The recession is over??!!

The recession is in full effect in my area of the country. People are still without jobs, stores continue to close and foreclosures still occur. The banks are paranoid to the point they no longer trust the responsible people in our country, including us.

After the credit card changes were in full effect, I received some information from banks with which we have accounts. The majority of the changes I read about were of a positive nature: lesser penalties for late payments, decreased amounts due each month, and things of that nature; which actually have nothing to do with us because we don't charge anymore. However, it was a nice change to see that banks were forced to recognize they had some stiff penalties in a time when people were having financial difficulties.

Then I received this from Sam's Club. 

My 4 year old son is holding the list of changes being implemented immediately, all negative. It begins with the new APR increasing to 22.90%, and the "penalty" APR increasing to 29.90%!!!  It makes me want to cancel my Sam's Club account and I don't even carry a balance. How is it that other credit card companies (banks) were forced to lower rates and Sam's Club can increase rates?

I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods, but around here the general consensus is when people get back on their feet financially, and they will, they will not forget how they were treated during difficult times and their choice of banks/credit card companies will reflect that.