Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (2024)

TheCredit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009(also known as theCredit CARD Act of 2009) is a federalstatutethat was enacted by the 111th Congress and signed into law by President Obama on May 22, 2009, to amend theTruth in Lending Act.

The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 is aconsumer protection lawthat was enacted to protect consumers from unfair practices by credit cardissuersby requiring more transparency in credit card terms & conditions and adding limits to charges and interest rates associated with credit card use.

A large part of the Credit CARD Act of 2009 is designed to encourage the flow of information to allow consumers to make more informed choices. For example, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to inform consumers on every statement how long it would take to pay off their debt if they only made the minimum payment. Additionally, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to inform consumers on how they can access their annual credit report.

Prior to the enactment of the CARD Act, credit card companies were free to raiseinterestrates prospectively on future purchases as well as retroactively on existing balances without notifying borrowers in advance. Under the CARD Act of 2009, credit card issuers must generally wait until an account is at least one year old before raising interest rates and must give notice to the cardholder 45 days before making such an increase, during which the cardholder is free to cancel the account.

Additionally, the CARD Act restricts card issuers from charging interest on balances outside of the most recent billing period, as had previously been the practice of some card issuers. This practice led to some consumers paying interest on balances they had already paid off. Furthermore, the CARD Act requires that all consumerfeesbe “reasonable and proportional” by adding limits to late fees, annual fees, monthly fees, activation fees, and set-up fees and changing the way companies charge over-limit fees.

The CARD Act also introduced rules for young adults seeking to open credit card accounts by setting a general minimum age requirement to open a credit card without a cosigner - to the age of 21 - subject to exceptions for young adults who prove they are independently able to repay their credit carddebt.

[Last updated in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (2024)

FAQs

What is the credit card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 ______? ›

The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 is a consumer protection law that was enacted to protect consumers from unfair practices by credit card issuers by requiring more transparency in credit card terms & conditions and adding limits to charges and interest rates associated with credit ...

What problem was the Credit Card Act trying to solve? ›

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 was intended to prevent practices in the credit card industry that lawmakers viewed as deceptive and abusive. Among other changes, the Act restricted issuers' account closure policies, eliminated certain fees, and made it more difficult for issuers to change terms on credit card plans.

Is the Credit Card Act of 2009 still in effect? ›

Card Issuers Can Still Raise Your Interest Rate

The CARD Act of 2009 initiated limitations on interest rate increases. But there are still plenty of opportunities for card issuers to raise your rates.

What are the three specific changes made by the Credit Card Act of 2009? ›

This Act (a) amends the Truth in Lending Act to prescribe open-end credit lending procedures and enhanced disclosures to consumers, limit related fees and charges to consumers, increase related penalties, and establish constraints and protections for issuance of credit cards to minors and students (numerous sections); ...

What is the major purpose of the credit card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act? ›

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 seeks to curtail deceptive and abusive practices by credit card issuers. The CARD Act mandates consistency and clarity in terminology and terms across credit card issuers.

What does the Credit Card Act of 2009 ban? ›

Credit card companies cannot "trap" consumers by setting payment deadlines on the weekend or in the middle of the day, or changing their payment deadlines each month. Creditors may not charge late fees if debtor shows proof of payment by close of business on the due date.

What is one potential problem that the Credit Card Act of 2009 does not address? ›

Maximum interest rates: The CARD Act doesn't limit the maximum APR that credit cards can charge. However, state and other federal laws may apply, such as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which limits card issuers from charging active-duty service members an interest rate over 6% on their pre-service debt.

What new restrictions did the Credit Card Act of 2009 impose? ›

The CARD Act adds to the Federal Reserve's rules, for example, by requiring 60 days' delinquency rather than 30 days' for imposition of penalty rates, mandating that all excess payments be allocated to the highest interest rate rather than permitting a pro rata option, and reducing the percent of the initial credit ...

Which of the following is not true about the Credit Card Act of 2009? ›

The answer is d. No impact on consumer credit scores. The Credit Card Act of 2009 did not have any direct impact on consumer credit scores. This legislation primarily focused on addressing deceptive practices by credit card companies and providing more protections for consumers.

What are the new credit card laws for 2024? ›

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Releases Final Rule on Credit Card Late Fees, with Overdraft Fees on Deck. On March 5, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) announced the final rule governing late fees for consumer credit card payments, likely cutting the average fee from $32 to just $8.

What did the Credit CARD Act of 2009 do for college students? ›

The passage of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 restricted the marketing of credit cards on college campuses which has, in recent years, guided students away from obtaining them but has not explicitly prohibited their usage.

What are the violations of the Card Act? ›

Credit Card Act Violations

Common complaints are billing, advertising, fees, interest rates, rewards and collection problems. Each complaint is assigned a tracking number. The CFPB investigates the complaint to determine if laws were violated and action is needed.

What act protects consumers from unfair billing practices? ›

The Fair Credit Billing Act is a 1974 federal law enacted to protect consumers from unfair credit billing practices.

What are two laws protections you have as a credit card user? ›

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prevents creditors from discriminating against individuals. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act established rules for debt collectors. The Electronic Fund Transfer Act protects consumer finances during electronic payments.

What are the three C's of credit cards? ›

The factors that determine your credit score are called The Three C's of Credit – Character, Capital and Capacity.

What is the credit card act of 2009 Quizlet? ›

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD ) Act of 2009 is a national law that strengthens consumer protection for those who use credit cards by: Banning Unfair Rate Increases. Limiting Certain Fees. Requiring Plain Sight/Plain Language. Disclosures.

How the consumer credit protection act ccpa and the credit card accountability responsibility and disclosure act CARD Act protect and help consumers? ›

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (Credit CARD Act) says credit card companies cannot increase the rate on an existing balance and must give you 45-day notice before increasing the rate on any new balances. The Credit CARD Act limits fees and rate increases.

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