New laws to benefit card holders are coming.

First, Credit Card companies will no longer be able to retroactively hike your credit-card interest rate, making it easier for you to get out of debt.

Secondly, credit-card companies are being forced to adopt better billing practices. You will get your bill at the same time each month and there will be no more midday cutoffs or due dates on weekends and holidays.

Colorado lawmakers are considering a new tactic to go after tax revenue from online sales. They want out-of-state online retailers to either start collecting the tax or send annual notices to their customers telling them to pay the tax themselves.

The proposal, which was set to be debated Monday in the full Senate, is part of an overall package of tax bills to cover a $1.5 billion shortfall due to the recession.

The Better Business Bureau is warning about a new scam that is using its name in order to steal tens of thousands of dollars from victims who are led to believe they have won a lottery.

Scammers posing as BBB employees have taken one victim for $80,000 and several other consumers have reported that they were contacted over the phone or e-mail by someone claiming they were with the organization.

According to the Better Business Bureau, these people were told that they had won a lottery and that, in order to receive the prize, they must wire money back to the scammers.

Starting last August, homeowners facing foreclosure received letters in the mail informing them of a new law that could give them an extra 90-days to save their homes.

"(The law) provides potentially a 90-day deferment, that is an additional 90-days for someone during which they can do some negotiation and some workout for their loan," said Ryan McMaken, spokesperson for the Colorado Division of Housing.

The law is designed to help those homeowners who can still make some payment on their mortgage even if it's not the full amount.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum told a House Energy and Commerce Committee panel that her "Safe Sleep Initiative" is considering a requirement that crib makers offer a refund or store credit when a crib is recalled. She testified, this would "incentivize consumers to discard and replace defective cribs."

American Airlines said Monday it is raising its fees on checked bags for passengers buying tickets starting Feb. 1.

The company said it is raising the charge for the first checked bag to $25 from $20 on flights in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. The fees apply to passengers on the company's American Airlines, American Eagle and American Connection flights.

A second checked bag will cost $35, up from $30.

AT&T announced Friday it was following Verizon Wireless' lead from earlier in the day and cutting rates on unlimited talk and text plans. Both companies' new rate structures on the unlimited plans start Monday.

If you're a customer or either AT&T or Verizon, visit their web sites or call customer service to see if you can qualify for these new rates on unlimited talk and text. Verizon said it allows customers to switch to any qualifying plan for their phone without renewing or extending existing contracts.

Taxpayers anticipating a refund shouldn't be in a hurry to spend that money and request a refund anticipation loan or RAL just to get their hands on the cash.

"Thanks to today's technology, there's really no need to pay extra for a refund anticipation loan, or RAL, just to get your hands on your tax money a tiny bit sooner. If instant cash is more a desire than a need when considering a quick refund, consider alternatives," writes Kay Bell on Bankrate.com.

Aid organizations are on a media blitz to get donations to fund relief and rescue efforts after a massive earthquake ravaged Haiti Tuesday evening. Consumer advocates warn people should be cautious about scams in a situation like this.

 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to be aware of criminals posing as law enforcement officials in a scheme to extort money.

The FDA says the criminals target consumers who have purchased drugs on the Internet.

These con artists call consumers and identify themselves as FDA special agents, FBI agents,or Secret Service agents.