#  Why the Hefty Credit Card Fees on LA County Property Taxpayers?

     Details    Eric Preven and Joshua Preven   ![logo](https://www.citywatchla.com//templates/ja_teline_v/images/logo.png)         November 03 2016      [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Nov-2016/089a.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/12082-why-the-hefty-credit-card-fees-on-la-county-property-tax-payers)

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> DUNNING THE PROPERTY OWNERS-Those who didn’t pay their LA County property taxes on time -- the deadline was Tuesday -- have until 11:59 p.m. on December 10, when at the stroke of midnight, a 10% late fee will snap shut on them like a trap.
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> In LA County, property taxes can be paid with a credit card, and many Angelenos struggling to make ends meet make use of that option, however fraught with costs and hidden risks it may be.
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> LA County is not to blame for those risks and costs. But it *is* to blame for the fact that Angelenos who pay their property taxes with a credit card get charged a fee equal to [2.1% of their tax bill](https://www.dropbox.com/s/n4c0bgyzc5rpo2s/Pricing%20Schedule.pdf?dl=0) by the company which processes those payments. On a $5,000 tax bill that comes out to $105, not including the $5.95 fee.
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> On what grounds can such an exorbitant fee be justified? It’s not the contractor who bears financial risk by processing tax payments. It’s the credit card companies.
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> Why should the dollar amount of a tax payment affect the cost to process that payment? It obviously doesn’t, which is why the County’s arrangement with [Fidelity Information Services, LLC,](http://baseballnewssource.com/markets/fidelity-national-information-services-inc-fis-updates-fy16-earnings-guidance/194463.html) the company which charges -- and keeps 100% of the high fees -- needs rethinking.
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> It doesn’t take a math whiz to figure out that Fidelity Information Services, LLC is making a fortune off its “nice work if you can get it” arrangement with the County.
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> Time to [renegotiate](http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/74985.pdf).
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> *(****Eric Preven*** *is a* CityWatch *contributor and a Studio City based writer-producer and public advocate for better transparency in local government. He was a candidate in the 2015 election for Los Angeles City Council, 2nd District.* ***Joshua Preven*** *is a CityWatch contributor and teacher who lives in Los Angeles.) Prepped for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.*

  - [  Previous Article **Charter School Movement: ‘Insidious Plan’ to Take Over Public Education** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12086:charter-school-movement-insidious-plan-to-take-over-public-education&catid=312)
- [  Next Article **The Z-Man’s Election Special: Campaign 2016** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12081:the-z-man-s-election-special-campaign-2016&catid=312)
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