Charges exacted only if a variable-life account is redeemed prematurely (including cases in which the maximum partial surrender charge has been exceeded), or if the insured fails to make the premium payments necessary to keep the policy in effect. These charges come in as many varieties as do VL subaccounts. A simple version of this fee is a percentage fee of all paid premiums that declines over time. This fee pattern closely mimics that seen in variable-annuity surrender charges. Another version is for the charge to consist of a large fee, diminishing over time, levied against the policy�s face value.