Revised credit-card rules may be mostly good for consumers, but beware new traps laid by some card companies New pieces of the most-sweeping credit-card reforms on record kick in today, outlawing double-cycle billing, retroactive rate hikes and many other longtime practices of the U.S. card industry.

In a few weeks, new rules will take effect for credit card companies that are intended to help consumers, but some say they may end up costing cardholders money.

Did you find yourself using a bit of plastic during the holidays? New credit card rules are coming, designed to add accountability to card companies and consumers.

Consumers Will Get Advance Warning of Changes - But Probably Won't Like the News

The rules your credit card company operates by will start getting much clearer on Thursday. But just because you'll know what they're up to doesn't mean you're going to like what you learn.