Loan payment fees

Question: You mentioned on your May 22nd show that credit card companies will no longer be allowed to make people pay for phone and online payments. I was wondering if this applies to only credit card payments or also payments on other forms of credit, like mortgages and car loans? Jargen, Minnetonka, MN

Answer: No, when it comes to loans the main focus of the new law is on credit cards. (Although a provision attached to the legislation allows visitors to carry guns into national parks. Go figure.) However, a number of banks don’t charge a fee for making mortgage or auto payments by phone or online, or they have “windows” where they don’t. This is a classic example of it pays to shop around, especially checking into payment policies of a local credit union or community bank.