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What Happens When You Don’t Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt?

08 Jun 2023 - Category: Blog /
Credit Card Debt

You are liable for repaying the debt when you get a credit card, although it might be tough to manage finances in order to pay bills. There may be concerns about meeting payment deadlines and paying everything on time. Of course, circumstances and unexpected events occur, making you unable to satisfy your credit card's minimum payment.

You don't have to pay the entire sum simultaneously, but card companies ask you to make at least the bare minimum payment by the due date.

But what if you chose to avoid paying your credit card bill at all? This has multiple consequences; the more time you go without paying, the worse they become. Whatever the cause, if you're thinking about not paying your credit card, you must remember that you could face severe penalties. Let's find out.

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What if you are completely unable to pay your credit card?

Credit card payments can be missed by anyone. However, knowing the potential outcomes can be beneficial. A late credit card payment appears not only on your payment record but also on your credit score. If you don't pay the dues, your credit card issuer may send you overdue notifications. These could take the shape of phone calls, emails, letters, or SMS.

Even if you miss a payment by mistake, it can have long-term financial consequences and harm your credit score. Learn how to build a good credit score.

Missed credit card payments have different consequences based on the card issuer. However, if you don't pay your credit card due amount on time, your credit score will decline, you will face expenses such as late-payment penalties and an increased interest rate, and your account may be cancelled.

Missed payments can result in a poor rating on your credit report, late fines, the loss of special interest rates or prizes, and higher rates of interest. Even a recently missed credit card payment can result in a call from the collection agency. Furthermore, the more days you go without making a payment, the worse the impact on your credit will be. Below, we are sharing some of the consequences of not paying your credit card bill.

  • YOU MAY BE CHARGED LATE FEES.

If you delay a credit card payment for more than 30 days, you are likely to be charged a late fee. The fee amount will depend on the regulations and regulations of the credit card issuer, but it is mostly a percentage of the entire sum.

    YOU WILL BE REPORTED NEGATIVELY TO CREDIT BUREAUS.

Furthermore, your creditor reports late payments to credit bureaus, which will reflect poorly on your credit report. This will significantly hurt your credit score.

  • YOUR APR MAY INCREASE.

If you get over 60 days late on a credit card payment, the creditor may raise your interest rate. In this case, you will be charged a higher interest rate on your balance as well as any future purchases.

  • YOUR CREDITOR MAY CLOSE YOUR ACCOUNT.

An unpaid account is often regarded as default after six months, which means that the card issuer has the ability to close the account. They are not required to contact you before taking this action. In fact, many card issuers remove accounts without notifying the customer in the case of significant nonpayment, as terminating overdue accounts helps the issuer avoid further financial losses.

  • YOUR CREDITOR WILL PASS ON YOUR UNPAID DEBT TO A COLLECTION AGENCY.

If you aren't able to make your credit card payments even after many months, your credit card may be cancelled, and the creditor might refer your account to a collection agency. Their purpose is generally to determine whether or not you can pay and whether there is a better option than sending the debt to collections. The debt collection agency may charge you additional fees and make multiple phone calls and other efforts to contact you.

  • YOU CAN FACE LAWSUITS FOR CREDIT CARD DEBT.

Unpaid credit card bills won't put you in jail, but they could put you in court.

When you don't pay your credit card payments, your creditor or collection agency may decide to pursue legal action to recover the payments. And in this case, you will be served with legal documents. In addition, a creditor may take your wages and also put a lien on your property in the worst-case situation.

It's also worth noting that unpaid credit card debt might remain on your credit report for up to seven years.

Making the Right Decision

Understanding that late credit card payments can have unexpected repercussions will help you become more proactive. Prioritizing your financial well-being, including credit card management, may assist you in avoiding some common blunders that might lead to financial issues in future.

Credit cards make it far too simple to overspend. Buying on credit could possibly make your purchases costly due to the interest you could be paying on them. Acquiring a credit card has consequences that last, and they aren't always positive. So, what's the best way to send money?

Send money without you a credit card

Although you could possibly transfer money using a regular credit card, depending on your credit card company's rules, it's more efficient and less costly to use Small World Money Transfer App since charges are lower and, unlike credit cards, you don't have to deal with low credit ratings. Signing up for the Small World Money Transfer app allows anyone to make a digital transfer without revealing their personal financial information. You can even use your normal debit card to process your order. Happy sending!

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