Policy and Legislation

• Group letter to banking agencies recommending enforcement action under the CARD Act (July 8, 2010)
• Summary of Fed’s Final Rule on August Provisions of CARD Act (June 17, 2010)
• CU comment to the FRB on Regulation Z proposed rule (April 13, 2010)
• Summary of Fed’s proposal for final CARD Act provisions (March 12, 2010)
• Credit Card Comments to the Federal Reserve (November 20, 2009)
• Letter to Chase about minimum payment increases (September 8, 2009)
• Coalition support letter for the Credit Cardholder Bill of Rights (HR 627) to House Financial Services Committee (April 21, 2009)
• Video highlighting the fight in Congress over credit cards (April 7, 2009)
• Obama should prioritize credit card reform (March 24, 2009)
• Testimony on Credit Cards (HR 627) and Overdraft Fees (HR 1456) (March 19, 2009)
• Coalition endorses bill to cap interest rates (March 2, 2009)
• Groups call on Treasury Secretary to restrict the use of bailout funds for credit cards (January 29, 2009)
• CU offers regulatory reform principles to the Congressional Oversight Panel (January 16, 2009)
• CU's rescue plan for the rest of us - Seven steps toward reform (January 13, 2009)
• Groups urge co-sponsorship of credit cardholders bill of rights (January 12, 2009)
• Consumers Union's agenda for the 111th Congress (January 12, 2009)
• Groups call for a consumer agenda for Congress and the new Administration (December 18, 2008)
• CU offers principles for restructuring financial regulation (December 16, 2008)

• CU calls for new agency heads to protect consumers in credit and housing (December 2, 2008)
• Letter to President-Elect Obama from Consumers Union President (November 5, 2008)
• CU: Include credit card reforms in bailout package (September 24, 2008)
• Consumer’s Union letter urging Congress to act now on credit card reform (September 5, 2008)
• Comments on proposed rule to curb unfair credit card practices (July 15, 2008)
• Consumer groups endorse credit card reform bills (March 12, 2008)
• House bill takes on abusive credit card practices (February 7, 2008)
• CU urges Fed to improve credit card disclosures (August 27, 2007)
• Consumers Deserve Stronger Financial Services Protections (July 27, 2007)
• Simplify the fees, not just the disclosures (June 6, 2007)
• Fact Sheet about ID Theft (April 11, 2007)
• Abusive credit card practices come under fire (January 25, 2007)
• GAO stats and facts on credit cards (October 1, 2006)
• Credit Cards: A Call for Reform (October 1, 2006)
• Letter urging Congress to keep existing credit protections for consumers using credit repair services (September 25, 2006)
• Click here for a summary of some of the bills that have been introduced in Congress to protect credit card consumers. ]]>">Will Congress Protect Credit Card Consumers? (September 26, 2005)
• ask Fair Isaac to adapt credit scoring models to exclude harmful information about disaster victims.]]>">Groups ask Fair Isaac to adapt credit scoring models to exclude harmful information about disaster victims (September 12, 2005)
• Consumer group comments on federal regulation of credit card disclosures (July 11, 2005)
• CU calls for changes in credit card practices, law, and regulation (March 24, 2005)
• Letter to the Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan regarding application of merger (June 25, 1998)

Consumers Union News Releases

• Credit card law marks one year anniversary on Feb 22 (February 17, 2011)
• New credit card & gift protections begin August 22 (August 17, 2010)
• Fed Issues New Credit Card Regulations to Protect Consumers (June 15, 2010)
• CU: Fed should roll back credit card rate hikes (April 14, 2010)
• Fed issues proposal to rein in credit card fees (March 4, 2010)
• New credit card protections start on February 22 (February 18, 2010)
• Fed issues final credit card regulations (January 12, 2010)
• Fed urged to stop new credit card tricks (November 20, 2009)
• Senator Dodd Unveils Discussion Draft for Financial Reform (November 13, 2009)
• CR poll: Consumers angry at credit card companies (October 6, 2009)
• New bill will make the Credit CARD Act effective December 1, 2009 (September 24, 2009)
• Credit CARD Act: Statement by Consumers Union (September 17, 2009)
• Chase bank's minimum payment policy criticized (September 9, 2009)
• Students: Beware the credit card trap on campus (August 31, 2009)
• First of Credit CARD Act Protections Take Effect (August 19, 2009)
• House approves credit card reform bill (May 20, 2009)
• Senate approves credit card reform bill (May 19, 2009)
• Credit card reform bill passes House (April 30, 2009)
• CU applauds Obama credit card proposals (April 29, 2009)
• Senate panel passes bill limiting credit-card rates (March 31, 2009)
• Groups urge House to approve credit card reform (March 31, 2009)
• Senate panel to consider landmark credit card bill (March 30, 2009)

• Bailout should include new credit card standards (November 26, 2008)
• Statement by CU on President-elect Obama’s economic team (November 24, 2008)
• CU calls for new reforms to address financial crisis (November 14, 2008)
• House passes credit card reform bill (September 23, 2008)
• House to vote on credit card reforms (September 22, 2008)
• OCC sides with banks on credit card reform (August 21, 2008)
• Congress to consider landmark credit card bill (July 28, 2008)
• CU applauds effort to restrain abusive credit card practices as a strong first step (July 10, 2008)
• New rules proposed to curb unfair bank practices (May 2, 2008)
• Senator Dodd's credit card reform bill applauded (April 30, 2008)
• Groups push Congress for credit card reforms (April 17, 2008)
• Credit cardholders send Congress a Valentine (February 14, 2008)
• Familes need help understanding college financing (July 19, 2007)
• Consumer groups back credit card reform bill (May 16, 2007)
• 2006 GAO study highlights anti-consumer practices in the credit card industry (October 11, 2006)
• Insurers using credit scores to set auto and homeowners rates (July 5, 2006)
• Consumer Reports finds personal privacy concerns in planned uses of RFIDs (May 4, 2006)
• CU's letter to credit reporting agencies and the news release from Puerto Rico ]]>">Should Spanish speakers also enjoy the right to free credit reports? (January 18, 2006)
• Consumer groups ask questions for new Fed chair nominee (October 24, 2005)
• Credit reporting agencies reject a step to help hurricane survivors (October 6, 2005)
• Katrina aftermath: Be careful when giving to charities online (September 14, 2005)

Research and Reports

• PIRG's Student Debt Alert Project (April 9, 2009)
• Obama's bailout plan should help protect taxpayers (February 10, 2009)
• An Agenda To Close Growing Gaps In Marketplace Protections (December 18, 2008)
• New credit card protections adopted by Feds (December 18, 2008)

• Where’s my money: Consumer protections needed for new ways to pay (July 3, 2008)
• Congress considers new ID theft protection (July 18, 2007)
• Another week, another identity theft scandal (May 25, 2007)
• U.S. Senate hearing exposes credit card abuses (March 6, 2007)
• CardSystems' security breach shows need for stronger safeguards (March 2, 2007)
• Real People, Real Stories (October 20, 2006)

Consumer Tips

• A Consumer's Guide to Using Credit Cards (February 19, 2010)
• What You Need to Know: New Credit Card Rules (January 25, 2010)
• Secured Credit Card Marketing Scams (June 16, 2009)
• Federal Trade Commission’s Credit & Loan Page (June 16, 2009)
• Choosing a Credit Card: the Deal is in the Disclosures (June 16, 2009)
• Credit Card Loss Protection Offers: They’re the Real Steal (June 16, 2009)
• California: How to Withhold Payment on a Credit Card (CR-7) (June 16, 2009)
• Credit Card Repayment Calculator (June 16, 2009)
• Minimum Payment Estimates (June 16, 2009)
• Top 10 Credit Card Traps (June 16, 2009)
• Credit Card Facts and Stats (June 16, 2009)
• Credit Card Tips (June 16, 2009)

• Paper statement fees?! What to do about this latest trick (May 14, 2010)
• CU offers credit card tips for college students (September 19, 2007)
• Credit card tips for college students (September 18, 2007)
• Tsunami scams: Careful when giving to charities online (January 11, 2005)

Blog Posts

• Pew Study: Consumers At Risk From "Business" Credit Cards (May 20, 2011)
• CARD Act's 1 Year Anniversary (February 22, 2011)
• College Students Still Big a Target for Credit Card Companies (January 12, 2011)
• BofA’s “$0 Liability Guarantee” - Is It As Good As it Sounds? (September 23, 2010)
• Professional Cards: Watch out for this CARD Act loophole! (September 1, 2010)
• Back To School: Campus Financial Tips (August 26, 2010)
• DYD on the Rachel Maddow Show- Watch Here (August 24, 2010)
• Consumers Get New Credit Card & Gift Card Protections on August 22 (August 19, 2010)
• Final Credit Card Rules on Penalty Fees and Interest Rate Review (June 15, 2010)
• New study shows that banks don't price penalty fees for risk. (June 11, 2010)
• Still confused about the new credit card law? (June 10, 2010)
• Credit Card Terms and Conditions Now Posted Online (May 25, 2010)
• You're gonna save $5 billion in credit card and overdraft fees this year! (May 18, 2010)
• Paper statement fees?! What to do about this latest trick (May 14, 2010)
• Senate debate on financial reform heats up (May 5, 2010)
• Consumers Union Urges Fed to Require Banks to Roll Back Recent Unfair Credit Card Interest Rate Hikes (April 13, 2010)
• How To Close A Credit Card (April 7, 2010)
• Fed issues proposal for final CARD Act provisions (March 12, 2010)
• And Now A Word From Our Winner (March 10, 2010)
• Winner of the Danger of Debt Contest!! (March 2, 2010)
• Consumer Guide to Credit Cards (February 19, 2010)
• Tips for the new credit card marketplace (February 18, 2010)
• Watch Out! Here’s what’s not covered by the CARD Act (January 27, 2010)
• Watch Out! Here’s what’s not covered by the CARD Act (January 27, 2010)
• Clearing up some misconceptions about the Credit CARD Act (January 20, 2010)
• Federal Reserve Board Issues New Credit Card Regulations (January 12, 2010)
• Paper statement fees?! Credit card issuers’ latest trick (January 7, 2010)
• Dangers Of Debt Contest (January 4, 2010)
• Consumers Protest Makes National News (December 15, 2009)
• Tips Of What To Look Out Next From Credit Cards (December 9, 2009)
• The Power of Putting Your Card In Your Pocket (November 30, 2009)
• The Card Game: An Expose on Credit Cards (November 23, 2009)
• Tell the Fed Stop New Credit Card Ripoffs! (November 20, 2009)
• Credit Card Freeze Bill ... Frozen! (November 19, 2009)
• Protect Your Holiday Spending (November 11, 2009)
• Creative credit cards are a bummer (November 3, 2009)
• Move up the effective date on the CARD Act- Give the People What They Want! (October 27, 2009)
• Chase responds to CU’s request to stop messing with minimum payments. (October 15, 2009)
• Calling all creative shutter bugs! (September 15, 2009)
• Groups ask Chase to stop messing with minimum payments (September 8, 2009)
• Beware of Creditors (August 24, 2009)
• Credit Card Madness (August 20, 2009)
• Whats Going On In Your Wallet? (August 20, 2009)
• The end is near (to credit card tricks and traps that is…) (August 19, 2009)
• Chase Raises Minimum Payments On Credit Cards (June 29, 2009)
• Treasury Releases Report: Financial Regulatory Reform: A New Foundation (June 17, 2009)
• Consumer Colleague AFFIL Highlighted (June 12, 2009)
• Advanta Sign of the Times as Small Businesses Struggle (June 8, 2009)
• A Historical Look at the Credit Card (June 3, 2009)
• Deadbeats Become Target Market (June 2, 2009)
• Q&A- The Credit Card Legislation (June 1, 2009)
• Advanta Closing Down Small Business Credit Card Accounts (May 26, 2009)
• How will the credit card reforms help you? (May 25, 2009)
• When do the credit card protections go into effect? (May 22, 2009)
• Financial Literacy or Die (May 22, 2009)
• Are the Banks getting traction in their spin cycle? (May 20, 2009)
• 24 Capricorns voted YES for credit card protections (May 20, 2009)
• How will the Senate's credit card bill protect you (May 19, 2009)
• Mr. Yurkiw goes to Washington (May 19, 2009)
• Unprecedented credit card protections PASS the Senate!! (May 19, 2009)
• Colbert on Credit! (May 12, 2009)
• Bipartisan credit card protections! (May 11, 2009)
• Credit Card Reform on Colbert Tonight (May 11, 2009)
• The final votes are in!! The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights PASSES the House! Tell the Senate to do the same. (April 30, 2009)
• Geithner kicks it up a notch on credit cards. (April 29, 2009)
• APRIL 29 – Arbitration Fairness Day (April 28, 2009)
• Credit Card Bill of Rights- Movin' on Up (April 22, 2009)
• A Bad Moon Rising for Credit Card Banks (April 20, 2009)
• Bank of America follows the pack by raising interest rates in June (April 9, 2009)
• Video about last week's successful credit card votes. (April 7, 2009)
• Summary of Pew Study on Credit Card Practices (March 30, 2009)
• It’s a big week for credit card legislation! (March 30, 2009)
• Consumer Complaints Work: JP Morgan and Chase to issue Refunds on Credit Cards (March 27, 2009)
• FSPC: Slowing The Race To The Bottom (March 13, 2009)
• Will our tax dollars be used to finance credit card debt with unfair terms and practices? (February 25, 2009)
• Congress is not giving up on credit cards (February 24, 2009)
• Don’t spend our tax money to support credit card debt with unfair terms! (January 29, 2009)
• Second Chance for Opt-In to Overdrafts! (January 26, 2009)
• Unfinished Business: What’s not in the credit card rule (January 7, 2009)
• Initial news reports on new credit card rule inaccurate (December 22, 2008)
• New rules to stop unfair credit card rate increases--eventually (December 18, 2008)
• CU’s Wish List for the New Year (December 11, 2008)
• Chairman Bernanke -- Enact credit card reforms now (December 1, 2008)
• Federal Government Should Set Standards for Taxpayer-backed Credit Card Debt (November 26, 2008)
• Bill Me Later might mean Pay Up Much More Later (October 20, 2008)
• Banks get OCC to do their dirty work. (August 21, 2008)
• Last Chance to Tell the Fed Your Credit Card Story (July 28, 2008)
• To the Grad: Words of Wisdom from Consumer Advocates (June 2, 2008)
• Tell the Fed your credit card horror story. (May 12, 2008)
• Finally some action against the worst credit card practices (May 2, 2008)
• Where are your credit card and debit card numbers? (March 24, 2008)
• Spending is not the way to save (February 22, 2008)
• Kiss Credit Card Rip-offs Goodbye! (February 4, 2008)
• Money for nothing (November 15, 2007)
• The Spooky Truth About Credit Cards (October 30, 2007)
• The Word's Out, the Freeze is on Yahoo! (February 21, 2007)
• Is Your Credit Card Company Sweet on You? (February 13, 2007)
• credit card fury (January 24, 2007)
• What is the OCC? (December 15, 2006)
• It's Always Christmas Time (for VISA) (November 20, 2006)
• Double Take on Double-Cycle Billing (October 22, 2006)
• Are You Knee Deep in Credit Card Fees? (October 19, 2006)