This Almanac presents an overview of the laws governing the use of credit cards, including the historical background and development of the various credit card systems and the credit protection legislation that necessarily ensued. Margaret C. Jasper discusses the role of an individual's credit history in credit granting decisions, as well as the legal protections afforded the consumer for preserving their credit rating. Finally, because consumer debt has reached an all time high, with credit card debt being a major factor, a discussion of debt management and collection, and the laws which protect the debtor from harassment, threats and other illegal tactics is also set forth in this almanac. The Legal Almanac Series serves to educate the general public on a variety of legal issues pertinent to everyday life and to keep readers informed of their rights and remedies under the law. Each volume in the series presents an explanation of a specific legal issue in simple, clearly written text, making the Almanac a concise and perfect desktop reference tool.