Bradenton Sarasota Drigg

Even as regulators crack down on abusive mortgage and credit card practices, another type of lending threatens to mire consumers in a credit trap with "courtesy overdraft".

The ink has barely dried on credit card reform signed by President Obama in May, and already, issuers are raising prices again.

CLEVELAND -- American consumers used to rely too much on credit cards. Now those habits are changing, mostly because the way credit card companies do business. In the meantime, credit card companies are changing their rates and fees to make up for revenue lost.

The new rules go into effect February 22, and will ban what some say are unfair practices used by credit card companies on consumers.

When banks start closing accounts your credit score can suffer, some consumers have seen banks lower their credit limits as well.

In the most sweeping changes to the credit card industry in 40 years, President Obama is expected to sign a bill Friday to restrict practices that consumers say have pushed them deeper into debt.

Credit card fraud costs consumers millions of dollars every year. While you may be doing everything you can to protect your credit, what are stores doing?

Having excellent credit won't save you if your credit card company decides to raise rates. But you may be able to get the rate hike reversed.

The Better Business Bureau heard from so many consumers last year who claim the offers cost them credit and debit card charges that they put out an alert for 2010.