15 USC § 1665e - Consideration of ability to repay

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s1665e"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 1665e - Consideration of ability to repay"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "1665e"
section_name: "Consideration of ability to repay"
chapter_number: 41
chapter_name: "CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "CONSUMER CREDIT COST DISCLOSURE"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "Credit Advertising and Limits on Credit Card Fees"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 150, as added Pub. L. 111–24, title I, § 109(a), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1743.)"
---


# § 1665e. Consideration of ability to repay

A card issuer may not open any credit card account for any consumer under an open end consumer credit plan, or increase any credit limit applicable to such account, unless the card issuer considers the ability of the consumer to make the required payments under the terms of such account.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 90–321, title I, § 150, as added Pub. L. 111–24, title I, § 109(a), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1743.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 9 months after , except as otherwise specifically provided, see , set out as an Effective Date of 2009 Amendment note under .