The credit crunch is a killer when it lands at your house. Having to renew a mortgage at a higher interest rate is one way banks are making life difficult for families that were already at the edge of financial solvency. Just as damaging is the practice of credit card companies to boost their rates or boost the minimum monthly payment. People are facing foreclosure and destroyed credit ratings and need to consider credit repair options if they ever want to dig themselves out of this financial hole. Consider the case of someone who carries a large balance on a premium, low interest credit card that guarantees a 1.99% interest rate. The credit card company can't change that rate, but if they boost the minimum down payment from interest only, to interest plus 1% of the balance, a $50 per month payment increases to $450. That's the credit crunch hitting consumers.