04/01/2007
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Nearly 20 years ago I worked for a small consumer advocacy organization in Washington, DC. Each week we received sacks full of mail from consumers across the country requesting our list of credit cards with low interest rates and no annual fees. If you wanted a low interest rate on a credit card back then, you often had to apply to a bank in Arkansas where interest rates were capped by state law.
Those were the good old days.
Now, interest rates range from zero percent to a high 39 percent. But it's tougher to find (and keep) a good credit card than ever before. That's because there are many new traps that can snag unsuspecting consumers.
At the top of the list is the "universal default clause" which allows issuers to monitor your credit report and raise your rate if you are late on any bill that appears on your credit report. One major issuer, for example, will hike a 0% rate to 24.99% if you slip up!
In fact, true "fixed rates" are rare. Many consumers don't realize that a "fixed" credit card rate isn't the same as, say, a fixed-rate mortgage. In most states, card issuers can raise the interest rate on a fixed-rate credit card with just fifteen days' written notice. The new rate can typically apply to existing balances as well as new purchases.
Fees are also on the rise. Take late fees, for example, 20 years ago a late fee on a credit card was still fairly unusual, and typically wasn't charged unless you were 15 days late with a payment. Now you often must get your payment to the issuer by a certain hour in the morning or you'll be charged a late fee of as much as $39. Go over the limit and you'll not only pay more interest, but a steep over limit fee, as well.
Foreign travelers are often charged a "currency conversion charge" of 1–2% of the amount of their purchase. As the result of a class action lawsuit, Visa and MasterCard were ordered to provide refunds of those fees in certain circumstances. The problem wasn't that the fees were illegal, but it was determined they weren't properly disclosed. The case is being appealed.
Here are some findings from the nonprofit Consumer Action's annual survey of credit cards (www.consumer-action.org):
-- The vast majority of surveyed cards have significantly higher penalty rates that are triggered by one or two late payments in a period of six months to a year.
-- One-fifth of surveyed issuers have shifted to tiered late payments, which Consumer Action interprets as a deceptive way of charging higher-than-average late fees.
-- The number of cards with $35 late fees has more than doubled from last year.
-- More than half the cards surveyed require cardholders to pay only 2% of the monthly balance each month -– a disturbing trend that dramatically increases the overall interest paid by cardholders.
-- More than one-third of surveyed institutions will not provide a firm annual percentage rate (APR) until they have screened the applicant's credit history. Instead, they give only a meaningless range of rates before screening, which makes comparison shopping difficult, if not impossible.
Don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying that credit card companies should not make money. In fact, easy access to credit has helped fuel our economy, especially when the going gets rough.
But many consumers now are literally trapped by high-cost debt with few options. I've spoken to consumers who feel they have no choice but to file for bankruptcy because their credit card companies all raised their interest rates to between 20% and 30%, and they simply cannot manage to pay the balances down.
With all the landmines out there for credit card users today, the best strategy is still to pay down debt as quickly as possible and limit yourself to a couple of cards to avoid problems.
Sometimes, of course, that's easier said than done!
Gerri Detweiler, considered one of the country's top credit experts and credit counseling specialists, started her career with a Washington, DC-based non-profit consumer advocacy organization, helping consumers keep up with credit card market changes in the 1980s. At that time she created information that was distributed nationwide, and responded to daily news media interviews. Gerri continues to be a sought-after source on credit topics, authoring and co-authoring several best-selling books on consumer financial topics, including The Ultimate Credit Handbook and Invest In Yourself: Six Secrets to a Rich Life. For more information on how to manage and protect your credit, visit the SuccessDNA Credit Center at SuccessDNA.com.
© 2007 Gerri DetweilerThe views and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of College Central Network, Inc. or its affiliates. Reference to any company, organization, product, or service does not constitute endorsement by College Central Network, Inc., its affiliates or associated companies. The information provided is not intended to replace the advice or guidance of your legal, financial, or medical professional.