Credit Card Reform: Priceless

On November 4, Congressman Bob Filner of the 51st District, an area covering south San Diego County, was one of 331 congressional representatives who voted in favor of the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act. The measure moves up the date that credit card reform is set to take place from the initial February 22 start date to immediately after President Barack Obama signs the bill into law.

In a November 6 press release, Filner says that if the date wasn't changed, credit card companies could potentially "take advantage of the implementation period" by increasing fees, interest rates, and hiking up minimum-payment amounts as a way to run up profits before the reform measure goes into effect.

"I commend my colleagues in Congress for recognizing the card companies' deceitful tactics and acting with speed to protect American consumers," says Filner.

According to Filner's press release, the legislation protects consumers against credit card companies’ "double-cycle billing and due-date gimmicks."

"The common-sense reforms in this bill will bring transparency and fairness to the credit card industry and will provide customers with the information they need to make smart financial decisions," reads the press release.

Filner uses the current recession as the main reason for the bill. Expediting the bill, according to Filner, will "level the playing field between consumers and credit card companies and provide much-needed financial relief to consumers."

Filner wasn't the only congressional delegate from San Diego County to vote for the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act. In fact, all congress members from the county voted in favor of the bill. However, representatives Brian Bilbray, Darrell Issa, and Duncan D. Hunter Jr. did vote for the Republican version of the bill, which was defeated, before supporting the Democrat's version of the bill.

To read Congressman Filner's entire press release, visit house.gov/filner/.