Remember the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (better known as the CARD Act)? The CARD Act made it more difficult for credit card companies to retroactively increase rates on existing balances or to impose large late fees, and it drastically curbed overlimit fees. The Act also sought to force credit card companies to better disclose their credit terms. Studies have found that the CARD Act has saved consumers money and reduced the cost of credit. The Act was enacted five years ago. In this article, Danielle Douglas reviews what she sees as its successes and shortcomings.
