Credit Cards » Glossary

Glossary

Penalty Rate

A penalty rate is a raised interest rate imposed on your credit card account. This penalty usually kicks in if you have been late with your payments one or more times. The terms of the credit card agreement specify what the penalty rate will be. The credit card issuer may also impose a penalty rate on your account if you have been late in paying, or defaulted on, another loan, or run over your credit limit. In other words, if you become a poor credit risk, you may be hit with a penalty rate.

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