The first 30 days: late fees and interest charges begin

When you miss a credit card payment, your card issuer charges you a late fee — usually between $25 and $40 for a first offense, though some cards charge less. More importantly, you start paying interest on your full balance at your card's regular interest rate, which is typically 15% to 25% per year. This interest compounds daily, meaning the longer the balance sits unpaid, the more you owe.

Your payment is considered late the day after your due date passes. Most card issuers give you a grace period of about 21 days before reporting the missed payment to the credit bureaus — the three companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) that track your payment history. During this window, you can still catch up without a mark on your credit report.

You will receive a statement showing the late fee and the new interest charges. If your card has a promotional interest rate (like 0% for 12 months), missing a payment often cancels that promotion when ready, and you start paying the regular rate on your entire balance.

Key Takeaways

  • Late fees typically range from $25 to $40, and interest charges begin accruing on your full balance at your card's regular rate.
  • Your payment is reported to credit bureaus around 30 days after the due date, which damages your credit score and stays on your report for seven years.
  • After 60 days unpaid, your interest rate may jump to a penalty rate, sometimes 29% or higher, and your card issuer may freeze your account.
  • After 180 days unpaid, your card issuer typically closes the account and sells the debt to a collection agency, which then pursues you for payment.
  • Contacting your card issuer as soon as you realize you will miss a payment can sometimes result in a waived fee or a temporary payment plan.

30 to 60 days: your credit report is affected

Around 30 days after your due date, your card issuer reports the missed payment to the credit bureaus. This is called a 30-day late payment, and it appears on your credit report when ready. Your credit score drops — typically by 100 points or more, depending on how good your score was before and how many other negative marks are on your report.

At 60 days past due, the situation worsens. Your card issuer may increase your interest rate to a penalty rate, which can be 29% or higher. Your minimum payment may also jump significantly. The card issuer may freeze your account, meaning you cannot make new purchases, though you can still pay down the balance.

The 60-day late mark also appears on your credit report. Potential lenders — banks, landlords, employers, and insurance companies — can see that you missed a payment. This affects your ability to borrow money, rent an apartment, or sometimes even get hired for certain jobs.

90 days and beyond: collection activity begins

At 90 days past due, your card issuer may assign your account to an internal collections department or hire a third-party debt collector. You will receive letters and phone calls demanding payment. These communications must follow rules set by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which prohibits harassment, threats, and contact before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone.

The 90-day late mark appears on your credit report and stays there for seven years from the original due date. Your credit score continues to suffer, and the damage compounds if you have other missed payments or high credit card balances.

You may also face a lawsuit if the debt is large enough. The card issuer or collector must prove you owe the debt, but if they win, they can garnish your wages or place a lien on your property — the rules vary by state. Some states protect a portion of your wages or certain assets, so the outcome depends on where you live.

180 days: the account closes and debt is sold

At 180 days past due (about six months), your card issuer typically closes the account and writes off the debt as a loss on their books. This is called charge-off. The account is sold to a debt collection agency, which now owns the right to pursue you for payment.

A charge-off appears on your credit report and is one of the most damaging marks possible. It signals to future lenders that you did not pay a debt as promised. The charge-off stays on your report for seven years, even if you eventually pay it.

The collection agency will contact you by mail and phone, often aggressively. You have rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: you can request in writing that they stop contacting you, though they may then sue instead. You can also dispute the debt if you believe it is not yours or the amount is wrong.

What you can do if you miss a payment

If you realize you will miss a payment, contact your card issuer before the due date. Explain your situation — job loss, medical emergency, unexpected expense — and ask if they can waive the late fee or set up a temporary payment plan. Many issuers have hardship programs for customers facing temporary financial difficulty. These programs may lower your interest rate, pause late fees, or allow you to pay a reduced amount for a set period.

If you have already missed the payment, call when ready. The sooner you pay, the less interest you accumulate. Paying within 30 days stops the credit bureau report. Paying within 60 days prevents the penalty rate increase. Even if you cannot pay the full balance, paying something shows the issuer you are trying to resolve it.

If a debt collector contacts you, do not ignore them. You can negotiate a settlement — paying less than the full amount — or a payment plan. Get any agreement in writing before you pay. If you cannot afford to pay, you can request a debt validation letter, which forces the collector to prove the debt is yours and the amount is correct.

How a missed payment affects your credit score

Your payment history makes up 35% of your credit score, the largest single factor. A single missed payment can lower your score by 100 points or more. The damage is worst in the first few months after the miss, then gradually lessens over time — but the mark stays on your report for seven years.

The impact also depends on your score before the miss. If you had excellent credit (750+), a missed payment is more damaging than if you already had fair credit (650–700). A second or third missed payment compounds the damage.

After about two years of on-time payments following a missed payment, the damage to your score begins to fade noticeably. After seven years, the missed payment falls off your report entirely and no longer affects your score. In the meantime, building a pattern of on-time payments on other accounts (a secured card, a credit-builder loan, or becoming an authorized user on someone else's account) can help rebuild your score.

Options if you cannot pay the full amount

If you cannot pay the full balance, you have several options. First, contact your card issuer and ask about a hardship program or payment plan. Second, you can pay the minimum payment to show good faith, though this does not erase the late fee or stop interest from accruing. Third, you can negotiate a settlement with a debt collector if the account has been charged off — offering to pay 50% to 70% of the balance in exchange for the collector removing the debt from your report (get this in writing).

If the debt is very old (near the seven-year mark) or you live in a state with a short statute of limitations on debt collection, the collector may have limited power to pursue you legally, though they can still contact you. A nonprofit credit counselor can review your situation and help you decide whether to negotiate, pay in full, or explore other options.

Bankruptcy is a last resort and has serious long-term consequences, but it is an option if you have multiple debts you cannot pay and no realistic path to repayment. A bankruptcy attorney can explain whether Chapter 7 (liquidation) or Chapter 13 (repayment plan) might explore to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use my credit card after I miss a payment?

Your card issuer may freeze your account, preventing new purchases, though you can usually still make payments. If your account is frozen, you cannot use the card until you bring it current. Some issuers freeze when ready at 30 days past due; others wait until 60 or 90 days.

Will a missed payment affect my ability to get a loan or mortgage?

Yes. Lenders check your credit report and see missed payments. A recent missed payment makes you a higher-risk borrower, so you may be denied or offered a higher interest rate. The older the missed payment, the less it affects your chances. Most lenders are more forgiving of a missed payment from three years ago than one from three months ago.

What is the difference between a late payment and a charge-off?

A late payment is reported after 30 days unpaid and means you have not paid on time. A charge-off happens at 180 days unpaid and means the issuer has given up trying to collect and sold the debt. A charge-off is far more damaging to your credit score and stays on your report for seven years.

Can I remove a missed payment from my credit report?

You cannot remove an accurate missed payment yourself. However, you can dispute it if it is wrong (wrong amount, wrong date, or not yours). You can also ask your card issuer for a goodwill deletion if you have a long history of on-time payments and this is your first miss — some issuers will remove it as a courtesy, though they are not required to.

How long does a missed payment stay on my credit report?

A missed payment stays on your credit report for seven years from the original due date. After seven years, it falls off automatically and no longer affects your credit score. However, the debt itself may still be collectible depending on your state's statute of limitations, which ranges from three to ten years.