Consumers Feel the Next Crisis: It’s Credit Cards

Posted by Steve Rhode

October 29, 2008

Lenders are shunning consumers already in debt and cutting credit limits for existing cardholders, especially those who live in areas ravaged by the housing crisis or who work in troubled industries. In some cases, lenders are even reining in credit lines after monitoring cardholders who shop at the same stores as other risky borrowers or who have mortgages from certain companies.

While such changes protect lenders, some can come back to haunt consumers. The result can be a lower credit score, which forces a borrower to pay higher interest rates and makes it harder to obtain loans. A reduced line of credit can also make it harder for consumers to manage their budgets, because lenders have 30 days to notify their customers, and they often wait to do so after taking action.

Indeed it is. If you’re not in top shape for the credit card shakeout that’s already taking place, there isn’t much you’ll be able to do about it. It’s probably already too late. After years of flooding the market with credit cards (and generous limits), banks are finally starting to take it back. Eric Dash, a New York Times reporter, does an excellent job of distilling the situation. From

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