Credit card rules changes make sense

By the Journal Editorial Board | Wednesday, December 24, 2008

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Some credit card providers are crying foul over proposed rules changes designed to protect consumers but it looks like those companies will have to buck up and get ready to change.

It appears there’s ample support for credit card rules changes that would give card users some protection from practices that result in higher fees and missed payments.

The rules changes, proposed by the Federal Reserve and other  regulatory agencies, would protect consumers from certain interest rate increases, give users more notice of changes in terms and they would also change existing practices in assessing penalty fees, late charges and interest payments.

The changes make sense to protect credit card users from exorbitant, possibly hidden fees card users have been conditioned to accept for the past several years.

Fairer practices make sense as a rule, of course. But in today’s uncertain economy fairer practices should be considered tantamount to a successful economic recovery.

Why would we, as a country,   decide credit card users shouldn’t be given a plate of fair practices (not a handout) to manage credit card debt when so many other hands are out for a free lunch?

Some think the regulation goes too far. Already, Gov. Mike Rounds and Sen. John Thune have raised the alarm and met with regulators. Rounds said the rules changes —   primarily the one that restricts how a company can charge fees — could cost jobs at South Dakota’s Premier Bankcard.

Sen. Tim Johnson, who sits on the Senate banking committee, said through his spokeswoman he’s concerned about unfair practices but is concerned the rules are balanced and fair.

In South Dakota, there has been a clear indication from Gov. Rounds that the “helping people” portion of the state budget won’t be trimmed. Realize that those same people need help with credit card rules; let’s not forget that.

The days of nonchalant spending based on easy credit are over, for the foreseeable future at least. In the meantime, credit card companies will have to run a business based on more consumer friendly practices — and we hope the practices continue even after the economy recovers.

We also hope credit card users show some common sense in spending and change the “buy now, pay later” patterns many have resorted to in the past.

The Federal Reserve Board is expected to vote on the changes in the next week but don’t expect any relief this year.

Credit card companies may have up to a year to implement the changes, if approved by the board. Let’s hope they are.