{"id":286948,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:53","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/bankruptcy\/debt-relief\/your-rights-under-the-credit-card-act.html"},"modified":"2025-08-14T08:51:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T13:51:48","slug":"your-rights-under-the-credit-card-act","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/debt-relief\/your-rights-under-the-credit-card-act.html","title":{"rendered":"Credit Card Rules and the CARD Act"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Credit Card Rules and the CARD Act<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Balrina Ahluwalia, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Jordan Walker, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (the CARD Act) is a federal law that aims\u00a0to make credit card company practices fairer and more transparent. Key rules require 45 days’ advance notice before most interest rate increases, monthly statements showing how long paying only the minimum will take, bills delivered at least 21 days before the due date, no late fees for on-time payments even when due dates fall on weekends or holidays, and clear disclosure of higher cash\u2011advance fees. If you’re struggling with your finances and credit card debt, the law also steers you to approved credit counseling resources.<\/i><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Personal finances can be challenging, especially if you’re dealing with medical bills,\u00a0student loans, or credit card debt. Federal laws like the CARD Act and the Bankruptcy Code protect borrowers and help them recover from financial hardship, but they can be confusing to navigate.<\/p>\n

In this article, we’ll demystify these laws and your rights under them. We’ll also answer commonly asked questions about the legal protections available to you.<\/p>\n

What Is the CARD Act?<\/h2>\n

Congress passed the CARD Act into law in 2009 amidst widespread concerns about\u00a0unfair and deceptive practices<\/a>\u00a0by credit card issuers that manage your accounts.<\/p>\n

The law is intended to protect you from confusing terms and unfair fees by requiring companies to be clearer about fees\/charges and ensuring\u00a0credit card users<\/a>\u00a0have more time to pay their bills. To that end, the CARD Act addresses concerns in several key areas. These include:<\/p>\n