Posted on 02/13/2008 7:59:39 AM PST by Alex Murphy
Though the Federal Reserve's recent move to cut the interest rate was meant as a reprieve for the stifled economy and consumers, some people are finding their credit card rates actually increasing.
Drastic jumps in interest rates have occurred even when a cardholder has had a record of paying on time, like in the case of Carita Marie Gamble.
The 72-year-old grandmother, who lives on a fixed income, was shocked to see her rate jump from about 16 percent to more than 26 percent last month.
"This has put me over the top financially," said Gamble, who has emphysema and had a tracheotomy.
Her monthly income of $1,100 has taken a huge hit now that her credit card bill has increased more than $400.
"I worry that she's not going to make it or she's going to have to sell her home. And we've looked into that," said Gamble's daughter Carita Marie Gamble.
The elder Gamble said she has always paid her Chase bank bill on time, even if it was just the minimum amount. The Gambles were shocked to learn the interest had increased because the mother had opened a new credit card. The bank told Gamble the new rate was permanent.
While Chase bank would not speak to ABC News on camera, Gamble's interest rate did decrease after "Good Morning America" contacted the bank. The rate is lower than it was before the hike and Gamble said she was told the interest she paid would be refunded.
"I'm not asking to make my bill go away. I did not like the way I was treated. And I feel they're money grubbers. That is not the way business is to be conducted," Gamble said.
Congress Steps In
Radical rate hikes like Gamble's are perfectly legal. In fact, since 2003 banks' penalty fees have jumped from more than $11 billion to $18.1 billion last year a 65 percent increase.
But Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., is trying to change that by leading a charge in the Senate to conduct hearings and introduce legislation to stop banks from raising interest rates on customers who have paid their credit card bills on time.
Lawmakers in the House of Representative have proposed legislation, too.
"Many cardholders can be paying their cards on time, playing by the rules and they find their interest rates have gone up. This is totally unfair," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y.
Industry Response
An industry representative said the variable rates of credit cards often lag behind after a change in the Federal Reserve's rate, but many consumers are seeing a decrease.
"In general interest rates for credit cards are going down," said Nessa Feddis, of the Credit Card Practices Attorney for the American Banker's Association.
Both competition and pressure have fueled changes in the industry, she added.
Feddis said people who are deemed riskier borrowers should expect their interest rates to be higher, but card companies allow them some leeway.
"They have a vested interest in having loans that can be repaid," Feddis said. "If you pay on time for the next six months, your rate will go down again," Feddis said of customers who have missed a payment or paid late.
While critics have complained that credit card disclosure statements are difficult to read and interpret, Feddis said consumers should pay attention to them.
"The disclosures could be better," she said. "The disclosures should be read and people can understand them."
Mailboxes across the country are filled with 0 percent introductory rates, which often make a rapid jump after six months. It's all in the fine print.
"It's hard to find that 0 percent is a bad deal, even if it's for six months," Feddis said.
Our credit card company just sent us a letter telling us there will be a $75 ANNUAL FEE on our next statement. I sent them a letter saying IF there is a $75 FEE we will find another credit card company. Paying to USE your credit card is idiotic.
Our credit card company just sent us a letter telling us there will be a $75 ANNUAL FEE on our next statement. I sent them a letter saying IF there is a $75 FEE we will immediately cancel their card and (easily) find another credit card company. Paying to USE your credit card is idiotic.
“This lady is using her CC like a bank loan.”
A couple of years ago, my CC debt was getting slightly out of hand so I used a balance transfer to one my cards for 3.99% on the life of the loan. Banks can’t beat that!
However, payments MUST be made on time, or they will slam me with a higher rate.
It allowed me to pay it off in about a year...and I closed the account. Just use AMEX now (have to pay off balance) and VISA check card.
Those were my exact thoughts when I saw this segment yesterday. How can one blame the CC company when a woman, who is already carrying much more debt than she can afford, goes out and applies for another card? This is a red alert that the company’s balance will not get paid, hence the increased interest rate.
LOL...like I said...
Seriously, many people are idiots when it comes to money.
Something’s not right here. In my experience, when the rate increases the cardholder has the option to close the account and pay off the balance at the existing rate.
Capital One increased their interest rate of everybody, and that was an option. I discussed it with them when I called to find out why the rate increased, but since it pay it off every month anyway it wasn’t an issue.
Which company was that?
This happens for a variety of reasons, and the most common is a history of balance transfers with continuing increases in debt to asset ratios.
If it was simply arbitrary in nature, she is with the wrong credit card company and this company is simply trying to improve it's bottom line.
All these companies now have tiers, usually three of them that they will move you into or out of depending on your credit file. It's a bit of a game to understand how this works, but one thing for certain, it pays to know what is in your file so that you can make it better and qualify for lower rates.
IMHO......
If you use the card and pay the balance every month, you pay NO INTEREST.
I believe in capitalism but sometimes it is really hard to defend these credit card critters.
Still there is much to be said for never buying anything if you cannot pay for it when the bill comes due. I use credit cards only for convenience so I dont have to carry cash.
True, the issuer is required to give fifteen days notice prior to changing the terms, including the interest rate. However, from personal experience, many issuers either never send out the letter, or it gets lost in the mail, or it looks like junk mail and gets tossed by accident.
“I believe in capitalism but sometimes it is really hard to defend these credit card critters.”
A lot of them are slime, no doubt....but the main premise of our free market economy has always been caveat emptor. Problem is that people are lazy and lacking in common sense...and they want gov’t to protect them from themselves.
So even though it’s hard on the eyes, read the mice type. lol
Who was the card with, just curious....seen similar crap from Cap One and Chase.
Who was the card with, just curious....seen similar crap from Cap One and Chase. If you still have the account, never mind.
how people let Credit Card debt get out of control is beyond me
when i got my first card in College i began to use it for everyday expenses and pay it off every bloody month. no balance - no interest payments. to this day i still use it and get oodles of free stuff with points and such. people need to control their spending then things like this wont happen.
Good point. My notice was on my statement, but who reads their statement word for word? Two months had passed before I realized the interest rate had changed.
It’s an Alaska Air VISA through Bank of America
Ah, yes.
I have that little critter. I shall not be renewing. (Pay $75 to get a $50 companion fare?! Shame on me for not reading the fine print.)
Well....this has happened before (although usually it just shows up on our bill)....and I’ve called and told them to credit us, or we are switching....and they do. This time they sent a letter....we’ll see what happens. Since we pay our bill off each month they really aren’t making anything on us....sooo....maybe they do not want us anymore. Plus, I just used the 30,000 miles we had from that card for two flights to Phoenix!!!
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