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Legal vs. Illegal Credit Card Offers

Legal vs. Illegal Credit Card Offers

What are Credit Card Offers?

Credit Card Offers are bids and proposals furnished by credit card companies in order to amass new customers. Within the vast expanse of Credit Card Offers, there exist a variety of factors, terms, conditions, and components offered to prospective patrons. As a result, the initial conditions and terms latent within Credit Card Offers set forth, oftentimes regarded as ‘Introductory Offers’, will typically vary from the long-term conditions implicit within respective credit card contracts. 

Introductory vs. Long-term Credit Card Offers

The following is an example of introductory credit card offers that are not typically subject to long-term facilitation:

0% APR and Interest-Free Credit Card Offers

Credit Card Offers advertising ‘0% APR’, which is defined as the absence of an interest rate existing in conjunction with a respective credit card, may exist within the initial approval of a credit card. In certain cases, lending institutions may allow individual applicants approved for the receipt of credit cards to undergo a year without interest. Interest is defined as a percentage of a specific, gross amount that is added to the total amount due for repayment.

Although the prospect of the absence of interest is considered to be attractive, individuals are encouraged to investigate the applicable interest and Annual Percentage Rates enacted subsequent to the termination of the introductory offer.

Introductory credit card offers are subject to immediate revocation in the event that the individual fails to adhere to the scheduled repayment(s) expressed and required by the lending institution.

A Guide to the Legality of Credit Card Offers

Credit Card Offers will typically fall under the jurisdictions of both Finance Law and Commercial Law, as well as be subject to legislation passed with regard to both standards and practices of lending institutions determined to be legal, ethical, and lawful.

Finance Law 

Credit Card Offers are typically regulated by this legal field, which is responsible for the authorization and oversight of legislation applicable to the exchange and the circulation of monies. This takes place both transfer activity undertaken involving hard currency, as well as the review of the terms and conditions latent within Credit Card Offers.

The precepts of Finance Law ensure that all terms latent within Credit Card Offers adhere to the Truth in Lending Act, which ensures that the terms of all Credit Card Offers are expressed clearly upon applying for Credit Card Offers.

Commercial Law

Credit Card Offers are typically regulated by this legal field, which is responsible for the enactment and the regulatory oversight of standards and practices occurring within the commercial marketplace. With regard to Credit Card Offers, statutory legislation undertaken within the precepts of Commercial Law ensures that any nature of predatory lending or financial exploitation is regarded as a criminal offense.

The Fair Billing Credit Act provides consumer relief from billing procedures considered to be exploitative and deceptive. Primarily, this Bill reviews the legality expressed within Credit Card Offers.

The CARD Act of 2009, or The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act, disallows for both predatory lending and exploitative measures undertaken by credit card lending institutions upon making Credit Card Offers.


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