It is still possible to get credit today even if you’re in a terrible financial mess. However, be prepared to shoulder the cost of it. Despite sweeping reforms in the credit card law that are designed to stop banks from plunging borrowers deeper in debt, banks are still lending with devastating terms.

Consider the interest rate charged on some subprime credit cards: 59.9 percent. This is unfair and unrealistic whichever way you look at it. There are also an array of cards and loans available from prepaid cards to payday loans, which comes with a very high rate.

Bank’s Point of View

Financial institutions reason that the high interest rates and fees they charge are prerequisites of the business. This is because they are taking the risk that borrowers will default on the loan. They reason out that putting a cap on their interest rate will put them out of business. And even put consumers who need money most with no recourse than to rely on public services.

Nevertheless, President Obama and advocacy groups want better consumer protection. The President is pushing for a consumer protection agency that will oversee how financial products are handled. Right now though, its future is uncertain and negotiations are still underway for a more sweeping reform.

Worse Options?

Kathleen Day from the Center of Responsible Lending said that, “It’s in nobody’s interest to lend people money they can’t afford to repay.” That’s probably why about a quarter of households are not associated with any bank. Even if they are, many rely on alternative services such as payday loans, prepaid cards, or subprime credit cards.

As opposed to McDonald’s 14,000 branches, there are about 22,000 payday loan branches around the United States. This presence highlights the fact that many consumers are in a pinch. Around 19 million people took advantage of their services last year because it is a quick way to get cash. Basically, you just need to give the lender a postdated check of the loan amount plus the fee. Payday lenders usually ask for $15 or more for $100 borrowed.

On the surface, it is easy to understand the fee. But when you look closely, the average fee on the $100 loan translates to an interest of 391 percent in an annualized rate. While some states have banned payday lending, others worry that this may choke off an important source of money for cash-strapped individuals.

When the Credit Card Act of 2009 was introduced, the consumers hoped that this will be the end of abusive practices. But with credit card companies the way they are, it seems like clients were too optimistic. Today, consumers should only look at their latest credit card statements to know that they’ve been had, again. Bank and other card issuers have created new ways to collect millions from users. They have also expanded the fees and coverage to squeeze every penny from credit card users.

According to Joshua Frank from the Center for Responsible Lending, “Credit card issuers are going to more than ever try to find ways to make extra profits”. A lot of changes were made in the way charges were calculated. All this resulted to a burgeoning balance in the cardholder’s account. Meanwhile, other abusive practices were also put into place even before the Act was passed as a result of the recession. If there’s one ting they have in common, it’s that none are “explicitly prohibited by the Credit Card Act.”

Changes to be Aware Of:

Hidden Rate Adjustments

Cardholders with fixed-rate card need not worry. But variable rate cardholders, which majority of the market is comprised of, should be cautious. Previously, the charges were pretty straightforward. Card issuers will choose the highest prime rate in the current cycle as the starting point. Now, they have changed the terms so they can select the highest rate in a 90-day cycle. This will cost cardholders $720 million per year.

New Fees and Expanded Charges

Rate changes are not the only tricks that interests credit card companies. They also found a loophole in charging penalty fees. Some of these so-called “penalty” fees are so extreme, it looks silly. Except that you won’t be laughing when you’re the one hit with these charges. Some of the fees you need to look into carefully these days include the late fee, minimum finance charge, inactivity fee, and cash advance fee.

Just when you thought things cannot get worse, it did. Millions of Americans who are already struggling with the economic downturn and credit card debt have received notice that their credit card companies are raising interest rates – just in time for the holiday season. Many have seen their rates doubling, some even tripling. Cash-strapped individuals are looking at more debts ahead.

The situation is worse for certain individuals. Those who are used to longtime fixed rate will see their interest rates soar to double-digits because of the shift to variable rates. Most of the activities such as giving consumers lower credit limit, interest rate hikes, and the increase in minimum monthly due are tied to the new federal policies set to start in late February. These measures will hinder banks from continuing their predatory practices.

As a result, the trend these days pose very little options to the ordinary consumers. According to customer surveys, consumers are now faced with unpleasant alternatives ranging from closing accounts to accepting tight credit terms. Rasmussen Reports conducted a survey which also revealed that around 50 percent of its respondents experienced rate hikes in the last six months.

At a time when banks are seen as the villain, these measures are greeted with censure. The legislative director of Consumer Federation of America said that “It seems like they’re hurting the customers they need the most.” Right now, the industry has already lost the trust of clients but they are still coming up with tricks to milk more money from struggling clients.

One method that was uncovered includes making notices of interest-rate hikes look like junk mail. Their purpose is to encourage consumers to throw these letters out without reading them. Everyone is affected by the current trend – whether you have a poor credit rating or the highest.

When it comes to money, no one can make all the right decisions all the time. Most people have done things they later regretted, especially when it comes to credit card debt. It may be a simple thing like getting charged $3 for withdrawing cash from an out-of-network ATM machine or a big mistake like maxing out your cash advance option without any apparent means to pay for it.

Some mistakes are easily resolved while others take years to sort out. Whatever the case, blunders happen when it comes to money management. The important thing is to understand the severity of the transgression. So in this article, we will score common mistakes on a scale of 1 to 10 based on its impact on your finances:

Paying Past Due Date: 5.5

Credit card issuers are never happy with late payers. Because of this, they have severe penalty charges and charge high interest payments for individuals who pay past the due date. In addition, some issuers even report your transgression to the credit bureaus so your credit score will suffer as well. If you’ve been an on-time payer in the past, some companies may let it slide. Just make sure to call them and ask them to waive the interest fee as well.

Paying the Minimum: 5

Generally, credit card companies earn the most from slow payers. Paying only the minimum might not affect your credit score but you might end up paying more on the interest than the principal. This is not a good practice because it keeps you in debt for a lengthier timeframe.

Missing a Payment: 9

This is one of the worst mistakes you can commit if you have a credit card. You will be slammed with high interest rates, penalty fees, and other charges. As if that’s not bad enough, your credit score will also take a huge hit. Because of this, you will need to pay more when you take out a loan next time. In essence, missing a payment is a no-no. Pay the minimum at the very least.