Virtual Issues

The Californian company has grabbed the headlines, but fuel cells are already sparking a new era in energy

The Greener Gadgets design competition aims to inspire more eco-friendly consumer products – see the winners and shortlisted entries in our gallery

The Californian company has grabbed the headlines, but fuel cells are already sparking a new era in energy

Dams of ice that usually plug straits leading out of the Arctic Ocean are failing to form, letting sea ice escape to the Atlantic and Pacific

Even if there’s a “grand minimum” in the sun’s output over the next century, it won’t be enough to counter rising temperatures caused by humans

Bacteria in muddy ocean sediments may shuttle energy back and forth via a network of nanowires – a striking parallel with the movie Avatar

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act was signed into law May 22, 2009. The majority of the provisions are now active, with a few more to come in August. Here are three tips to keep in mind:

1. Be sure of what is and is not included under the “advanced notifications” provision. This requires that the credit card company give 45 days of advanced notification for significant changes. It applies to details such as finance charges and fees. That being, there are some loop holes. The law does not require companies to give 45 days notice for a credit decrease – it is up to the consumer to watch their limit from month to month.

2. Most existing balances are now protected against rate hikes. But remember: if you miss the due date by two months or more your APR can increase. The same holds true if you owe a balance after a promotional period comes to an end.

3. Permission for exceeding your credit limit. The CARD Act states that a purchase exceeding your credit limit cannot result in any fee. There is an exception, though. You will have the ability to opt-in to allow overlimit transactions. In this case you will be informed of the fee, and will then be responsible for making sure you don’t spend too much.

As you can see, the CARD Act has changed the credit card industry forever. As a consumer you are affected in many ways. The three tips above should help you better understand what you are up against.

EIR News Service press release.

EIR News Service press release.

EIR News Service press release.