You're struggling with credit card debt, but managing somehow, when suddenly you're hit with a one-two punch from one of the credit card companies--or maybe all of them. Maybe you've barely managed the payments and then you get a bill with an amount due of several hundred more dollars than was due last month--and you haven't made any new charges. Or you've paid on time since you've opened the account, but suddenly the percentage rate has grown by 5 percent, 10 percent, or more! It's not fair! How could they do this? Isn't this illegal?

Not quite. While it may be amoral and even highway robbery, take a look at your cardholder agreement. This is the fine print that you get every time you open a new card. In the excitement of getting a new card it's something you may be tempted to overlook, but if you start charging on the card without knowing the contents of the cardholder agreement, you could be signing away your financial stability.

And just because you understand the current cardholder's agreements on your accounts, doesn't mean the credit card company can't change the rules anytime they want. Keep vigilant watch on your mail. Even if it looks like a piece of junk mail from your credit card company, open it. It could be a change to your current terms--and of course the change will be in their favor. You do have an option here. If you don't agree to the new terms, you can close the account and pay as agreed until the card is paid off. You won't be able to charge on the card anymore, but why would you want to?

The credit card companies have really been running amok and putting the squeeze on their cardholders, but new regulations are going into effect that should help alleviate some of the pressure.

The best way to avoid the pressure? Rid yourself of credit card debt once and for all.