2.5 million UK customers were informed last year by UK credit card companies that they will be charged a fee, have their account closed or credit limit cut, according to a survey.

Of these 2.5 million, 16 percent had missed payments or exceeded payments, while the majority of customers paid off their bill in full each month. More than half said they were making at least minimum repayments. The survey was conducted by Uswitch, a UK independent price comparison and switching service. 2,097 credit card customers were interviewed for the survey.

Uswitch’s says credit card providers are taking drastic action to manage bad debt. Researchers add that the crackdown will upset high street retailers who are keeping a close eye on measures by banks to curb lending, after spending in shops reached its lowest for three years, according to the British Retail Consortium.

According to the UK payments association APACS, 21.4 million credit cardholders regularly or always pay their bill in full out of 31 million credit card accounts in total.