Beware: 5 credit card pitfalls to avoid

Just when you thought new legislation meant plastic was safe. Credit card companies are finding loopholes in the new Credit Card Act of May 2009. Their motive: Making up for lost revenue and side-steeping the reform.

The first part of the law rolled into effect in August, and required banks to give customers more notice before making major changes, like rate hikes, to their accounts. In February 2010, phase two comes into play with issuers being imposed limits on raising rates on existing card balances. Finally, the third phase will take effect in August 2010, when some penalty fees are capped.