 TITLE: What Is a Credit Limit and What Determines My Limit? CONTENT: What Happens When You Go Over Your Credit Limit?\n------------------------------------------------\nIn the past, credit card issuers may have let you go over your credit limit and charged an over-limit fee for doing so. However, the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 restricted the use of over-limit fees. Today, if there is a fee, you'll first have to opt in.\nIf you haven't opted in, the creditor may decline any transactions that would lead your balance to go over your limit. Or, your card issuer may allow you to go over the limit on a case-by-case basis without charging you a fee. When you're allowed to go over your credit limit, you may have to repay the over-limit amount right away, or repay it plus your minimum payment with your next bill.\nAs you'll be using all—and then some—of your credit limit, going over your limit can also lead to a high utilization rate and hurt your credit scores. If you want to avoid this, you could pay down your balance before the end of your statement period so your card issuer will report the lower balance to the credit bureaus. END