When you miss your credit card bill due date, the following happen:
- Late payment charges apply as per the rates prescribed by the issuer
- Finance charges apply on the outstanding balance, compounded daily
- Interest-free period becomes invalid and finance charges also apply on the new purchases that you make
- Your credit score takes a hit and the number of days by which you delay the payment start showing in the DPD section of your credit report
- Possible suspension of credit card benefits as per the issuer’s policies
Hence, it is always advised to pay off your total amount due on or before the due date to avoid any penalties and negative impact on your credit score.
How Does Late Credit Card Payment Affect Your Credit Score?
When you fail to pay your credit card dues on time, the DPD section on your credit report shows the number of days by which the payment was delayed. Although one missed payment may not have long term major impact on your score, missing due dates frequently can lead to a major drop in your credit score. This shows you are not managing your existing credit responsibly and lenders would see you as a risky borrower, making approvals for new credit difficult for you.
To avoid missing late payments, you can take the following steps:
- Spend only as much as you can afford to pay back on time
- Convert your bills into EMIs to make monthly payments more manageable
- Set up reminders or alerts for payment due dates
- Set up auto pay on your credit cards for automatic payments when the bills are due
If you cannot afford to pay the total due, pay at least the minimum due to avoid impact on your credit score.