Credit Card Fees Explained: Late, Over-Limit, Cash and Foreign Fees (UK)

By QuidRadar Team · Updated 30 October 2026

Interest is the cost most people think about, but fees can add up just as quickly. The good news is that almost every credit card fee is avoidable once you know what triggers it. This guide walks through the fees you'll see in a UK card's summary box and what you can do about each one.

Key takeaways

  • Every card's fees are listed in its summary box, which the lender must give you before you sign.
  • The fees most people actually pay are late payment fees, cash fees and foreign transaction fees.
  • A late payment fee of £12 is common among UK issuers, and missing a payment can also cost you a 0% deal.
  • Balance transfer fees on the cards we list ranged from 0% to 4.5% when we checked in October 2026.
  • Most fees can be avoided with a Direct Debit, by not using the card for cash, and by choosing the right card for how you spend.

This is general information, not financial advice.

Where to find a card's fees

Before you take out a credit card, the lender has to give you a standard summary box setting out the interest rates and the main charges. It's the most reliable place to check fees, because it uses the same layout for every card. On each card on QuidRadar we link to the issuer's page we took the figures from, so you can check the latest summary box yourself.

Fees can change during the life of the card. Your provider has to tell you in advance about changes to your terms, so it's worth reading those letters and emails rather than filing them away.

Annual or monthly fee

Most everyday UK cards have no annual fee. Fees are mainly found on:

  • Premium rewards and travel cards, where the fee pays for perks such as bigger points, companion vouchers or airport lounge access.
  • Some credit-builder products that charge a monthly subscription instead of, or as well as, interest.

A fee only makes sense if you'll get more back in value than you pay. Our guides to Cashback Credit Cards Explained: Are They Worth It? and Avios and Airline Miles Credit Cards: How They Work in the UK show how to do that sum.

Late payment fee

If you don't pay at least the minimum by the due date, you'll usually be charged a late payment fee. Many UK issuers set this at £12, and it's shown in the summary box. The bigger costs often come afterwards:

  • Interest keeps building on the unpaid balance.
  • A promotional 0% rate can be withdrawn on many cards if you miss a payment.
  • The missed payment can be reported to the credit reference agencies, which can make future borrowing harder or more expensive.

How to avoid it: set up a Direct Debit for at least the minimum payment, then pay more on top when you can. Citizens Advice also points out that if you're struggling, contacting your lender early is better than missing payments.

Over-limit fee

Going over your credit limit can trigger a fee, and many lenders now simply decline transactions that would take you over the limit. Interest and fees added to your account can push you over without any new spending, so leave some headroom.

How to avoid it: keep an eye on your available credit in your banking app and set up balance alerts.

Returned or unpaid payment fee

If a Direct Debit or cheque payment to your card is returned unpaid, for example because your current account didn't have enough money in it, some issuers charge a fee. It may also count as a missed payment.

Cash fee (cash advance fee)

Using a credit card to withdraw cash, or for things treated as cash, usually costs:

  1. A cash fee, often a percentage with a minimum charge. Examples on cards we list include 3% (minimum £3) on Santander's cashback card and 2.5% (minimum £3) on Nationwide's cards, when we checked.
  2. Interest from the day of the transaction, usually at a higher cash rate, even if you pay your statement in full.

Things that issuers commonly treat as cash include buying foreign currency or travellers' cheques, gambling transactions and some money transfers. Our guide to Credit Card Cash Withdrawals: Fees, Interest and Using ATMs Abroad explains this in detail.

Foreign transaction (non-sterling) fee

When you spend in a currency other than pounds, many cards add a percentage, often just under 3%, on top of the converted amount. It applies abroad and when you buy online from a seller charging in another currency.

Some cards charge no foreign transaction fee on purchases. You can find them in our rewards and travel cards category, and our guide to Using a Credit Card Abroad: Fees, Exchange Rates and How to Save covers the rest.

A separate cost to watch: if a shop or cash machine abroad offers to charge you in pounds, that's dynamic currency conversion. HSBC explains that the exchange rate is then set by the retailer or their bank rather than Visa or Mastercard, and is usually worse. Choose the local currency.

Balance transfer fee

Moving a debt from another card usually costs a one-off fee, worked out as a percentage of the amount you move. On the cards we list, balance transfer fees ranged from 0% to 4.5% when we checked in October 2026, with around 3% to 3.5% being typical for the longest 0% periods.

  • £3,000 transferred with a 3.49% fee costs £104.70, added to your new card's balance.
  • The same transfer with a 0% fee costs nothing, but the 0% period is usually shorter.

Read more in How Do Balance Transfers Work? A Plain-English UK Guide and compare offers in Balance transfer credit cards.

Money transfer fee

A money transfer sends money from your credit card straight into your bank account. It usually carries a higher fee than a balance transfer, charged as a percentage of the amount you send. See our guide to Money Transfer Credit Cards: How They Work and When to Use One.

Other charges you might see

  • Replacement card fee: rare now, but some issuers have charged for urgent replacements.
  • Copy statement fee: some lenders charge for paper copies of older statements.
  • Additional cardholder fee: most mainstream cards add extra cardholders for free, but premium cards may charge.

How to keep fees to a minimum

  1. Pay by Direct Debit so you never miss the minimum.
  2. Don't use your credit card for cash unless you've checked the cost.
  3. Use a card with no foreign transaction fee if you travel or shop from overseas sites.
  4. Pay in the local currency when abroad.
  5. Check whether a fee-paying card is worth it at your actual level of spending.
  6. Read the summary box before you choose a card.

If you mostly want a cheap card to carry a balance, look at low APR cards and our guide to APR vs Representative APR: What Credit Card Rates Really Mean.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common credit card fee in the UK?

Late payment fees, cash fees and foreign transaction fees are the ones people pay most often. Many UK issuers charge £12 for a late payment, and foreign transaction fees are often just under 3% of each transaction.

Can I get a credit card fee refunded?

Sometimes. If it's a one-off, it's worth asking your provider politely, especially if you've a good payment record. If you think a fee was charged unfairly, you can complain to the lender and then to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Do fees count towards my credit limit?

Yes. Fees are added to your balance, so they use up part of your limit and can push you over it.

Are there credit cards with no fees at all?

Some cards have no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee and no balance transfer fee, but almost every card charges for late payments and cash withdrawals. Check the summary box for the full list.

Is the balance transfer fee charged every month?

No. It's a one-off charge added when the transfer is made. Interest may still apply later if you haven't cleared the balance by the time the 0% period ends.

This is general information, not financial advice. Fees vary between cards and can change, so always check the provider's summary box.

Sources

Low APR credit cards

Top 3 by the published figures – see all.