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THE FINE PRINT CHEAT SHEET · six rules · last verified Sep 23, 2026

§ 1. ESCROW SHORTAGE.

Regulation X, 12 CFR § 1024.17(f)(3), (f)(5), (i). If the shortage is less than one month’s escrow payment, the servicer may let it stand, ask for repayment within 30 days, or spread it over equal monthly payments for at least 12 months. One month’s payment or more: let it stand or spread it over at least 12 months. Where to check: your annual escrow account statement.

§ 2. PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE.

Homeowners Protection Act, 12 U.S.C. § 4902. Single-family primary residences closed on or after July 29, 1999. Written request at 80% of original value; automatic end at 78% (payments current; 77% for certain high-risk loans). Conditions: good payment history, current payments, value not declined, no junior liens. Where to check: your PMI disclosure form.

§ 3. CREDIT CARD GRACE PERIODS.

Regulation Z, 12 CFR § 1026.5(b)(2)(ii). A grace period is not required. Per the CFPB, you may lose yours for the month you don’t pay in full and the month after. Statements at least 21 days before the due date.

§ 4. CLOSING A CARD.

myFICO. Closing a card can raise your utilization. FICO weights amounts owed at 30% of a FICO Score. FICO does not publish an exact point value.

§ 5. DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES.

FTC Cooling-Off Rule, 16 CFR Part 429. 3 business days to cancel covered sales: $25 or more at your home, $130 or more at a seller’s temporary location. Until midnight of the third business day; Saturday counts, Sundays and federal holidays don’t. The seller must give you the cancellation form in duplicate; after a valid cancellation, the seller must refund within 10 business days of receiving your notice.

§ 6. OVERDRAFT.

Regulation E, 12 CFR § 1005.17. No fee on ATM or one-time debit card transactions unless you opted in; you can revoke any time. CFPB 2017 study: frequent overdrafters, about 9% of accounts, paid 79% of overdraft and NSF fees; a typical fee was around $34 at the time.

Consumer information — not financial or legal advice.

THE FINE PRINT CHEAT SHEET · six rules · last verified Sep 23, 2026

§ 1. ESCROW SHORTAGE.

Regulation X, 12 CFR § 1024.17(f)(3), (f)(5), (i). If the shortage is less than one month’s escrow payment, the servicer may let it stand, ask for repayment within 30 days, or spread it over equal monthly payments for at least 12 months. One month’s payment or more: let it stand or spread it over at least 12 months. Where to check: your annual escrow account statement.

§ 2. PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE.

Homeowners Protection Act, 12 U.S.C. § 4902. Single-family primary residences closed on or after July 29, 1999. Written request at 80% of original value; automatic end at 78% (payments current; 77% for certain high-risk loans). Conditions: good payment history, current payments, value not declined, no junior liens. Where to check: your PMI disclosure form.

§ 3. CREDIT CARD GRACE PERIODS.

Regulation Z, 12 CFR § 1026.5(b)(2)(ii). A grace period is not required. Per the CFPB, you may lose yours for the month you don’t pay in full and the month after. Statements at least 21 days before the due date.

§ 4. CLOSING A CARD.

myFICO. Closing a card can raise your utilization. FICO weights amounts owed at 30% of a FICO Score. FICO does not publish an exact point value.

§ 5. DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES.

FTC Cooling-Off Rule, 16 CFR Part 429. 3 business days to cancel covered sales: $25 or more at your home, $130 or more at a seller’s temporary location. Until midnight of the third business day; Saturday counts, Sundays and federal holidays don’t. The seller must give you the cancellation form in duplicate; after a valid cancellation, the seller must refund within 10 business days of receiving your notice.

§ 6. OVERDRAFT.

Regulation E, 12 CFR § 1005.17. No fee on ATM or one-time debit card transactions unless you opted in; you can revoke any time. CFPB 2017 study: frequent overdrafters, about 9% of accounts, paid 79% of overdraft and NSF fees; a typical fee was around $34 at the time.

Consumer information — not financial or legal advice.

12 months, at least

If your escrow comes up short, one option the rule gives your servicer is spreading it over 12 or more equal monthly payments.

Written in: Regulation X, 12 CFR § 1024.17(f)(3), (f)(5), (i)
Check: Your annual escrow account statement

80% ask · 78% ends

At 80% of the original value you can request cancellation in writing; at 78% PMI ends automatically, if the conditions hold.

Written in: Homeowners Protection Act, 12 U.S.C. § 4902
Check: Your PMI disclosure form

21 days before the due date

A grace period isn’t required. If you don’t pay in full, per the CFPB, you may lose it that month and the next.

Written in: Regulation Z, 12 CFR § 1026.5(b)(2)(ii)

30% of a FICO Score

Closing a card can raise your utilization. Amounts owed weigh 30% of a FICO Score; FICO publishes no exact point value.

Written in: myFICO

3 business days to cancel

Covered sales at your door ($25 or more) can be cancelled until midnight of the third business day. Saturday counts.

Written in: FTC Cooling-Off Rule, 16 CFR Part 429

Opt-in or no fee

No overdraft fee on ATM or one-time debit card transactions unless you opted in. You can revoke any time.

Written in: Regulation E, 12 CFR § 1005.17

What this is

We find a rule about your money or your data, explain what it means, show the primary source, and say where you can check or what you can ask. Short videos on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube; source pages for many of them live here.

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Consumer information — not financial or legal advice.

What do you have?

Pick one. You get the pages that apply, the rule on the sheet above, and a template if one fits. Nothing here is pre-selected.

Sources last checked: October 8, 2026.

Fourteen pages, seven situations. Tap the pile that’s yours.

Not sure which? Read this first: seven situations in plain sentences, each tied to its rule.

A bank account 3 pages

A credit card 4 pages

On the sheet: rule 3, Grace periods
On the sheet: rule 4, Closing a card
Glossary: Credit Utilization

A mortgage 2 pages

A credit report 2 pages

Glossary: Reinvestigation (30 days)

A payday loan 1 page

82% of Payday Loans Were Renewed Within 14 Days — the CFPB Data

All sources

A purchase at your door 1 page

Door-to-door sales

An online subscription 1 page

Online Negative-Option Charges: What 15 U.S.C. § 8403 Requires2 min

All sources

We read the fine print so it’s on the record — and here is how a claim makes it onto this site.
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The Letters Kit Our product

Five templates, each built on one federal consumer law or rule: four letters and one check-and-dispute page. One PDF, $15, one-time payment. Refund within 14 days on request.

1

Private mortgage insurance: cancellation request

Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 · 12 U.S.C. 4901-4903

2

Door-to-door sale: notice of cancellation

FTC Cooling-Off Rule · 16 CFR Part 429

Free on this siteOur product

3

Overdraft opt-in, ATM and one-time debit: revocation

Regulation E · 12 CFR 1005.17

4

TV or home internet equipment charges: letter about the charge

47 U.S.C. § 562(c)

5

Gift card fees and expiration: a check-and-dispute page

Regulation E · 12 CFR 1005.20

The Letters Kit · $15

Our product, sold by Never Opted In. A letter in this kit is a request or a notice. It does not guarantee any outcome.

Never Opted In / neveroptedin.com / Consumer info · US / What a rule says and where to find it / Sources cited on the Cheat Sheet: eCFR · CFPB · FTC · myFICO / Cheat Sheet sources last checked: September 23, 2026. / Set in Bricolage Grotesque, Hanken Grotesk and DM Mono

Everything here is consumer information — not financial or legal advice. It covers what a rule says and where to find it; the decisions stay yours.

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