Even as the subprime mortgage fallout continues its ripple effect across the economy, fiscal storm-watchers have an eye on the next gathering cloud: nearly $1 trillion of consumer credit card debt. Defaults are up; in November, the percentage of charge-offs — money card issuers give up on ever collecting — More…
Just off the phone with Travis Plunkett, the legislative director of the Consumer Federation of America, who points out an important advantage that the recent elections have lent to supporters of credit card reform legislation: The larger Democratic majority in the Senate next year means that the More…
Dissatisfied with the timing and sweep of new federal rules designed to protect credit card users from the banks that bill them, some well-placed Democrats are vowing to push stronger, more immediate reforms next year. With the banking industry already reeling from the economic downturn, however, the opposition to such More…
At creditslips.org, Bob Lawless raises the most reasonable question I’ve seen so far about Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s decision to shift the focus of the government bailout plan to consumers. In an attempt to get credit flowing again, Paulson wants to try to increase the availability of student More…
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