law/reg questions- charge off's

I have been doing a lot of reading and searching (here, bayhouse, some other BBS', FTC, CT banking regs, etc) and besides being better informed,and having my head feel like it's going to explode, I have dead-ended on a couple of issues. I thought maybe someone here could either point me in the right direction to search or may already have the answer.

I have come a cross a few contradictions and I want to try and get some things straight. I can't find law/reg/ftc opinions that govern these, so I want to find out if they are true or where I can find out more info. The questions I have at the moment concern charge-off's.

1. Do charge-off's have to be done after 6 months of delinquency?

2. Do fees (late/over limit) have to be stopped after the charge-off? Who regulates the amt of fees? State, Fed or no-one? Or is it just contractual?

3. What interest can be charged after charge-off? Is it per the contract, or do states/fed regulate this?

4. Can CA charge fees? What interest can they charge?

I was reading up the CT statutes concerning banking which seems to limit late fees, I am not sure if it actually does. I plan on contacting them next week. I was curious if anyone else had come across their own states laws concerning this.

The reason I am asking this is because of a Capital one Charge-off that is now $2000 more than the original debt of $1500. I can understand about interest charges but 2000 in 2 years?! I think that's a little excessive.

I am normally a bull in a china shop type of person but concerning credit problems, I have been an ostrich with her head stuck in the sand. Before I start trying to get out of this financial mess, I want to get my ducks in a row. Hmm...could I have used anymore animal references?!

Thanks, Kim