Finance Charge

Finance Charge can be termed as a cost of borrowing or cost of credit and is the accrued interest or the fees charged on the approved credit facility; at times, there is a flat fee for the charge. However, it is the percentage of the borrowing of an extended line of credit most of the time.

To avoid any penalties on a finance charge credit card, the best option is to pay on time and in full. Credit card companies provide a “grace period”, which is the time frame between the end of a billing cycle and the payment date. If the payment is made in full within this period, no extra charges are levied.

• A finance charge can also be termed a cost of borrowing or credit. It is the accrued interest or the fees charged on the approved credit facility; sometimes, there is a flat fee. Still, it is the extended line of credit's borrowing percentage most of the time. 
• Finance charges are of two types: the percentage of the borrowed amount (interest) and fixed fees paid during or before the transaction(fees). 
• The finance charge's main objective is to force the borrower to repay the debt in the stipulated period. Else, it results in a higher amount of repayment. 

The finance charge is a kind of penalty levied on the borrower for not paying their dues on time. It is a gain for the lender and an expense for the borrower, but the cost is worth it since the borrower will have liquidity at their disposal just by paying a certain amount. Though there are mostly limited charges to be imposed, there is always an upper limit on the interest rate set by the regulators, which will avoid market exploitation.

This charge is a way for the lenders to earn some gains using the money they have to lend. However, there are risks attached with such a kind of income.

It differs from transaction to transaction and is different for different borrowings like commercial borrowings like a car loan, house loan, personal loan. The rate and term are fixed depending on the borrower's income level. There are set rates and brackets defined

A lot of the lending depends on the borrower's creditworthiness which can easily be accounted for using the credit score. This number tells us about the credibility and financial reliability of the borrower.

There is certain regulation to be followed when levying finance charges, most of the nations have laws that limit this charge, having said that there are also countries that do not charge interest at all, like Islamic Banking doesn't have a provision for charging interest on any of the money being lent out.

There is also a one-time fee attached to this charge, like fixed fees or a transaction cost. This cost adds up to the overall charges.

Let us understand the types of finance charge credit cards and other such loans through the discussion below.

• In a broader sense, there are two types of finance charges: the percentage of the amount borrowed, i.e., the interest, and fixed fees being paid during or before the transaction, i.e., The fees.
• Most of the charges fall under this category, and these charges have to be borne by the end consumer or borrower as per the set guidelines by the regulatory authorities

There is no one rule to follow when we calculate the finance charge. Since most of the transactions differ, the charge is calculated accordingly. However, it is important to understand the formula to be able to use the finance charge calculator.

Let us look at one simple and widely used formula, a percentage of the amount borrowed.

Finance Charge Formula = (outstanding amount * interest rate * no of days) / 365

Let us understand how to calculate using a finance charge calculator through the detailed explanation below.

Suppose we have a bill of $350 for December 2019, and the last payable date for the same is 6^th January 2020. So, the charge is levied after 6^th January 2020 daily until one does not clear the dues.

Let us assume that we do not pay this bill till 6^th January and instead we pay it on 16 January 2020, so here the charges for ten days will be applied to us at a 20% interest rate.

Calculation of the finance charges for 10 days will be, (350 * 0.20 * 10) / 365 = $ 1.92, so the borrower will have to pay the final amount of $350 + $1.92 = $351.92.

Let us understand the concept of finance charge credit cards in depth with the help of a couple of examples.

Example #1

Let us take an example of Mr. Smith, who has a mortgage of $2000, and his monthly EMI is $100 for 20 months which includes 15% interest per annum.

Smith is very regular in his payments every month except for one month where he miscalculated and couldn’t pay his EMI on time. He paid the EMI on the 30^th of that month, which means he was 30 days late.

Mr. Smith will have to pay $24.66 interest on the missed EMI deadline and have to bear other financial charges of $20 for the late payment. Furthermore, it will also dent his credibility image as a borrower who will be accounted for in his credit score. So, the finance charges will be applied for 30 days (2000*0.15*30)/365 = $24.66.

Example #2

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and New York Attorney General (NY AG) filed a joint complaint against the Credit Acceptance Corporation which is a large indirect auto financing company in April 2023.

In the complaint, the charges against them were of using abusive and deceptive practice and levying hidden finance charges, not conducting background checks on borrowers, and encouraging dealers to use deceptive means to convert more customers.

Later that month, Credit Acceptance Corporation filed a petition to dismiss the cast for vague blames without having solid proof.

Let us understand the purpose behind finance charge credit card and other form of loans through the discussion below.

• The basic motive of the finance charge is forcing the borrower to repay the debt in the stipulated period or else resulting in the repayment of a higher amount. The cost is added to the transaction if the borrower fails to repay within the allowed period.
• For instance, in credit card cash, you still might have to pay the charge even if you pay your dues within the time frame; the charge is for lending you the liquidity when you require it.
• It is a way for the lender to secure the amount and earn more money from surplus money by lending liquidity.
• Since the charges are mostly regulated, and the government mostly designs the structures, it requires all the charges levied upon the borrower to be disclosed initially to the borrower, so there is minimal risk of any further hidden costs.

This has been a guide to what is a Finance Charge. Here we explain how to calculate finance charge with its formula, example, types and purpose. You can learn more from the following articles –

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