Obama Targets Credit Card Industry

(AP)  Democrat Barack Obama called for new restrictions on "predatory" credit card companies he says deceive consumers into piling up massive debt they have little hope of repaying.

"The truth is, our middle-class families are not going to be secure so long as they can't get out of debt," Obama said Monday, sharpening the populist rhetoric of his presidential campaign. "If we're serious about stopping Americans from falling deeper in debt, we've got to crack down on predatory credit card companies that are pushing them over the edge."

Obama pointed to studies showing that consumers have an average personal debt of more than $8,000, a load driven higher by credit cards. He said soaring credit card debt could turn into a crisis as big as the one in the subprime mortgage industry.

"The larger risk is that what's happening in the housing market could lead to a slowdown in the entire economy," he said.

The Illinois senator made his comments in a statement and in a discussion with debt counselors and consumers who have struggled with credit card debt.

Obama's "credit card bill of rights" would force credit card companies to give consumers the option of dropping out of an agreement if the companies raise interest rates. It would ban increasing rates on past debts and prohibit charging interest rates on transaction fees. He would also force additional disclosures by credit card issuers of terms of the agreement.

"I've seen many Americans who have been driven into financial ruin as a result of all of this," said Obama.

He spoke as he opened his latest campaign swing in the state where precinct caucuses traditionally launch the presidential nominating season, and where polls find him in a dead heat with Hillary Rodham Clinton. Both have portrayed themselves as champion of the middle class.

Obama did so again by accusing credit card companies of deceptions.

"Many credit card companies are tricking Americans into agreements they can't afford because that's how they make big profits," he said. "Well, no company's bottom line should come before what's right for the American people."

He said many consumers are squeezed twice, with credit card debt forcing them into bankruptcy, where the odds are also stacked against them.

Obama also spoke of his opposition to an overhaul of bankruptcy laws that he said protects credit card companies more than consumers.

"Every American has a responsibility to pay what they owe, but we need to make sure that what they're paying is fair, and we've got to do more for those Americans who aren't able to climb out of debt and actually have to declare bankruptcy," he said, promising reform of bankruptcy laws if elected president. He said he opposed a 2005 bankruptcy bill because it protected lenders while "preventing middle-class Americans from getting back on their feet after a crisis - even if they've suffered an illness."

He said much credit card debt comes from consumers who have been forced to use credit cards to pay for medical costs.

[jankebenz]

What it all essentially boils down to is lenders capitalizing on consumer got to have that attitude, and greed. The average north american household is heavily indebted to credit companies for mostly non essential commodities ie bigger tv,s, fashions trend keeping,fancier cell phones,I pods , ect. ect. ect. In an earlier report it was stated that Americans owe the card companies almost a trillion dollars! astounding stupitity to be enslaved to credit companies for mostly garbage that you really don''t need. People that allow themselves to get into unmanagable debt have no one to blame but themselves

[denn034]

High credit card rates during a time of high prices is unconscionable and reprehensible and Obama is right to oppose it. Call this one of Obama''s fleeting moments of rationality.

[candide777]

I hope he will take on the banks as vice president. The banks in this country are way out of control. They illegally tack on fees to every transaction we are involved in, not because they earn them, not because they are legitimate, but simply because they can. It really should stop.

[alphaa10-2009]

sonart37 said, "Anyone ever hear of personal responsibility?"
---
Have you? You should understand why credit card companies richly deserve the scrutiny they get from Americans and their congress-- ie. management of credit card companies has a responsibility which it clearly is content-- in too many cases-- to ignore.

After the 2005 lending law was changed to benefit the credit card lenders, they went beserk and became more, nor less, abusive of their customers. Lord Acton said it best-- "Absolute power corrupts..."

Are we puzzled? This is not even a remote match with the pious propaganda about the marketplace GOP bozos like to spin in moments of doubt.

In fact, Bush capitalism is a failure-- not the machine he promised would produce more wealth for more people. The erosion of the American middle class continues, and for most Americans saddled with increased medical and other debt, Bush capitalism is another empty promise-- if not a lie-- and no gateway to prosperity. With Bush subsidies to even Big Oil in a time of obscene oil profits, Bush crony capitalism says, "Consumer be damned!"

A stickup in broad daylight is robbery, nonetheless.

[aggiekat2004]

You know...everyone SHOULD pay what they owe. But when the credit card companies are tacking on $35 late fees, $35 over the limit fees, and charging 31.74% interest...it''s simply not fair, and can turn a difficult situation into an unrecoverable situation very quickly.

At one point when I went back to school I was very delinquent on a credit card. I had lost my high-tech job, and the only option for me was to re-train for a job in a different industry and go back to school.

After missing a couple of payments on a card I was spiraling downward and COULD NOT get my account back current because of the fees. Eventually most of that debt was interest, late fees, and over the limit fees (that happened when the late fees put me over).

I settled the account with the collection agency, but the worst part is that the IRS now counts it as income. So I was responsible not only for what I charged, but all of the other fees as well.

I can only imagine the problems that people are going to start having with the current housing/credit crisis. The credit card companies will only compound the problem. I truly believe that the US has major issues centering around the criminal practices of the credit card industry.

[aggiekat2004]

Yeah...I ran into this one with Capital One. I was a college student who had just graduated, and I applied for a card with them, and they approved me for a $3000 limit...but not immediately online. It took them 10 days to approve me, BUT DID. They sent me the card with a congratulatory letter telling me how much they valued me as a customer.

However, I sat on the card for a few weeks, because I had decided to only use it in case of emergency. Meanwhile, I had NO CONTACT from Capital One.

The one night, I was preparing for a job interview the next morning and went to find a suit. I was trying to put about $1100 on the card, and my purchase was rejected. They told me I was above the limit. I called into Capital One, and after being transferred many times, and talking to people in foreign countries, I was told it was a mistake that THEY GUARANTEED THEY WOULD FIX, and that I would "walk out of that store with my clothing" that night. I got disconnected. Nobody there would help. I was very embarrassed, and insisted to the salesgirl that I had a $3000 limit.

I found out a few days later that CAPITAL ONE MADE A MISTAKE AND ISSUED 10,000 CREDIT CARDS WITH A $3000 LIMIT. They simply took it away with no warning to consumers. I never did receive a letter, nor an apology.

[valendug]

Like some goofy half black wannabe president is going to worry about credit card issues? He must really be hard up to stoop this low.

[ianlou]

I think you can get a loan with clearer terms and, in the end, a cheaper rate from Tony "The Nose" Pasta than you can from today''s credit card industry.

Want to drive the credit card companies nuts? -
Don''t own one; you can heat your home by burning the credit card offer junk mail they will send you to change your mind.

[sonart]

Anyone ever hear of personal responsibility?

[sonart]

Anyone ever hear of personal responsibility?