stressed about late credit card payment

How Can I Avoid A Late Credit Card Payment?

If you’re hit with late credit card fees, you might be looking for ways to avoid a late credit card payment in the future. Trying to avoid late fees is always a good idea as when debt builds up, it negatively affects your credit history which causes more negative consequences down the line. From this post, you’ll learn 6 tips to avoid a late credit card payment and stay on top of your statements.

6 Tips To Avoid A Late Credit Card Payment

1. Enroll In Auto Payments

The easiest way to avoid a late credit card payment is to enroll in auto payments. Almost all credit card services today provide auto payment options. Auto payments will automatically withdraw money from your account to pay the minimum or another set amount on your bill.

This allows you to set it and forget it. Set up the auto payments, and you can trust that your credit card will be paid.

The problem with auto payments is that you must have an appropriate amount of money in your account for the auto payments to withdraw. In other words, you have to have more money in the account than what is being withdrawn. If you don’t have sufficient funds, the auto payment will not take.

So, you have to make sure you have enough money in your account before every payment cycle. Only by doing this can you trust that the auto payments actually take and pay off your credit card statement on time.

2. Set Up Payment Reminders

In addition to enrolling in auto payments, you can set up payment reminders. Most credit card companies offer payment reminders in their services. These reminders will often be in the form of an email. In the days leading up to the payment, you will get an email reminder.

It’s a good idea to use reminders in addition to auto payments. That way, you can make sure you have sufficient funds in your account come payment day.

avoid late credit card payment with a reminder

3. Mark Due Dates In Your Calendars

If payment reminders are not your thing, you can simply mark due dates in your personal calendar. This can include physical calendars or the calendar on your phone. It’s a great idea to add due dates to your phone calendar so that you can be alerted.

You obviously have to check the calendar in order for this tip to help. That is why we recommend putting the due date in your phone calendar. Your phone will pester you as the day is approaching. That way, you don’t have to think about checking the calendar.

4. Pay After Every Paycheck

Credit card payments are on a monthly cycle, but most people get paychecks every other week. You can make sure you never miss a due date again by paying after every paycheck. Pay after every paycheck so that you are paying your credit card statement twice a month. Even if you miss one payment, the other monthly payment will keep you in the safe zone.

5. Call Your Provider

If you know you’re not going to meet the minimum for the upcoming month or you just realized you missed the due date on accident, call your provider immediately. Many providers will work with you if you are a reliable customer who has never had any problems in the past.

In the case that you missed your due date, make sure to pay the minimum balance as soon as possible. If you pay it within a 30-day period, the late payment will not affect your credit score.

6. Select A Credit Card With No Late Fees

If you are worried about late payments, select a credit card with no late fees. This can take a little bit of the stress away associated with late payments. Still, make your payments on time as frequently as possible to avoid any impacts on your credit statement.

Need Help Paying Your Credit Card Bill?

If you need help covering your credit card bill this month, don’t panic. Instead of making a late credit card payment, you can apply for an online car title loan. An online title loan can get you up to $15,000 in a short amount of time.

You only need three items to qualify: a driver’s license, a lien-free title to your vehicle, and your vehicle for the inspection. If you have these three items, you can use your car title to get the money you need to pay your late credit card payment.

woman got an online title loan

Apply For An Online Car Title Loan Today

Don’t drown in late credit card fees. Instead, use the 6 tips above to always make your due dates. If you need help paying for your credit card payment in the meantime, apply for online car title loans from At Home Title Loans today. You can get a title loan online today by submitting a short inquiry on our website or calling us directly at 800-514-2274.

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.

Louis Tully

Louis Tully is a full-time finance writer offering financial expertise to everyday consumers. He understands the core values of finance and used his writing talents to share his own experiences with money to his readers. His articles teach how financial failures can easily become successes by making new habits and creating realistic goals.