The Florida-based Bankrate.com, which tracks interest rate trends, says the average fixed-rate credit card carries an interest rate of 13 percent, while cards with a variable rate have an average 12 percent rate. But consumers often can pay double those rates because of late payments or other violations of credit-card terms.

”We receive literally hundreds of these complaints every year, and we fight for every individual as best we can,” said Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. But he says his office is limited by current federal laws, which he says pre-empt many of Connecticut’s consumer-protection provisions.

”And we’re dealing with some of the biggest, wealthiest most powerful, institutions in the country,” Blumenthal said.

Dodd said that abuses by some credit card companies are worse than those found with the worst subprime mortgages. He said most people’s salaries have not kept up with inflation, and high energy and gas costs, so they’re using credit cards to get by.

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