Obama Springs to the Rescue, Signs Credit Card Bill

US News | Fri, May 22, 2009 at 8:06:01 pm PDT

Have no fear, your credit problems are over: Obama Signs Credit Card Bill.

(CBS/ AP)  President Barack Obama warned overeager shoppers and greedy credit card companies alike on Friday to act responsibly as he signed into law a bill designed to protect debt-ridden consumers from surprise charges.

The White House staged a signing ceremony in the Rose Garden, an indication of the legislation’s importance to Obama. Though opposed by many financial companies, the bill cleared Congress with broad support.

Well ... nine months from now, that is.

The new credit card rules, which would go into effect in nine months, would prohibit companies from giving cards to people under 21 unless they can prove they have the means to pay the debt or a parent or guardian co-signs for the card.

Under the bill, a customer would have to be more than 60 days behind on a payment before seeing a rate increase on an existing balance. Even then, the lender would be required to restore the previous, lower rate if the cardholder pays the minimum balance on time for six months.

Consumers also would have to receive 45 days’ notice and an explanation before their interest rates increased.