Although you normally pay your credit-card bill on time to avoid late fees and finance charges, it burns you up that you have to pay an annual fee for the privilege and convenience of charging your purchases.

What to Consider: There are so many credit cards competing to be in your wallet that many companies will offer a lot of surprising bargains to keep your business (presuming your credit history is good). But you have to ask, and you may also have to make veiled (or no-so-veiled) threats about changing to a rival. According to Maria Mendler, a spokesperson for Citibank, customer-service reps are not allowed to bargain per se, but they do have guidelines for what deals they can offer. Ask your current credit-card company for better terms and it may offer you a significantly reduced interest rate and no annual renewal fee because you're a valued customer.

What to Say: This should do the trick: "I'm considering another card that's offering me better terms across the board, but I'd like to stay with you. What can you offer me?"