How I Got $58 In Card Fees Waived Without Even Talking To Anyone... And You Can, Too

Hi there, my friend.

Here’s a little secret … I’ve paid late on my credit card way more often than I’d care to admit.

It’s embarrassing, but it is true.

Now, I’m not talking about paying 30 days or more late — the types of late payments that can wreck your credit score. I don’t remember ever doing that, though I might’ve back in my debt-ravaged 20s. Instead, I’m talking about paying a day or two late because, well, sometimes life just happens.

That happened to me a few days ago.

For some reason that remains unclear to me, automatic payments had been stopped on two of my credit cards, both from Chase. I found this out when I logged into Chase’s app for a routine check of my balances and saw notifications that I was late with payments on both cards. A closer look at my transaction history showed that I had also been charged a $29 late fee on both cards.

Upon seeing this, I immediately picked up the phone to ask Chase to waive the fees. I’ve done this successfully with other card issuers in the past and had no reason to expect I wouldn’t get my way this time, too. (After all, a 2024 LendingTree survey showed that 89% of people who asked to have a late fee waived in the past year got their way. Why wouldn’t I?)

Turns out that it was even easier than I imagined. I didn’t even have to speak to anyone to get the fee waived.

Here’s what happened…

I called the 800 number on the back of one of the cards with the late fee. Their automated system answered, of course, and once it verified my identity, it asked me something like this: “Are you calling about the late fee on your credit card?”

I answered yes, and the automated system proceeded to tell me that as a one-time courtesy they would be willing to waive the late fee on my card. A few followed prompts later, and the fee was waived. No conversations needed.

It was the first time I’d ever gotten the fee waived without speaking to anyone. So, of course, I immediately called the 800 number on the back of the other card with the late payment. The result was the same — a few prompts to follow and the fee was waived.

Just like that, I had saved $58 in fees.

The lesson here? Never, ever pay a credit card late fee without asking to have it waived. Unless you’re a repeat offender, it is highly likely that you’ll get your way. The fact that 89% of people who asked were successful is proof that it isn’t just those with 800 credit scores and long track records who get their way. It is real people who really need the help, too.

I can’t speak to whether other card issuers have made the process as easy as Chase, so you might have to speak with someone to get your way.

In my experience, that phone call usually requires little more than this: “Hi, who on your team can I speak with about having a late fee waived? I’ve just made a payment, and I’ve even set up automatic payments so this won’t happen again. Could you waive it for me?” It is still absolutely worth your time.

Further proof of your power

This is a perfect example of what I talk about over and over in my book “Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How To Take Control Of Your Financial Life.” You have way more power over your money than you realize. By asking the right questions in the right situations, you can pay less, earn more and keep more of your hard-earned money, and who couldn’t benefit from that right now?

The book lays out 45 possible requests in seven different aspects of life: credit and debt, housing, healthcare, shopping, work and career, travel and relationships. It includes success stories from a diverse group of people who’ve done these things. Each request even comes with word-for-word scripts to help you feel as comfortable as possible asking the question. (There’s even a script for asking to waive a credit card late fee.)

Click the link above to buy or hit subscribe below to receive three money-saving scripts from my book, including how to ask for a lower interest rate on your credit card.

Share your story

Ever successfully gotten a credit card late fee waived? Tell me in the comments below! I’d love to hear how you did it, and how you dealt with your nervousness if you had any.

Until next time,

Matt