Abogados de Inmigracion

One woman, who didn’t want her identity known, has five credit cards with a combined debt of $50,000. The debt is the result of medical bills. She said she's never been late on a payment, but a few months ago five issuers notified her they were raising her APR to more than 30 percent.

"But 30 percent is ridiculous,” she said. “It’s just ridiculous for anybody to pay."

The woman tried to get the credit card companies to lower the rates.

“We called them and we wrote to them and we got absolutely nowhere,” she said.

She soon realized she was in deep trouble and couldn't make the payments.

"When you have an interest rate of 30 percent, there's no way you can ever pay that off," she said.

So the woman turned to Chrisma Jones, a credit counselor.

Jones got the woman’s card issuers to agree to let her pay what she could afford and reduce her interest.

Jones said United Family Services Debt Repayment Plan is giving many consumers relief.

"With our debt relief plan, usually the payment is lowered, the interest is lowered, the fees are stopped and if you're getting any calls or collections those are curtailed as well,” she said.

Jones said it helps people pay more on the principle balance and get out of debt faster.

When the new law does take effect, card companies won’t be able to raise rates unless the consumer is 60 days late.

Until then, watch those monthly statements for changes and pay off as much credit card debt as possible