600 to 750
- CIBIL /Credit Score
- How to Improve CIBIL Score After Settlement
- How to Increase CIBIL Credit Score
- Which Banks Use Experian Credit Score in India
- Does Increasing Credit Limit Affect Credit Score?
- Does Foreclosure Affect Your CIBIL Score?
- How to Increase CRIF Score?
- Is Credit Score And Cibil Score Same?
- How to Check CRIF Score Free?
- What Is Experian Score - How To Check and Importance?
- Check Experian Credit Score for Free
- CIBIL Commercial Report - All You Need to Know
- Top Credit Rating Agencies India
- DPD Full Form in Banking or CIBIL Report
- How to Raise Dispute in CIBIL
- What is a Good Credit Score
- What is Control number in CIBIL?
- How Is CIBIL Score Calculated?
- How To Increase CIBIL Score Without Credit Card?
- Does Checking CIBIL Score Affect it?
- CRIF Score Full Form
- CIBIL Score Full Form
- What is CIBIL Report And How to Download It?
- Does Paytm Postpaid Affect CIBIL Score
- How to Improve CIBIL Score After Default?
- Does Closing A Credit Card Affect Credit Score?
- Does CIBIL Score Affect Passport?
- Does Not Using a Credit Card Hurt Your Credit Score?
- Which Credit Score Do Banks Use in India?
- Factors Affecting CIBIL Score
- How To Increase CIBIL Score To 800?
- How to Improve Credit Score in 30 Days?
- Does Cheque Bounce Affect CIBIL Score?
- Does OLA Postpaid Affect CIBIL Score
- Does Gold Loan Affect CIBIL Score
- What is a Good CIBIL Score Range?
- Does CIBIL Score Affect VISA?
- How to Increase CIBIL Score from 300 to 750?
- How To Increase CIBIL Score From 500 To 750?
- CMR Full Form in CIBIL
- STD Full Form in CIBIL
- How to Remove Inquiry from CIBIL?
- How Much CIBIL Score is Required for Credit Card?
- How Many Times Can You Check CIBIL Score?
- Check CIBIL Score Free Online
- Is CIBIL Score Required For Education Loan?
- What is the Difference - CRIF Score vs CIBIL Score?
- Experian Credit Score vs CIBIL
- Does Credit Card Settlement Affect CIBIL Score?
- How to Check CIBIL Score Online Without PAN Card