Consumer Advocate Bills.com Cautions Consumers to Remain Vigilant During Credit CARD Act Implementation

SAN MATEO, CA--(Marketwire - February 18, 2010) - As new regulations from the Credit CARD (Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure) Act take effect on February 22, 2010, many consumers are still curious about the net impact to their daily lives. Bills.com, the leading resource for free, personalized and expert money advice, today offered five suggestions to help consumers better prepare for the Credit CARD Act changes and avoid potential negative consequences.

"The CARD Act is a good thing in that it seeks to eliminate unfair practices and make the entire credit fee practice more transparent," said Brad Stroh, co-founder and CEO of Bills.com. "However, for many consumers it will likely mean more headaches in managing their credit card account, and at the end of the day these changes could actually lead to higher fees or reduced lines of credit."

There are many reports that credit card providers have already begun to raise their rates and fees in advance of the February 22, 2010 implementation date in order to avoid this additional oversight. A number of consumers have also seen credit lines decreased or accounts closed as part of providers' efforts to mitigate risk.

The best way to avoid these fees, reductions in credit, or elimination of accounts is to carefully monitor communications with a credit card provider and understand the implications of their changes as well as your actions. This means taking the time to read mailings and speak with representatives when appropriate.

"The days of tossing letters from your credit card company into the trash are over," observed Mr. Stroh. "These mailings will likely contain valuable information and offers that will demand your attention."

Fortunately, by evaluating these changes and enacting a careful system of responsible credit card management, consumers can minimize the chances of higher fees, reduced limits or closed accounts. Here then are five sensible credit card management tips:

1. Maintain prompt payment status with your credit card company. Demonstrating that you can responsibly meet your current credit obligations is the number one behavior that will impact your standing with the credit card company and your credit score. By missing or being late on a payment you will incur fees, potentially increase your interest rate, and lower your overall credit score.

2. Pay down high balances to improve credit card utilization. This will show that you can responsibly manage your credit limit, minimizing the chance of higher tiers of interest rates or reductions in credit limit. Additionally, better credit utilization will help boost your credit score.

3. Maintain activity on your credit card accounts. By using the revolving credit lines that you need or want to keep and promptly paying on them, you can help avoid cancellation of those credit card accounts. Additionally, some credit card companies are introducing inactivity fees. This behavior will avoid those fees and help boost your credit score, while having a long existing credit line closed could lower your score.

4. Avoid fees through responsible spending habits. Credit card providers will likely look to recoup revenue by charging fees for extra services. New regulations prohibit over limit provisions unless consumers opt-in to the service. Card providers could then charge consumers for this right. By remaining aware of credit limits and balances, consumers can avoid a need for these fees altogether.

5. New regulations do not apply to corporate or small business cards. This means some small business owners might consider using personal cards for business expenses because of fee and rate limitations. However, these owners should remain cautious because their personal credit scores could suffer in the event of missed payments or defaults.

"It is important to remember that these new regulations do not limit interest rates, they only make the communication with consumers more transparent," continued Mr. Stroh. "The best approach then to these changes is to be proactive and adjust personal behavior to avoid negative implications."

For more information about credit cards, the best ways to utilize your credit, and how to protect yourself from unexpected fees and increased rates, please visit the Bills.com Credit Card Resource Center.

About Bills.com

Bills.com is the leading resource for free and personalized money help. Founded by a group of financial experts dedicated to helping consumers save time, money and stress, Bills.com is designed to give consumers confidence in making money decisions. The site offers useful information, powerful tools, and real money experts to give consumers the information they need in the way that they want it.

Contact Information: Press Contact: Michael Azzano Cosmo PR 415/596-1978