Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) backs CARD Act at a press conference today with Senator Dodd. (0:32)

 

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Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, introduced legislation to improve credit card billing, marketing and disclosure regulations and practices today at a press conference. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (C.A.R.D.), is set to strengthen industry regulation and supervision, prevent increases in interest rates and terms, and prohibit exorbitant and unnecessary rates and fees, among other things.

Upon becoming chairman, Dodd put credit card companies “on notice” in 2007 and with this legislation is hoping to create “fairness and transparency for consumers.” Last year 700 million credit cards were given out that allocated about $9,000 of debt per household, due to, as Dodd said,“mostly excessive fees and exorbitant interest rates.” (more…)