12/30   So I missed my CC bill last month by maybe 2 days and now
        they're charging me $35 for late fee and $20 finance charge.
        It's an honest mistake, is there anything one can do about
        it, like explaining something happened at the mail box,
        mail delay, etc?
        \_ What company is this and what card?
        \_ Call 'em and ask-- they'll usually let you slide on a couple
           small misses each year.  Be nice, but if they won't budge then
           cancel the card on that same phone call.
           \_ Agreed.  As long as that you don't do this too often.  On a
              side note, if you tend to pay all the balance off every
              month, consider using some sort of automatic bill pay (either
              from the CC company itself or your bank).  Saves on stamps
              and not have to worry about mail lost in transit.
              \- they will cancel the late fee but not the finance charge.
                 \_ Your CC sucks.  I've done this twice now once with Bank One
                    (who suck in most other ways imaginable) for VISA and once
                    w/ Discover.  Neither one batted an eye: refunded late
                    and finance.
        \_ If it is with a bank and you obviously had enough money in
           your checking acct to pay the bill, you can probably convince
           them to waive the charges if you go to your "home" branch and
           talk to them in person.