Amex started informing cardholders this month that it would eliminate overlimit fees on all of its consumer credit cards with its Oct. 1 billing statements. Desiree Fish, a spokeswoman for the New York credit card company, said Friday that it will continue to make point-of-sale decisions about whether or not to allow cardholders to make purchases that exceed their spending limit, but will no longer assess a fee to those who are permitted to complete their purchase.

Discover will also start informing cardholders "soon" that it will eliminate overlimit fees, "as a convenience to customers and as an effort to deliver on the spirit rather than just the letter of the law," Leslie Sutton, a spokeswoman for the Riverwoods, Ill. company, said late Friday. She would not be more specific or comment on whether cost was a factor in Discover's decision.