Paying your credit card bill on time each month is vital to avoid late fees and rate of interest charges. It also helps maintain a good credit score. However, with busy schedules, it’s easy to miss credit card payment due dates occasionally. Here are some of the best ways to ensure you never miss paying your credit card bill on time:
Top Ways to Avoid Late Fees on Credit Cards
Here are some of the compelling ways by which you can always avoid late fees on credit cards:
1. Set Up Automatic Payments
It is one of the simplest methods to prevent late credit card payment due dates. Most credit card institutions enable cardholders to establish automatic monthly payments for the complete balance or minimum amount due. Through the setup of autopay, the card payment amount gets automatically withdrawn from your bank account on a predetermined date every month. Having scheduled auto payments on your credit card protects on-time payments while eliminating the need for manual remembering.
2. Sign Up for Payment Reminders
You can sign up to receive payment reminders from your credit card company via email or SMS a few days before your bill’s due date. These payment reminders are notifications so you can pay your bill before it is considered late. Many credit card companies allow customers to pick the frequency and channel of receiving payment reminders. Opting into this free service can help avoid unintentionally missing payments.
3. Use Mobile Banking Apps
Most banks and credit card companies enable consumers to use mobile banking apps that enable fast and simple online credit card bill payments. Through your bank’s mobile application, you can view your account activities and statements while scheduling one-time and recurring payments. Users receive payment-due alerts via the apps they have installed. The mobile app allows you to pay credit card bills anywhere while reducing your payment time.
4. Pay More than the Minimum Amount Due
While paying the minimum amount due may prevent late fees, it results in more interest charges over time. Paying more than the minimum due helps reduce your overall balance faster. Putting down more money also gives you a buffer if you ever miss a payment by accident the next month. Paying above the minimum due should be an ongoing goal.
5. Avoid Unnecessary Purchases
Use your credit card only for essential daily needs. Buying unnecessary items with your credit card increases the difficulty of paying your total amount due before the billing date. When using your credit card for a purchase, verify that you have funds to manage all your obligations and new expenses. Focusing credit card payments on essential expenses will decrease balance amounts and minimise late payment charges.
6. Set Calendar Reminders
One of the last ways to remember credit card payment due dates is by setting reminders in your calendar or planner. Mark your bill’s due date monthly to ensure you allocate funds on time. Scheduling a few days advance notice is wise in case extra time is needed to make the payment before it is late.
5. Convert Large Transactions into EMIs
If you’ve made a big purchase using your credit card and are finding it difficult to repay the entire amount in one go, consider converting that transaction into Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs). This allows you to spread out the repayment over a few months at a lower interest rate. EMIs make your monthly payments more manageable and reduce the risk of missing payment deadlines due to high outstanding dues.
Conclusion
Setting up automatic payments, signing up for payment reminders, utilising mobile banking apps, paying above the minimum amount due, limiting unnecessary purchases, and using calendar reminders are some of the best ways to avoid paying credit card late fees. Consistently putting these tips into practice makes meeting payment deadlines easy.