Recent changes in credit card accounts that has spawned cries of ‘foul’ from consumers actually is having an effect on how 
they use their credit cards. It is beginning to promote responsible actions.
Consumers are finding it more difficult to pay for things that they normally would have thrown on a credit card with little or no thought to the consequences. The mindset of buy-now-pay-later has taken a hit.
Lower credit card limits. Banks and credit card issuers have lowered credit card limits in order to limit their own liability. More and more customers are falling behind on their payments. The good thing that is coming from this is that there are many programs being offered right now for consumers by the credit card issuers in helping them get their accounts current and bank in good standing.
Change in mindset by consumers. The use of debit cards is on the rise. The reason is because consumers are either at or over their credit limit, or they want to protect what little they have left. This is helping to promote “buy-it-only-if-you-have-the-money” activity. Also, there is a change to a “living on less attitude.” Retailers report that traffic is still strong, but the dollars being spent is significantly lower.
In store credit card offers. It used to be prevalent to see in-store credit card offers when you walk in to a retailer. And, some used to offer you a discount to sign up immediately. Now those days are gone. Store credit cards are still there, but fewer people are eligible for them. Now, retailers are turning to other methods to encourage consumers to spend more money.
No payment, no interest offers. These have long been popular and have provided a way to get something on credit and pay it off over the term of the offer before the interest kicks in. These will now be more prominent at retailers, especially as important buying seasons near like back-to-school and then the year-end holiday sales. Retailers will do what they can to bolster sales in these important times on their retail calendars.
Prepaid card offers instead. Some retailers are turning to the prepaid credit card offers for customers. It gives them a way to be able to extend credit to those who are unable to get it because of their scores and history. This also has a good benefit as it helps consumers raise their scores by promoting responsible credit usage. Secured cards are more difficult to get, but offer the ability to be upgraded to a real credit card in about a years time.
Because of all of this, credit card holders have been exhorted to clean up their credit card accounts and even consider closing them at the expense of lowering their credit score in order to make it happen.
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I guess you could call it forcible responsibility. Now if we could achieve a similar shift in the mortgage lending industry, we just might have an economic future ahead of us. Of course, the cynic inside me is counting down the days until the next era of "Credit and Mortgages for All."