Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Senate Deal Could Lower Credit Card Rates

Consumers who are paying more in interest because they have fallen behind on their credit card bills could regain their older, lower rates if they pay their bills on time for six months, under a compromise proposal reached by senators seeking changes in laws governing the credit card industry.

The Senate proposal was brokered between Republicans, who say lenders should be able to take into account a person's behavior, and Democrats, who contend that the practice of hiking rates on past balances prevent consumers from climbing out of debt.

The acceding was included as allotment of a broader amalgamation on acclaim agenda reform, appear Monday by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn. The bill was accepted to canyon this anniversary with President Barack Obama's support.

Dodd had originally proposed an absolute ban on attendant amount increases. But afterwards Republican support, his bill was advised absurd to affected procedural hurdles in the Senate.

The most contempo angle would prohibit lenders from accretion absorption ante on accomplished buys unless the cardholder has collapsed at atomic 60 canicule behind. At the aforementioned time, lenders would be appropriate to analysis a cardholder's agreement every six months.

The bill would go into aftereffect nine months afterwards enactment. The House anesthetized its own adaptation of the bill in April by a 357-70 vote.

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