You have some leverage, though, if you’re a “good” customer, meaning you pay bills on time and, preferably, carry a balance. In either case, don’t silently accept high fees and high rates, advocates say. Call the card issuer and politely complain. With little federal regulation of the industry, your best friend is industry competition, says CardRatings’ Arnold.

If the card company’s representative initially balks at, say, waiving a late fee, ask to speak to the manager, Arnold says. If that doesn’t work, tell the company you want to cancel the card. At that point, you’ll likely be transferred to the retention department, whose job is to keep you as a customer, Arnold says. It’s expensive to replace customers, so you may be able to negotiate a waiver of fees or a temporary reduction in the interest rate. If not, prepare to shop around for a new card, Arnold says.