[behzinlea]

Your unexpected expenses are not that much different then mine have been over the years. I’ve used credit cards for over 30 years and never fallen into such a debt trap. When a particular credit card issuer would notify me that it was unilaterally changing terms (and this did happen at least twice), I would respond by canceling the card and moving to a different issuer. My credit rating was such that I never had trouble moving to a better deal.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

When I was a dumb kid in college and had my first card with MBNA, I thought I had a good deal with my 10.99% interest rate. However, one day I noticed that the rate had been jacked up to 18.99% for no good reason, since I had a perfect payment record. That's when I first learned about those "important amendments," small print, FICO scores, and forced arbitration, after I had accured a decent balance (for books, car for work and maintenance, etc.

It was a hard lesson that I have never forgot nor forgiven.