Question: I keep hearing about the CARD Act but I'm not sure what it is and how it will affect my credit card accounts. What does this new law mean to me?

Answer: The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, commonly referred to as the CARD Act, went into effect on Feb. 22. Consumers now have a new set of financial protections in place.

You still need to remain diligent about managing your credit, and becoming familiar with the provisions of the CARD Act should be added to your financial to-do list. Through the act, cardholders will benefit from clearer terms and improved disclosures which will go a long way toward ending confusing billing practices.

Below are five changes related to consumers' credit card accounts as a result of the CARD Act, and suggestions regarding how to maximize the provisions to their advantage:

• Review monthly billing statements, as they will look very different. Issuers must now include a snapshot of how long it will take you to pay off your balance if you only make the minimum payment each month. This will be contrasted against becoming debt free in three years. This reality check will provide you with the opportunity to stop digging deeper and instead, start digging out.

Credit card issuers also are required to include on customers' statements a toll-free number where they may receive information about accessing credit counseling. Not only will this information make consumers aware that help is available, but it also will direct them to legitimate nonprofit counseling agencies for assistance. Consumers in financial distress can now use their credit card statement as a resource to obtain solid advice and find solutions.

• Pay attention to all mailings, statement stuffers and fine print. Under most circumstances, the issuers must now give you 45 days notice before they increase the interest rate, change fees or make other significant alterations to the terms of an account. This provides you with time to evaluate the revisions, and decide if you want to apply for another credit card that offers better rates and terms than the existing one.

• Inform the creditor whether or not you want to allow transactions that will take you over your credit limit. You must tell your credit card company if you want to allow approval of purchases over your credit limit, or the transaction may be turned down. If you do not opt-in to over-the-limit transactions and the credit card company allows one to go through, it cannot charge an over-the-limit fee. Also, if you do opt-in to allowing transactions that take you over the credit limit, the credit card company can impose only one fee per billing cycle.

• Pay your bills on time. Consumers will know in advance when their payment is due (same date each month), have ample time to meet the due date (bill must be mailed or delivered 21 days in advance of the due date), and not have to pay to pay (no extra fees assessed if payment is made by phone or electronically). These provisions allow consumers to plan their payments, making it easier to stay current.

• Check your credit report for accuracy. Card issuers are restricted from opening a new account or increasing credit lines unless the issuer first takes into consideration the consumer's ability to repay under the terms of the agreement. To satisfy this requirement, creditors will likely begin using income estimation models supplied to them by the credit bureaus. These tools will review, among other things, data contained in the consumer's credit bureau report.

Since consumers are allowed one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three reporting bureaus, there is little reason for consumers to not review their credit report and correct any inaccuracies.

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