racking up fees

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "racking up fees" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing accumulating costs or charges over time, often in a financial context. Example: "If you keep using that service without a plan, you'll end up racking up fees that you didn't anticipate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Rhetoric heats up, as do prices, and before you know it investment bankers are racking up fees, reporters finally have deals to cover and moguls are in full frolic.

The New York Times

That means borrowers are likely to renew their loans multiple times, racking up fees.

The New York Times

I mean, that the likes of Jamie Oliver make a big noise about healthy eating for the lumpy proletariat while racking up fees advertising a supermarket chain certainly gets on my tits, but what it must do to Cupcake Man – who's manifestly involved in the honest labour of a culinary artisan – I hate to imagine.

Independent

The vast majority of customers end up taking out new loans to pay back old ones, racking up fees (typically ten to thirty dollars for every hundred dollars borrowed) in a process that the C.F.P.B. describes as a "debt trap"—in the end, annual interest rates can amount to between three hundred and two thousand per cent.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Subprime borrowers typically pay high interest rates, up to 29 percent, and often rack up fees for late payments.

The New York Times

What followed was a frantic week of late nights and one all-night session at the end of last month in which 40 bankers, lawyers and advisers racked up fees but managed to get sign-off.

The Guardian - Business

Investment bankers, lawyers, accountants and PR advisers racked up fees at a rate of more than £2m a day during the acrimonious £12bn battle for control of Cadbury in the latest sign that it is business as usual in the City, barely 15 months after the fall of Lehman Brothers brought the financial system to the brink of collapse.

The Guardian - Business

In addition to interest rates, late fees, annual fees and other charges on cardholders, the banks rack up fees from 1% to 3% on merchants for processing the transactions.

Forbes

One popular way for crooks to make money from mobile malware is to use compromised devices to rack up fees by sending text messages to premium SMS services and placing calls to 1-900 numbers also controlled by the scammers.

Huffington Post

The proposed rule would also cut off repeated debit attempts that rack up fees and make it harder for consumers to get out of debt," David Silberman, CFPB's acting deputy director, wrote in a blog post announcing the rule.

The Guardian - Money

The protracted family fracas is playing out in Bermuda, where the Thyssen-Bornemisza trust was set up, and has become one of the most expensive lawsuits in history, racking up $65 million in fees.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial matters, use "racking up fees" to convey the idea of accumulating charges, especially when those charges are unexpected or undesirable. Be mindful of the context, as it often implies a negative consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "racking up fees" in situations where the accumulation of fees is a positive or neutral outcome. The phrase typically carries a negative connotation, suggesting unwanted or excessive charges. Consider alternatives like "accumulating revenue" if the context is favorable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "racking up fees" functions as a verb phrase, where "racking up" is a phrasal verb meaning to accumulate, and "fees" is the noun representing the charges being accumulated. The examples from Ludwig show it describing situations where costs are increasing, often unexpectedly or negatively.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "racking up fees" effectively describes the accumulation of charges, often carrying a negative connotation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and primarily found in News & Media contexts. To enhance your writing, consider the specific nuance you want to convey and explore related phrases like "accumulating charges" or "incurring costs". Avoid using it in positive contexts. By understanding its meaning and context, you can use "racking up fees" accurately and effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accumulating charges

Focuses on the gradual increase of charges.

incurring costs

Emphasizes the act of becoming subject to costs.

piling up expenses

Suggests a rapid and potentially burdensome accumulation of expenses.

running up a bill

Implies creating a debt or account balance through accumulated charges.

building up debt

Highlights the creation of debt through accumulated charges.

accumulating debt

Focuses on the gradual increase of debt.

accruing expenses

Formal term indicating the gradual accumulation of expenses over time.

running up charges

Similar to "running up a bill", emphasizing the act of creating charges.

incurring penalties

Highlights the accumulation of penalties or fines.

building up a balance

Refers to increasing an account balance due to accumulated charges.

FAQs

What does "racking up fees" mean?

"Racking up fees" refers to accumulating costs or charges, often unexpectedly or undesirably. It implies that the fees are increasing over time, typically due to continued actions or neglect.

What can I say instead of "racking up fees"?

You can use alternatives like "accumulating charges", "incurring costs", or "piling up expenses" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "racking up fees" formal or informal?

"Racking up fees" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. While it can be used in news and media, more formal contexts might prefer "accumulating charges" or "incurring costs".

How can I avoid "racking up fees"?

To avoid "racking up fees", carefully review terms and conditions for services, pay bills on time to prevent late fees, and monitor account activity to identify and address potential charges promptly. Understanding usage-based billing can help to avoid unexpected fees.