Let's Help Obama End Credit Card Ripoffs TODAY

The banks took billions in taxpayer bailouts, then turned on their own customers - hiking interest rates on credit card balances, changing fixed rates to variable, adding new card fees, reducing good customers' credit limits.

President Obama wants to do something about it, but some recalcitrant Senators may not vote with him.

https://secure.consumersunion.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2103">Tell your own Senators right now to vote "YES" for S. 414, the credit card reform bill.

S. 414 could go to the Senate floor for a vote NEXT WEEK, but it will be a tough fight. The bill passed the Senate Banking Committee by only a one-vote margin. And the bank lobby is swarming Washington to get both Democrats and Republicans to vote against this good bill.

What will S. 414 do? It will give you the credit card deal you signed up for. No retroactive rate increases on your existing balance. A more fair method of applying your payments to high-interest debt, not just to the lowest-interest balance. And it will curb aggressive marketing of credit to youth.

These are common-sense changes, but the banks say they will harm consumers. We don't buy it! And your Senators shouldn't either.

Your quick message to your Senators right now could swing this vote!

Congress hasn't passed a pro-consumer bill on credit cards in decades! This is a huge moment for all of us. So once you send your own quick message, forward this on to friends and family so they can take action too.

Sincerely,

Kathy Mitchell
Consumers Union Action Fund, Inc.
506 W. 14th Street, Suite A
Austin, TX 78701

But in the end they will listen to the demands of their real constituents, the credit card lobby.

Use this toll free number to be connected directly with your Senators' offices. They have staff on hand to listen to you.

1-800-944-6762

Here are some points you might want to make in your call:

* I am a constituent of the Senator’s, and I want him/her to commit to supporting the credit card reform bill, S. 414, the Credit CARD Act.
* We can’t wait any longer for relief from the banks’ abusive credit card tactics. Please vote for S. 414 now.
* This bill will stop the abusive practice of hiking interest rates on good customers’ balances for no reason. I didn’t agree to excessive and unfair fees and interest rate hikes to generate income for my bank.
* This bill will allow my payments to go toward high-interest debt first, so I can more quickly pay off my balance without huge amounts in unnecessary interest.
* This bill will stop outrageous fees, such as making my payments on the Internet.
* This bill will curb aggressive marketing of credit to those under 21.
* This bill will make sure I can use gift cards before they expire and are lost to fees.
* None of these changes will prevent me from getting access to credit, as the banks claim, but instead they will bring fairness and stability to the credit card market. I support S. 414 (Dodd).

have much influence....I know they don't care what their constituents think.

...we pay their *^@%^#!@%(* salaries with our taxes. We have a right to make them hear us - whether they do what we want or not. I'm beginning to think 'we the people' just need to make insufferable PESTS of ourselves. Heck, we PAY for the privilege - may as well use it.

we can. It's very discouraging though when we receive the always inane static responses! But, we won't stop!