From BBC News Page--bottom statement sounds promising!
Page last updated at 12:12 GMT, Thursday, 2 July 2009 13:12 UK
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Printable version Crackdown on credit card cheques 
Consumer groups wanted a new
Ombudsman
Unwanted credit card cheques are set to be banned and a new post created to help ripped-off consumers get their money back, the government says.
Measures to assist people facing difficulties with debt and at risk from rogue traders are also in the plans.
Figures from the Bank of England show that UK residents owe £233bn on credit cards, overdrafts and other loans.
There has been a mixed reaction to the plans that include the creation of a Consumer Advocate.
Under the plans outlined in a White Paper, the Advocate would raise awareness of consumer issues and take cases of "national importance" to court on behalf of groups of consumers seeking compensation and refunds.
Credit cards
Outstanding credit card debt in the UK has reached £54.4bn - a figure that has started to rise in recent months after falling back in the course of last year.
These are particularly tough times for consumers and these measures will give people stronger rights to take action 
Larry Whitty, Consumer Focus
What to expect from a consumer champion
The government wants action to make lending practices more responsible, with concerns raised about debt levels during the recession.
Credit card cheques are blank cheques sent out by card issuers to their customers, often with a statement, giving them an alternative way to spend on their card account.
They have proved to be controversial because consumers incur handling fees for using them, there is no
interest-free period as seen with a card, and they do not command the same level of protection for customers if things go wrong.
The government has been under pressure for some time to ban them. It announced earlier in the year that it was planning to stop companies sending out unsolicited credit card cheques and it now says these will be banned unless a customer specifically opts-in to receiving them.
Research from the price comparison website, Uswitch, suggested one in five people had seen their credit card limit increased in the past 12 months without them asking for it.
The government has also announced a review of card fees and charges. 
Lip Service Or Real Change? 
