RE: Credit Card Rate Increases
I learned that credit cards were a poor man's poison about ten years back. Used a savings account to pay every one off, and cancelled all but one. I was paying more in interest on the card than I was getting in the savings account.
I kept one for convenience - like internet orders - and emergencies, but have not paid a cent of interest on it in the last ten years because I pay it off every month. VISA probably hates me.