Friday, April 13, 2012

Banks Coopting the Consumer Protection Agency

According to the Credit Card Act, which took effect in February 2010, credit-card issuers cannot charge fees equal to more than 25% of the borrower’s credit limit in the first year after the account is opened. A question confronting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was whether up-front fees charged before the account is open count toward the limit. The new agency decided against subjecting such fees to the limit. The question is why.