WASHINGTON - AMID complaints about credit card interest rate spikes and new fees, US lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to speed up the implementation of sweeping new rules to guard against abusive practices.

The House of Representatives approved the accelerated pace by an overwhelming 331-92 vote, but the legislation's fate in the Senate is unclear.

The new bill would make key pieces of the legislation, which US President Barack Obama signed May 22, active immediately.

The White House's Democratic allies say the legislation is a central piece of their effort to re-write the rules of the US economy to help consumers battered by the global financial meltdown.

It forbids rate increases on existing balances unless consumers are at least 60 days late paying their bill or the initial rate was a promotional rate that has expired, and requires 45 days' notice to raise rates.

The measure bans fees for payment processing - such as surcharges for paying by telephone; imposes steep restrictions on issuing cards to people under 21 years of age, and requires that promotional interest rates on new cards stay valid for six months. -- AFP