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The Daily Insight Hub

What are the pitfalls of using charge cards?

Author

Matthew Harrington

Updated on January 23, 2026

Unlike credit cards, charge cards do not have a monthly spending limit. You can charge virtually an unlimited number of purchases to your card, but need to pay the balance in full every month. To encourage you to do so, charge cards generally impose a fee and penalties on unpaid balances.

What are some fees that may be charged if you use a charge card?

10 common credit card fees and what you should know about them

  • Annual fee. An annual fee is charged once a year for the convenience of having a credit card.
  • Finance charge.
  • Late fee.
  • Balance transfer fee.
  • Over-limit fee.
  • Cash advance fee.
  • Expedited payment fee.
  • Foreign transaction fee.

Is a charge card a debit or credit card?

Charge cards are similar to credit cards in that they allow you to pay for purchases up to your credit limit. Charge cards require the balance to be paid back in a short period of time, usually within a month. Debit cards are tied to a bank account from which funds are withdrawn for each purchase.

Do credit cards charge you for not using them?

But there’s no standard timeframe for when a credit card issuer will decide to close an account due to inactivity. However, you will not be charged any sort of inactivity fee by your credit card company if you don’t use your card to make purchases or other types of transactions for a prolonged period of time.

How can you avoid paying fees?

Here are some proven tips:

  1. Utilize free checking and savings accounts. Many banks still offer them.
  2. Sign up for direct deposit.
  3. Keep a minimum balance.
  4. Keep multiple accounts at your bank.
  5. Use only your bank’s ATMs.
  6. Don’t spend more money than you have.
  7. Sign Up for Email or Text Alerts.

What happens if you don’t pay off a charge card?

If you don’t pay your credit card bill, expect to pay late fees, receive increased interest rates and incur damages to your credit score. If you continue to miss payments, your card can be frozen, your debt could be sold to a collection agency and the collector of your debt could sue you and have your wages garnished.

What is the point of a charge card?

What is a charge card? A charge card is similar to a regular credit card in that it provides the ability to make purchases and pay for them later. You can also earn points and/or miles on these purchases like you would with a rewards or travel card, plus other benefits too.

What is the least expensive source of credit?

Personal or unsecured loan Personal loans typically have the lowest interest rates of any method of borrowing money, except for interest-free credit cards.

What are the pros and cons of a charge card?

But first, consider what the pros and cons of charge cards are. The PROS of a charge card: When you get a credit card, you are given a total dollar limit you can spend on it, and an interest rate that will be charged on your balance. For example, you might get a credit card with a $5,000 limit and a 17% interest rate.

What happens when you pay off a charge card?

There are no minimum payments to make, just the whole amount and that’s it. When you pay this off, your balance is cleared to be used again. Because you pay this entire balance off, your charge card does not charge you interest which can also save you a lot of money.

Are there any perks to having a credit card?

This kind of card may not be given a set credit limit making it easier for cardholders to buy expensive items as they need to. Most cards come with additional rewards, discount schemes or perks for their users such as club services and various insurance plans.

Are there any American Express charge cards in India?

In India, American Express Charge Cards are a unique offering and the perfect choice for great service with fantastic rewards. They provide flexibility of no pre-set spending limit and no interest charges as you pay the balance in full every month.