Just like the title says, I was busy all day and didn’t realize until I settled down that I missed my payment by just one hour. I went ahead and paid above my statement balance and I’m curious if I’ve really messed up my credit. I’ve always paid my bill in full and on time, so I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do to minimize any damage or prevent it altogether.
Patrice said:
You might get a late payment showing up, which could drop your score.
I saw on the Chase website that it says,
“If you miss a payment by a few days but make the payment in full immediately, it’s possible that your issuer won’t report this activity to the credit bureaus as a late payment. However, if you’re only able to make a partial payment, then that will be reported as late. Usually, it takes about 30 days for a late payment to show up on your credit report.”
I know my case might be different, but since I’ve paid my full statement balance, I shouldn’t have to cover my current balance, which isn’t due until next month, to get any of these benefits, right?
@Baylen
You’ll probably face a late fee, but it likely won’t be reported as a late payment. Late payments typically aren’t reported until you’re 30 days late, and they only start affecting your score then. You could, in theory, pay on the 29th of every month and incur a late fee without impacting your score, but your account probably wouldn’t stay open if you did that.
If you have been a good customer before, they might waive the late fee since it’s your first time. If not, think of it as a lesson. It can happen to anyone.
Have you considered using autopay? Just a question, not trying to be rude. I have many cards with different banks and multiple statement dates, and managing them all manually sounds tough. I just don’t have the time for that.