5 Ways consumers benefited from the crash

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| By Mitch Lipka, MSN Money

Regulatory amendments adopted after the financial crisis yet the average American with a few extra protection from predatory lenders.

There was a good thing after the devastating stock market crash in 2008 was built, it was the increased consumer protection, which came as a result.

The massive taxpayer-funded bailout, which was necessary, to avert the collapse of the global financial system changed the political climate in Washington. Under pressure from angry consumers, Congress adopted two important legal texts: the credit card Act of 2009 and the law establishing the consumer financial protection Bureau or CFPB.

"The crash led perhaps the most important consumer protection since deposit insurance: the establishment of the CFPB" Ed Mierzwinski, federal consumer program director for the consumer advocacy group U.S. PIRG said. "We win no game changer consumer protection, when we have provided impact as the collapse."

Needless to say, millions of consumers suffered a severe blow in the 2008 meltdown that destroyed millions of jobs and bring down prices. The economy is struggling still with anemic growth and a weak job market while the housing market only now recovering.

For the consumer, the playing field is a little more level than five years ago. While some of the resulting changes remain to be seen, here are five most important ways the consumer have benefited are:

No. 1: credit card companies can no longer change, interest rates and terms at any time without notice.

For years, winning more and more drove the credit card industry from its customers. Use some large banks had to crash the collective anger pushed legislators some checks and balances to take create from consumers.

"The CARD Act's greatest achievement to House gotcha, beat down", said Daniel Ray, editor-in-Chief of CreditCards.com. "Banks had rates more honestly since the CARD Act set." She not himself was able to lure customers at artificially low rate, then leave, she met with a gotcha and trotting prices then. The industry has become more transparent, and consumers know what the deal is pure."

No. 2: Card companies are now required to disclose how long it would take to pay off credit card debt, by only the minimum payment.

Nothing was taken over by banks with this change. But now that the banks are required, set out how long it would take to pay off a credit balances, consumers get an honest picture of what they are facing.

"Map one of the provisions of the law says there must be a table that calculates the amount of interest you pay and how many months-really years-it takes you pay off your balances when you only the minimum payment figures", said Bill Hahn, CEO of LowCards.com. "In black and white on each statement see and be personalized is an incentive for the people paying more than the minimum payment and debt-free faster."

No. 3: Consumers have a place to turn with their complaints about financial institutions.

Consumer had problems with credit card companies in the past, it was difficult to complain, to find a place. No single government agency was tasked with testing the consumer problems with card issuers have or help to fix them. By establishing the CFPB, consumers have not only one place to turn with their credit card issues, but also an agency that looks at financial products of all kinds, including student loans.

"The CFPB is still under construction, but its greatest impact was in transparency," Ray said. "The Agency has put a spotlight on some of the worst practices in the lending industry, and it is on his way to a one-stop-shop for consumers. Previously, consumers had to play 'Find the regulator.' "

No. 4: Young adults no longer bombarded with credit offers.

Would for years whenever you go on a college campus, you'd see that promotional gifts such as pizza and frisbees hung as bait to get registering students for credit cards. But the CARD Act reined this kind of marketing.

"Issuers no longer in a position to set up a table in a University campus and give away free stuff", Hardekopf said. "That led to all sorts of young adults getting a card and ring, a significant amount of debt that hurt their credit scores for years."

No. 5: card issuers and credit across the economy is subject to regulatory oversight are responsible.

Not only consumers have a place to turn when they complain, financial firms also provide, if they did something wrong to have.

In the last year ordered the CFPB, American Express, capital one and discover a combined $425 million consumers pay after an investigation revealed that the unused products such as credit insurance companies marketing were. The CFPB examines credit report errors and makes public thousands of consumer complaints about mortgages, student loans and credit cards.

"Without a doubt, if we can hold the CFPB we continue to have a marketplace and financial system that better addresses the interests of the industry with the interests of their clients," said honoured.

He said that financial institutions, this view of parts not. "they absolutely don't like the idea of an Invigilator with just a job: protecting consumers."