31.   First USA, the third-largest card issuer, also offers promotional rates on its platinum cards.

32.   First USA, an Austin, Tex.-based card issuer, found this out when some of its customers with fresh new cards had them rejected at stores.

33.   For card issuers and merchants, the benefits of bonus cards are clear.

34.   For nearly two years, he has maintained those introductory interest rates by negotiating extensions with the card issuers rather than transferring his balance to another card company.

35.   From the standpoint of fraud prevention, card issuers have great incentive to promote the devices, he said.

36.   Given current consumer legislation, I doubt that any card issuer would succeed if it tried to do so.

37.   However, many card issuers put a floor interest rate on their credit card rates, writing the floor into the contract with the cardholder.

38.   If a card issuer wants to charge you a balance-transfer fee, insist that the fee be waived.

39.   If students were falling hopelessly behind on their debts and refusing to pay, card issuers would undoubtedly stop lending to them.

40.   If the card issuer raises the interest rate, it will apply only to new purchases.