Topic: Consumer Credit Policy and Regulation

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First credit card? Five key tips for college students.

If getting a credit card is a rite of passage for college students, choosing the right plastic and learning how to use it responsibly is a matter of life and debt. Young people age 18 to 24, carry an average credit card debt of $2,002, according to CreditKarma.com. Before you end up as a debt statistic, learn to pick the right card and manage your credit before getting your hands on plastic. Here are five things every new credit cardholder should know:
Gift cards: Stuck with one? Sell it.

Gift cards are supposed to be the easy answer for that person on your holiday list who has everything. But with $30 billion worth of cards unredeemed, there’s clearly something wrong. Here are four tips if you’re stuck with one you’ll never use – or thinking of buying one for someone else.

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Saving Money
Credit cards bring back no-fee, no-interest offers

Credit cards offer zero-percent balance transfer with no transfer fees to new customers. Zero-percent credit cards are a good deal, if consumers make sure they stay out of debt.
First credit card? Five key tips for college students.

If getting a credit card is a rite of passage for college students, choosing the right plastic and learning how to use it responsibly is a matter of life and debt. Young people age 18 to 24, carry an average credit card debt of $2,002, according to CreditKarma.com. Before you end up as a debt statistic, learn to pick the right card and manage your credit before getting your hands on plastic. Here are five things every new credit cardholder should know:
Credit cards: How high does your card rank?

Credit card companies are getting higher marks from consumers, according to a J.D Power study.
Saving Money
Credit card alert: Watch out for business card offers

Business credit cards don't come with the same protections as personal credit cards. Unless you own a business, you don't need a business credit card.
Gift cards: Stuck with one? Sell it.

Gift cards are supposed to be the easy answer for that person on your holiday list who has everything. But with $30 billion worth of cards unredeemed, there’s clearly something wrong. Here are four tips if you’re stuck with one you’ll never use – or thinking of buying one for someone else.
The New Economy
Credit card fees: Would capping them really help consumers?

Credit card fees and rewards programs help the rich and hurt the poor, according to a recent report. But experts disagree whether a cap on fees would solve the disparity.
Credit-card deals become harder to find

Recent reforms make credit-card deals more difficult to negotiate with card companies. Here's how Americans are coping.
Debit card fees: Senate votes for limits, seeking to aid consumers

Retailers are the ones paying debit card fees, but the idea is that if the costs were lowered, retailers might then pass some of the savings along to consumers.
New credit card rules: a punishment for responsible borrowers

The Credit CARD Act will mean higher fees, higher interest rates, and lower bonus points.
Christian Personal Finance
Roundup of information on the new credit card laws

New credit card laws went into effect earlier this week. Here's a roundup of what's included.
Even with new credit card laws 2010, Americans are cutting back on credit

New laws are shielding American credit-card users – as long as they can get credit.
New credit card laws 2010 still have 'gotchas.' Here are five steps to avoid them.

The most sweeping reforms of President Obama's new credit card laws went into effect Monday. But consumers must take these steps to avoid the 'gotchas.'
New credit card laws 2010: How will I benefit?

New credit card laws in 2010 will put an end to some confusing billing practices and retroactive interest-rate hikes. They took effect Monday.
United plan could put huge costs on passengers

As of July 20, it will ask some travel agents to pay with cash, not credit. The move could make it harder for passengers to get back money for canceled flights, critics say.
Congress moves to regulate credit cards

Lawmakers have been getting an earful from disgruntled consumers.
Congress turns from bank bailouts to helping consumers

Targets include credit card companies, payday loans with exorbitant interest rates, and predatory mortgage lenders.