U.S. Senate panel to consider credit card bill March 31

WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee on Friday said it has scheduled a meeting on March 31 to consider credit card reform legislation introduced by Chairman Christopher Dodd.

Dodd earlier this year introduced legislation aimed at cleaning up unfair and deceptive practices that have slapped consumers with unexpected fees and rate hikes.

The Senate session is scheduled one day before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions also will mark up its own credit card reform bill. (Reporting by John Poirier and Karey Wutkowski; editing by Carol Bishopric)