5 Credit-Card Pitfalls Everyone Should Know About

Updated on November 14, 2008. 

THESE DAYS, WHEN a butterfly flaps its wings, a U.S. credit-card issuer raises the annual percentage rate on a consumer's credit card.

At least that's what it seems like, especially based on the findings of the 2008 Credit Card Survey from nonprofit consumer advocate Consumer Action. Of the 22 credit-card issuers surveyed, 17 (including the 10 biggest card issuers) said their policies allow them to increase a consumer's annual percentage rate or change their terms at any time and for any reason.

Thanks to the credit crunch and a growing number of defaults, card issuers are coming down hard on borrowers. Now, even those with a stellar credit score and a solid history of paying their balance on time and in full each month aren't safe. "It could be called abusive, really," says Linda Sherry, a spokeswoman for Consumer Action. "[Consumers] think the issuer can't change the rate on you unless you do something really terrible. But that's not true in the world of credit cards."

Here are five of the latest credit-card pitfalls that Consumer Action found, plus see our sidebar for advice on how to fight them:

Judging what you might do wrong. Card issuers are quick to punish behaviors that increase a borrower's risk. Bank of America (BAC), Digital FCU and Discover (DFS) consider "too many credit cards" and "too many inquiries on credit report" reason enough to raise rates. Of course, a drop in your score itself will also merit an increased APR for most issuers. American Express (AXP), First Command, U.S. Bank (USB), Washington Mutual (WM) and Wells Fargo (WFC) say "perceived customer risk" could cause them to reduce a cardholder's limits.

It's not you, it's us. Card issuers sometimes raise rates based on factors that have more to do with their own financial picture — such as increased consumer defaults and lower profits — than you as a borrower. Of the top 10 card issuers, four (including Bank of America, American Express, Capital One (COF) and Citibank(C)) said they take factors like market conditions and the economy into consideration when determining APRs.

One misstep sets off a domino effect. Make no mistake: Issuers pay careful attention to your behavior with noncredit accounts you hold with them, as well as credit cards from other lenders. Nearly 50% of lenders factor in your payment record and current interest rates with other banks. They include Chase (JPM), Citibank, Discover, HSBC (HBC), and Washington Mutual. Chase, Bank of America and U.S. Bank also look at your history with their in-house accounts, like mortgages and checking accounts.

Sneaky credit-limit reductions. Credit-card issuers look at many of the same factors when it comes to determining your credit limit. Several even reduce limits as consumers pay down debt. "They keep the limit so close to your balance that it hurts your credit score," says Sherry. "It looks like you're using more and more of your available credit balance, when you're really trying to do the opposite." Often, the cardholder receives no notification of the change, which can result in declined charges or exceeding the balance limits. And that, of course, can trigger problems with other card issuers.

Bad behavior will take ages to correct. Consumer Action's survey found that with 59% of lenders, including Bank of America, Chase and Citibank, one late payment — even of a day or two — is enough to trigger a sky-high default APR, which average 26.87%. Getting your rates back down to earth, however, is much tougher. Only Pulaski Bank and Trust, a regional bank based in Little Rock, Ark., reduces your rate when the account is current. Most issuers require six months to a year of on-time payments before they'll consider a rate reduction. Bank of America and HSBC told Consumer Action that their cardholders can't ever get back to their regular APR.

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