charged an excessive fee

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "charged an excessive fee" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where someone believes that the amount charged for a service or product is unreasonably high. Example: "After reviewing the bill, I realized that the contractor had charged an excessive fee for the repairs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

554, 559-560, 25 A. 610, 611-612 (1893) (reversing, on evidentiary grounds, the extortion conviction of a deputy constable who had charged an excessive fee for his services); Hanley v. State, 125 Wis.

Cornell University

He was disbarred in 1989 after the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that he disrupted a proceeding and also charged an excessive fee in a case.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"You do have a duty not to charge an excessive fee," Mr. Holland said.

The New York Times

"I anticipate that there are a number of occasions where a landlord may get away with charging an excessive fee as the leaseholder may not want to delay the progress of a sale and/or it may not be cost-effective to instruct lawyers to challenge the reasonableness of the fee," said Nick Martyn, a property litigation lawyer at solicitor practice Mundays.

The Guardian - Money

"The appearance that the US is charging allies an excessive fee for the use of monies they have donated to the ANA [Afghan national army] trust fund may be difficult to explain away during a parliamentary debate.

The Guardian

For example, while there may be good reasons for the 15percentt fee -- we understand it is a contingency fee not an administrative one -- the appearance that the U.S. is charging Allies an excessive fee for the use of monies they have donated to the ANA Trust Fund may be difficult to explain away during a parliamentary debate.

The Guardian

This is an excessive fee being charged to exercise a fundamental right in your own home".

The New York Times

The money will be used to reimburse homeowners who were charged the excessive fees by Countrywide before the July 2008 acquisition.

The New York Times

In one of the largest fair-lending payouts in history, Wells Fargo agreed on Thursday to spend at least $175 million to settle federal accusations that it steered black and Latino borrowers into high-cost loans and charged them excessive fees.

The Washington Post

In Mr. Schlichter's most recent case, a group of 401(k) participants say that Cigna, the employer, charged them excessive fees (Cigna was using proprietary investments for its own employees; that's legal, but the fees need to be reasonable).

The New York Times

In addition, Connelly rejected the board's finding that Fredrick had charged Simpson excessive fees, including $23,500 for jewelry and $1,000 for clothing.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "charged an excessive fee", ensure you can substantiate the claim of excessiveness with evidence or comparison to market rates. This strengthens your argument, especially in formal or legal contexts.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that someone "charged an excessive fee" without providing context or justification. Explain why the fee is considered excessive – is it higher than industry standards, or disproportionate to the service provided?

Linguistic Context

The phrase "charged an excessive fee" functions as a verb phrase used to describe an action where someone has imposed a fee considered unreasonably high. Ludwig examples show this phrase used in legal, financial, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "charged an excessive fee" is grammatically sound and widely used to describe situations where a fee is considered unreasonably high. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and suitable for use in written English. It commonly appears in contexts related to news, media, academia, and business, with authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently using it. When using this phrase, ensure you provide context to support the claim of excessiveness and, consider alternatives like "overcharged" or "imposed an unreasonable charge" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overcharged

Implies charging more than the fair or agreed-upon price; it's a single word alternative.

imposed an unreasonable charge

Focuses on the lack of justification for the fee, highlighting its unfairness.

levied an exorbitant fee

Emphasizes the extreme and often unfair nature of the fee.

demanded an inflated price

Highlights that the price is artificially increased, often deceptively.

billed at an unreasonable rate

Focuses on the rate being used for calculation is not justifiable or fair.

assessed an unfair cost

Highlights injustice of the cost applied.

exacted a hefty payment

Implies that payment was obtained through pressure or coercion, and was significant.

required an outrageous sum

Points out a fee that is shocking or unacceptable in its size.

set an inflated tariff

Indicates that an official or published rate is higher than it should be.

placed an undue burden of cost

Emphasizes the unfairness of the financial strain imposed.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "charged an excessive fee"?

It means that the person or entity requested an amount of money for a service or product that is considered unreasonably high or unfair. The term suggests the fee is beyond what is normally expected or justifiable.

How can I argue that I was "charged an excessive fee"?

Gather evidence such as industry standards, quotes from competitors, or documentation showing the actual cost of the service provided. Present this evidence to demonstrate that the fee was disproportionate or unjustified.

What are some alternatives to saying "charged an excessive fee"?

You could use alternatives like "overcharged", "imposed an unreasonable charge", or "levied an exorbitant fee" depending on the specific context and the degree of excessiveness you want to convey.

Is there a legal definition of "excessive fee"?

The definition of "excessive fee" can vary depending on the jurisdiction and the context (e.g. legal contracts, financial regulations). Generally, it refers to a fee that is substantially higher than what is customary or reasonable for similar services. Courts often consider factors such as industry standards, the complexity of the service, and the bargaining power of the parties involved.