I have solar power and actually generate more power than I use, this excess power is sold back to the national grid yet like you I get charged 'standing charges' which means that while using zero electricity from the power company and giving them power that I generate (at approx one seventh of what it costs to buy from them) I still end up with a bill.
Penalty a bank wants for paying off a loan ahead of time. I had the cash to pay off the loan balance about $3000 so they demanded I pay a $200 penalty those greedy hogs.
Then too all the small service charges I would see on my monthly statements; manager could not even tell me honestly what the charges were for. Greedy banks.
I'm not sure why anyone would sign for a loan that had a pre-payment penalty clause. If your bank is charging you service charges that the manager can't explain, maybe you need to use a different bank.
'There oughtta be a law' ! But that is how the banks legally operate.
Around 1980 I talked to a guy who got a $40,000 loan to buy his house and by the time he finishes paying, the house will have cost him $120,000. The advantage is instead of renting he will own property that does increase in value.
My cable bill used to go up every few months and when it got to $145 and all I watched were two cable stations, I cut it down to basic service - decided the two programs I watched were not worth $60 a month which is what I saved. Most of what I watch are over-the-air stations anyway. The cable company claims that the rates are so high because of all the sports channels. Well, I don't watch sports, so if someone else does, let THEM pay for it.
LyricalOne 