http://www.themiddleclass.org/taxonomy/term/130 The taxonomy view with a depth of 0. en http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/credit-cardholders%E2%80%99-bill-rights-act-2008 <div class="field field-type-legislation field-field-legislation"> <h3 class="field-label">Legislation</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-number-integer field-field-position"> <h3 class="field-label">The middle class</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-video-cck field-field-video-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Video Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><object height="185" width="223"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tHgiUjFKu9o"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tHgiUjFKu9o&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="185" width="223"></object></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-injustice-facts"> <h3 class="field-label">Injustice Facts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><p>Total revolving debt – mostly made up by credit cards – in 2003: <strong><a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G19/hist/cc_hist_r.html">$560 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Total revolving debt in June of 2008: <strong><a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G19/Current/">$966 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Number of mailed credit card offerings in 1990: <strong><a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_house_hearings&amp;docid=f:42721.pdf">1.1 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Number of mailed credit card offerings in 2005: <strong><a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_house_hearings&amp;docid=f:42721.pdf">6.06 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Amount of fees charged to credit card customers in 2002: <strong><a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_house_hearings&amp;docid=f:42721.pdf">$10.7 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Amount of fees charged to credit card customers in 2007: <strong><a href="http://www.cardtrak.com/news/2008/01/18/card_fees">$33 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Percentage increase in late fees from 1995 to 2005, adjusted for inflation, according to the Government Accountability Office: <strong><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06929.pdf">115%</a></strong></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Overview/Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-middle-class-position-ana"> <h3 class="field-label">Middle Class Position Analysis</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><p>Many middle-class Americans rely on credit cards to meet daily expenses. Revolving debt – which mostly stems from credit cards – has increased 25% since 2003. 80% of U.S. households have at least one credit card and 55% of households carried an outstanding balance in 2006 . At the same time, middle-class households are constantly bombarded with misleading credit card offers even when they cannot afford to take on additional debt. But since credit is increasingly necessary to fund a middle-class standard of living, credit card companies have been able to take advantage of their customers. Consumers have been slapped with excessive and obscure fees and interest charges that, if they are explained at all, are described in small text and confusing language. It is now common practice for credit card companies to apply finance charges twice in a billing cycle (double-cycle billing); to charge multiple over-the-limit fees; and to apply payments on balances with multiple interest rates to the balance with the lowest rate, all practices banned or restricted under this bill.The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Right ends the most insidious practices employed by credit card companies, protecting consumers from practices that can keep them mired in credit card debt despite their best efforts to dig themselves out.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog-header"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Header</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item">The Discussion on DMIBlog</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-quotes"> <h3 class="field-label">Quotes from Experts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Text</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-beyond"> <h3 class="field-label">Beyond this Bill</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-link field-field-related-blog-link"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Link</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><a href="http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2008/09/post_51.html" target="_blank">House Passes Legislation to Protect Credit Cardholders</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-additional-resources"> <h3 class="field-label">Additional Resources</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><p><a href="http://www.uspirg.org/financial-privacy-security/the-truth-about-credit">“Reining In Credit Card Abuses,”</a> from U.S. PIRG</p> <p><a href="http://www.consumer-action.org/news/articles/2008_credit_card_survey/">2008 Credit Card Survey</a>, from Consumer Action</p> <p><a href="http://www.citizen.org/publications/release.cfm?ID=7545&amp;secID=1052&amp;catID=126">“The Arbitration Trap: How Credit Card Companies Ensnare Consumers,”</a> from Public Citizen</p> </div> </div> </div> Consumers Credit cards Debt &amp; Bankruptcy Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:11:17 -0400 hmoroz 167 at http://www.themiddleclass.org http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/credit-cardholders%E2%80%99-bill-rights-act-2008 <div class="field field-type-legislation field-field-legislation"> <h3 class="field-label">Legislation</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-number-integer field-field-position"> <h3 class="field-label">The middle class</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-video-cck field-field-video-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Video Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><object height="185" width="223"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tHgiUjFKu9o"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tHgiUjFKu9o&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="185" width="223"></object></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-injustice-facts"> <h3 class="field-label">Injustice Facts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><p>Total revolving debt – mostly made up by credit cards – in 2003: <strong><a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G19/hist/cc_hist_r.html">$560 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Total revolving debt in June of 2008: <strong><a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G19/Current/">$966 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Number of mailed credit card offerings in 1990: <strong><a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_house_hearings&amp;docid=f:42721.pdf">1.1 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Number of mailed credit card offerings in 2005: <strong><a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_house_hearings&amp;docid=f:42721.pdf">6.06 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Amount of fees charged to credit card customers in 2002: <strong><a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_house_hearings&amp;docid=f:42721.pdf">$10.7 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Amount of fees charged to credit card customers in 2007: <strong><a href="http://www.cardtrak.com/news/2008/01/18/card_fees">$33 billion</a></strong></p> <p>Percentage increase in late fees from 1995 to 2005, adjusted for inflation, according to the Government Accountability Office: <strong><a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06929.pdf">115%</a></strong></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Overview/Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-middle-class-position-ana"> <h3 class="field-label">Middle Class Position Analysis</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><p>Many middle-class Americans rely on credit cards to meet daily expenses. Revolving debt – which mostly stems from credit cards – has increased 25% since 2003. 80% of U.S. households have at least one credit card and 55% of households carried an outstanding balance in 2006 . At the same time, middle-class households are constantly bombarded with misleading credit card offers even when they cannot afford to take on additional debt. But since credit is increasingly necessary to fund a middle-class standard of living, credit card companies have been able to take advantage of their customers. Consumers have been slapped with excessive and obscure fees and interest charges that, if they are explained at all, are described in small text and confusing language. It is now common practice for credit card companies to apply finance charges twice in a billing cycle (double-cycle billing); to charge multiple over-the-limit fees; and to apply payments on balances with multiple interest rates to the balance with the lowest rate, all practices banned or restricted under this bill.The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Right ends the most insidious practices employed by credit card companies, protecting consumers from practices that can keep them mired in credit card debt despite their best efforts to dig themselves out.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog-header"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Header</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item">The Discussion on DMIBlog</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-quotes"> <h3 class="field-label">Quotes from Experts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Text</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-beyond"> <h3 class="field-label">Beyond this Bill</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-link field-field-related-blog-link"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Link</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><a href="http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2008/09/post_51.html" target="_blank">House Passes Legislation to Protect Credit Cardholders</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-additional-resources"> <h3 class="field-label">Additional Resources</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"><p><a href="http://www.uspirg.org/financial-privacy-security/the-truth-about-credit">“Reining In Credit Card Abuses,”</a> from U.S. PIRG</p> <p><a href="http://www.consumer-action.org/news/articles/2008_credit_card_survey/">2008 Credit Card Survey</a>, from Consumer Action</p> <p><a href="http://www.citizen.org/publications/release.cfm?ID=7545&amp;secID=1052&amp;catID=126">“The Arbitration Trap: How Credit Card Companies Ensnare Consumers,”</a> from Public Citizen</p> </div> </div> </div> Consumers Credit cards Debt &amp; Bankruptcy Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:11:17 -0400 hmoroz 167 at http://www.themiddleclass.org http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/credit-card-accountability-responsibility-and-disclosure-act-2007 <div class="field field-type-legislation field-field-legislation"> <h3 class="field-label">Legislation</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-number-integer field-field-position"> <h3 class="field-label">The middle class</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-video-cck field-field-video-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Video Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-injustice-facts"> <h3 class="field-label">Injustice Facts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Overview/Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-middle-class-position-ana"> <h3 class="field-label">Middle Class Position Analysis</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog-header"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Header</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item">The Discussion on DMIBlog</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-quotes"> <h3 class="field-label">Quotes from Experts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Text</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-beyond"> <h3 class="field-label">Beyond this Bill</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-link field-field-related-blog-link"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Link</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-additional-resources"> <h3 class="field-label">Additional Resources</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> Consumers Credit cards Debt &amp; Bankruptcy Financial literacy Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:54:27 -0500 hmoroz 99 at http://www.themiddleclass.org http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/credit-card-accountability-responsibility-and-disclosure-act-2007 <div class="field field-type-legislation field-field-legislation"> <h3 class="field-label">Legislation</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-number-integer field-field-position"> <h3 class="field-label">The middle class</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-video-cck field-field-video-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Video Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-injustice-facts"> <h3 class="field-label">Injustice Facts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Overview/Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-middle-class-position-ana"> <h3 class="field-label">Middle Class Position Analysis</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog-header"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Header</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item">The Discussion on DMIBlog</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-quotes"> <h3 class="field-label">Quotes from Experts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Text</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-beyond"> <h3 class="field-label">Beyond this Bill</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-link field-field-related-blog-link"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Link</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-additional-resources"> <h3 class="field-label">Additional Resources</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> Consumers Credit cards Debt &amp; Bankruptcy Financial literacy Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:54:27 -0500 hmoroz 99 at http://www.themiddleclass.org http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/stop-unfair-practices-credit-cards-act-2007 <div class="field field-type-legislation field-field-legislation"> <h3 class="field-label">Legislation</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-number-integer field-field-position"> <h3 class="field-label">The middle class</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-video-cck field-field-video-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Video Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-injustice-facts"> <h3 class="field-label">Injustice Facts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Overview/Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-middle-class-position-ana"> <h3 class="field-label">Middle Class Position Analysis</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog-header"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Header</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item">The Discussion on DMIBlog</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-quotes"> <h3 class="field-label">Quotes from Experts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Text</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-beyond"> <h3 class="field-label">Beyond this Bill</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-link field-field-related-blog-link"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Link</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-additional-resources"> <h3 class="field-label">Additional Resources</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> Consumers Credit cards Debt &amp; Bankruptcy Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:49:31 -0500 hmoroz 98 at http://www.themiddleclass.org http://www.themiddleclass.org/bill/stop-unfair-practices-credit-cards-act-2007 <div class="field field-type-legislation field-field-legislation"> <h3 class="field-label">Legislation</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-number-integer field-field-position"> <h3 class="field-label">The middle class</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-video-cck field-field-video-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Video Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-injustice-facts"> <h3 class="field-label">Injustice Facts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-summary"> <h3 class="field-label">Overview/Summary</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-middle-class-position-ana"> <h3 class="field-label">Middle Class Position Analysis</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog-header"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Header</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item">The Discussion on DMIBlog</div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-quotes"> <h3 class="field-label">Quotes from Experts</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-related-blog"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Text</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-beyond"> <h3 class="field-label">Beyond this Bill</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-link field-field-related-blog-link"> <h3 class="field-label">Related Blog: Link</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-additional-resources"> <h3 class="field-label">Additional Resources</h3> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item"></div> </div> </div> Consumers Credit cards Debt &amp; Bankruptcy Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:49:31 -0500 hmoroz 98 at http://www.themiddleclass.org