Credit Cards » Credit Card Guides » How a Missed or Late Payment Affects Your Credit Score
Advertiser Disclosure This website is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This website does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. This website may use other proprietary factors to impact card offer listings on the website such as consumer selection or the likelihood of the applicant’s credit approval. This allows us to maintain a full-time, editorial staff and work with finance experts you know and trust. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impacts any of the editorial content on The Smart Investor. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, The Smart Investor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. All products are presented without warranty.

How a Missed or Late Payment Affects Your Credit Score

Missed or late payment can reduce your score up to 180 points. But, there are cases when you can minimize the impact to few points.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
Interest Rates Last Update: March 1, 2024
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
Interest Rates Last Update: March 1, 2024

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

Table Of Content

One of the most significant factors in determining your credit score is your payment history, which includes whether you have made payments on time or have missed or late payments.

Late payments can have a significant impact on your credit score, potentially causing it to drop by up to 180 points. Additionally, late payments may remain on your credit reports for a period of up to seven years.

However, most lenders report late payments to credit bureaus once you are 30 days past due, meaning that your credit score may not be impacted if you make payment within this timeframe. Nonetheless, you may still be subject to a late fee even if you pay within 30 days.

In this article, we will explore how missed or late payments can affect your credit score.

How Do Missed Payments Affect Your Credit Score?

Missed payments can have a significant impact on your credit score. Payment history is one of the most important factors in determining your credit score. It accounts for 35% of your FICO credit score and includes information on whether you have made payments on time, missed payments, or had any accounts in collections or bankruptcy.

The severity of the impact will depend on several factors, including how late the payment is, the amount of the payment, and the overall history of your credit accounts. Here's a breakdown of how late payments can affect your credit score:

  • 30 days late: A payment that is 30 days late is typically the first missed payment that gets reported to the credit bureaus. This can result in a drop in your credit score, but the impact is usually not severe.
  • 60 days late: If a payment is 60 days late, the impact on your credit score will be more significant. The later the payment, the more damage it will do to your credit score.
  • +90 days late: If a payment is more than 90 days late, it will be reported to the credit bureaus as a delinquent account. This can have a severe negative impact on your credit score and can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years.
Affect of late or missed payment on credit score
Missed payments can have a significant impact on your credit score

How To Know If I Missed A Payment?

There are several ways to know if you missed a payment:

  • Check your account statements: The most obvious way to know if you missed a payment is to check your account statements. If you see that a payment has not been made on time, it is likely that you missed a payment.

  • Look for past due notices: Many creditors will send past due notices to remind you that a payment is late. These notices may be sent by mail, email, or through your creditor's online portal.

  • Check your credit report: Late payments will be reported to the credit bureaus and will appear on your credit report. You can check your credit report for free once a year through AnnualCreditReport.com.

If you discover that you missed a payment, it's important to take action as soon as possible. Contact your creditor to explain the situation and try to negotiate a repayment plan that works for both parties. You may be able to avoid additional fees or penalties by being proactive and addressing the issue promptly.

When Does it Show up on Your Credit Report?

A payment typically shows up as late on credit reports once it is 30 days past due. This is because most creditors report late payments to the credit bureaus once they are 30 days past due.

If you miss a payment deadline, it's important to try to make the payment as soon as possible to avoid it being reported as late on your credit report. If you are unable to make the payment in full, contact your creditor to discuss your options for payment arrangements or payment plans.

It's important to note that some creditors may report late payments later than the 30-day mark. Additionally, the impact of a late payment on your credit score will depend on several factors, such as the length of time the payment is past due, the amount of the payment, and your overall credit history.

How Long It Affects Your Credit Report?

Late payments can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years from the date of the missed payment. This includes any late payments that were reported to the credit bureaus, whether they were 30 days late or more.

The impact of a late payment on your credit score will lessen over time as it gets older, but it can still be a factor in credit decisions made by lenders and other financial institutions.

It's important to note that some credit scoring models may weigh late payments differently based on the severity and recency of the late payment. For example, a recent missed payment may have a more significant impact on your credit score than a missed payment that is several years old.

How Long Does late payment Affects Your Credit Report
Late payments can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years (Photo by Cast Of Thousands/Shutterstock)

Can You Remove Late Payment Credit Ceport?

Unfortunately, unless it's an error or a mistake – there is no way to remove the late or missed payment from your credit report.

There are companies that “specialize in credit repair” and claim that they may be able to remove late payments from your credit report for a fee – keep in mind this is not possible, and moist chances it's a scam.

How To Avoid Late Payments?

Here are six ways to avoid late or missed payments:

  • Set up automatic payments: One of the easiest ways to avoid late payments is to set up automatic payments. Many creditors allow you to set up automatic payments through their website or mobile app, which can help ensure that payments are made on time each month.

  • Set payment reminders: If you prefer to make payments manually, consider setting payment reminders through your calendar, email, or phone alerts. This can help ensure that you remember to make payments before the due date.

  • Create a budget: Creating a budget can help you better manage your finances and ensure that you have enough money to cover all of your expenses each month, including your debt payments.

  • Consider consolidating your debts: If you have multiple debts with different payment due dates, consider consolidating them into one loan or credit card. This can simplify your payments and make it easier to manage your finances.

  • Contact your creditors: If you are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to make payments on time, contact your creditors as soon as possible. They may be able to work with you to create a payment plan or modify your payment due dates to better align with your income.

FAQs

Usually, a late payment is not necessarily a missed payment, but it can become a missed payment if it is not made within 30 days after the due date.

You can find out who reported a late payment by checking your credit report. Your credit report will include information on all of your creditors, including the name and contact information for each creditor.

Late or missed payments can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years from the date of the missed payment.

A 7-day late payment may not have a significant impact on your credit score, but it is still important to make payments on time to avoid any negative impact on your credit history.

The exact number of days you missed may not have a specific meaning, but the longer a payment is overdue, the more it can impact your credit score and creditworthiness. 

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
Search
Best Cards Per CS
Top Offers From Our Partners

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
185,000 points 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
90,000 miles 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers From Our Partners

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
185,000 points 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
Up to 3x miles 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
70,000 miles 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Best Cards Per Issuer

Table of Contents