It may be hard to believe, but a kinder, gentler credit card for consumers may just be a matter of months away.

Spurred by a wave of consumer complaints, President Obama and Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosures Act (known as the CARD Act) in late May. The goal of the legislation: To eliminate some of the industry’s most controversial practices, including the ability to increase interest rates at any time and for any reason.

While the bulk of the changes won't go into effect until February 2010, consumers can act now to take the best advantage of them.