Missing a credit card payment can become expensive quickly. Interest can rise, fees can apply, and your credit profile may be affected.
What happens first
- Late fee may be charged.
- Grace period may be lost on new purchases.
- Interest accrues at purchase APR, sometimes cash-advance APR.
If it reaches 30+ days past due
Your issuer may report delinquency to credit bureaus, lowering your score and making future borrowing costlier.
How to recover
- Pay at least minimum immediately.
- Call issuer to request one-time fee reversal.
- Set up autopay for at least minimum payment.
- Avoid adding new balance while catching up.