Credit card users beware: How the crisis will affect you and your bills

Just as Washington hands over the biggest bailout in history to Wall Street in what is ostensibly a way to free up credit markets, banks are looking for ways to collect more money from debt-submerged consumers. They’re charging new fees, raising rates, and lowering limits.

The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights, which Reps. Bachmann and Kline voted against, might offer some reprieve for strapped consumers, if it passes the Senate. But is there any recourse from bank control in the meantime?

Credit-card industry snookers another customer, American Bankers Association [hearts] Washington

There’s no shortage of stories as of late about consumers getting bilked by credit-card companies: Bank of America has been

Candidates and consumer protections: Are there any?

As we noted last week, credit cardholders hit with recent and arbitrary rate hikes might get some relief if any of the new consumer-protection proposals see the light of day. But it’s of…