The universal default practice was encouraged by federal regulators, particularly those at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency , as a means of managing the changing risk profiles of cardholders. The fact that credit card companies can change the loan fee on obligations that were acquired when an alternate rate of intrigue was in place is similar to adjustable rate mortgages where financing costs on current obligation may rise. With universal default, a client's other credit cards, for which the client may be present on payments, may also have their rates and credit limit changed. Another controversial area is the universal default feature of many N American credit card contracts.