Credit card: late fee and finance charge

This one may be a no-brainer to you. I am just here to vent.

Activity	Amount
MEMBERSHIP FEE AUG 06-JUL 07	0.00
CREDIT PROTECTOR FEE MNTHLY 8009505114	6.39
LATE FEE - JUL PAYMENT PAST DUE	39.00
PURCHASES*FINANCE CHARGE*PERIODIC RATE	13.12

USD$52.12 because I was 8 days late in paying the balance. "What's the difference between late fee and finance charge?" you may ask. The lady at the call center explained that the late fee is assessed according to the amount of unpaid balance. The finance charge is assessed according to the amount of unpaid balance, the number of days overdue, and the current interest rate.

It'll take me a long time to earn such an amount with the card's dividends, that is, if I remember to pay up the balance on time. Argh!