Credit
Cards: New Law Protects Consumers from Surprise Fees, Rate Increases and Other
Penalties
Some changes are effective now, most start
next year
I
n May, Congress passed and President Obama signed the Credit Card
Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 — the Credit CARD Act —
the most sweeping statutory changes in card protections for consumers since the
Truth in Lending Act was enacted in 1968. The new law is intended to help
protect consumers from abusive fees, penalties, interest rate increases and
other unwarranted changes in account terms.
"Credit cards are a vital component of everyday life for consumers," said
Luke Brown, the FDIC's Associate Director for policy issues involving bank
compliance with consumer regulations. "This new law will help you better manage
your credit cards and avoid unpleasant surprises."
While the law generally will take effect on February 22, 2010, some important
changes went into effect on August 20, 2009, and others not until August 22,
2010. Here's a look at key provisions.
Prohibitions and restrictions on rate increases: Starting on
February 22, 2010, card issuers generally can't increase the Annual Percentage
Rate or APR (the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate, including interest
and other charges) on existing balances for one year after the account is opened
except in these four situations:
(1) When the bank disclosed, at the time the account was opened, that the APR
would increase sooner;
(2) When the APR for a variable-rate card changes due to increases in a
published index that is outside the card issuer's control, such as rates on U.S.
Treasury securities;
(3) When the APR, fees or finance charges increase as a result of the
consumer not satisfying a "workout" arrangement (a debt reduction or other
concession agreed to by a card issuer to help a struggling borrower); or
(4) When the APR, fees or finance charges increase due to the consumer not
making the required minimum payment within 60 days.
After the first year of the account, the card issuer can raise a consumer's
interest rate, but the higher rate can only apply to new transactions and it
cannot exceed the potential interest rate increase previously disclosed to the
cardholder.
The card issuer also must generally provide a 45-day advance notice of any
rate increase or any other significant changes in account terms, up from 15
days. This requirement of the law takes effect on August 20, 2009. In that same
notice, card issuers must inform consumers of their right to cancel their card
before the rate increase or account changes take effect. Consumers who decide to
cancel their card will repay at the "old" (lower) rate, and they cannot be
required to immediately repay the outstanding balance.
In addition, starting August 22, 2010, and at least every six months, card
issuers must review interest rate increases dating back to January 1, 2009. As
part of that review, the lender must reassess the risk factors that led to the
rate increase and reduce the APR going forward, if appropriate. And if the card
issuer instead believes an increase in the APR is warranted, it must provide the
customer with a written notice explaining the reasons. "Although these statutory
provisions are not effective until August of next year, credit card companies
will be held accountable for prudent risk assessment and appropriate APR changes
dating back to the beginning of this year," said Victoria Pawelski, an FDIC
Senior Policy Analyst.
Card issuers also generally can continue offering low introductory rates —
more commonly known as "teaser rates." But beginning February 22, 2010, these
initial rates must be disclosed in a clear and conspicuous manner and cannot
increase until after the advertised period, which must be at least six months.
New limits on fees and interest charges: One of the most
important changes requires that monthly statements be mailed or delivered at
least 21 days before the payment due date, an increase from 14 days. This
provides consumers more time to pay the bill before incurring late fees or
additional interest charges if there is a grace period. This provision of the
law took effect August 20, 2009, and applies to all open-end credit, including
credit cards and home equity lines of credit.
Other important changes effective February 22, 2010, encourage fairness in
the way card companies handle consumer payments:
For cards with multiple interest rates — for example, a low rate on
a balance transferred from another card and a higher rate on new purchases —
card companies will be required to apply payments (the portion over the minimum
payment) to the highest-rate balances first. This will eliminate a current
practice of some card issuers that apply a consumer's payment toward balances
with the lowest rate first and leaving the highest-rate balance to continue
accruing interest costs. Other requirements govern how card payments will be
applied in cases of deferred-interest plans — those that do not begin to accrue
interest for several months after a purchase.
Double-cycle billing — an often costly practice also known as
two-cycle billing — will be banned. With double-cycle billing, a card company
not only considers the current balance on the credit card when determining
interest charges but also factors in the average daily balance from the previous
billing period, even if a portion of that previous balance was paid.
"Double-cycle billing results in higher interest charges for consumers who
carry a balance from one billing cycle to the next," said Pawelski. "The new law
bans this practice by permitting interest charges to apply only to outstanding
balances and not to previous balances already paid."
Improved disclosures: Also starting on February 22, 2010,
credit card issuers must provide new, clearer and more timely disclosures of
account terms and costs — before and after an account is opened. This will help
consumers choose the right card, shop for better deals and avoid mistakes.
Monthly credit card statements will be changing significantly. Card
statements must include a box showing cardholders how much they have paid in
interest and in fees during the current year. Statements also will include
details warning consumers about the high costs of making only the minimum
payment.
To further help cardholders plan how to repay outstanding balances, the law
will require statements to show the monthly payment amount required to pay off
the existing balance in 36 months, including the total cost (payments and
interest).
Periodic statements also must disclose, in a prominent location, the due date
for the next payment as well as the amount of any potential late fee and the
date it would be charged. Statements also must include a notice that one or more
late payments may trigger an increase in the interest rate on the account, and
they must show the penalty rate.
Finally, consumers may benefit from a requirement that card companies post
their standard credit card agreements on the Internet. This is intended to make
it easier for consumers to compare the terms of different credit cards and
understand the interest rates and fees that are being charged.
Other changes worth noting:
Fair deadlines for credit card payments: Starting on February 22,
2010, the due date for card payments must be the same day each month. This
change is intended to prevent consumers from incurring late fees as a result of
accidentally missing a due date because it changes from month to month. If the
due date falls on a holiday or weekend, the deadline is considered to be the
next business day. Also, card companies must accept and promptly post payments
received by 5 p.m. (local time) on the due date. They can no longer, for
example, have early morning deadlines for payments to be credited on the due
date.
Restrictions on penalties for going over the credit limit:
Effective February 22, 2010, no fees may be imposed for making a purchase
or other transaction that would put the account over its credit limit unless the
cardholder "opts in" (agrees) for the credit card company to process
over-the-limit transactions and charge a fee. Furthermore, an over-the-limit fee
may be imposed only one time during the billing cycle when the limit is
exceeded, not for each transaction that exceeds the credit limit. And if the
cardholder remains over his or her limit but conducts no additional
transactions, another fee can be imposed but only once during each of the next
two billing cycles.
Protections for young consumers: Also as of February 22, 2010,
companies will be prohibited from issuing a credit card to a consumer younger
than 21 unless he or she submits a written application that includes the
signature of a co-signer over 21 or information indicating the young consumer
has independent means to repay the card debt. Also, companies are restricted
from making pre-screened offers of credit to someone under 21 unless the
consumer consents to receive them. "These provisions are intended to protect
college students and other young people from amassing significant credit card
debt without the financial resources to pay them," explained Alice Beshara,
Chief of the FDIC's section that monitors banks for compliance with consumer
regulations.
Final Thoughts
While the new law will prohibit certain practices and provide more timely
disclosures of account terms and costs, consumers still need to do their part to
better manage their credit cards. "Start by understanding the terms of a credit
card before signing up for it," said Susan Boenau, Chief of the FDIC's Consumer
Affairs Section. "Also, closely review your credit card bill each month, and
monitor and understand the disclosures and account changes communicated by your
card company."
The Federal Reserve Board has issued the first of several rules to implement
the new law. For more information on your rights or on managing your credit
cards in general, see For Help and Information on Credit
Cards, Mortgages and Other Financial Services.
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New Safeguards for Gift Cards
The same law that expanded the protections on credit cards (see story) also included safeguards for gift cards and other
types of pre-paid cards that can be used at a variety of stores and service
providers to make small-dollar purchases.
Under the new law, gift cards and similar cards cannot expire within five
years from the date they were activated unless the expiration date is clearly
disclosed. The law also generally prohibits an inactivity fee on gift cards
except in certain circumstances, such as if there has been no transaction for at
least 12 months. |
