[From readers] Lower card fees good for all

The use of credit cards has become so widespread that few people have long since been going without one kind or another. The government also is encouraging daily use of plastic money. The trouble seems to be that fees collected by stores for accepting credit cards are rather high at 3.6 percent.

Card companies are vying with each other to recruit more cardholders. We are led to doubt whether these firms are trying to make up for the loss incurred from arrears by levying heavy fees. Painful restructuring is underway in many parts of society. Too many card companies need to be merged, consolidated and streamlined so that the card fees can be greatly lowered. The government should take necessary steps toward that end. Lower fees will do well for all -- consumers can buy things inexpensively, stores can increase sales, and the government can increase its revenues.

Lee Du-Yeon, Nonhyon-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul