If you've missed a credit card payment, understanding what happens next is key to making sure the impact is minimal.

If you need debt advice, you can speak to charities like StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice.

What to do if you've missed a credit card payment

Missing a credit card payment happens - with different expenses leaving your account on different days, it's understandable if it's difficult to keep on top of. Once you notice you've missed a payment, you should:

Let your lender know that you've noticed the missed payment. Contacting their customer service team should give you the opportunity to agree the steps you'll take to make up the payment.

You can usually find their contact information by scrolling to the bottom of their website and clicking on something like 'Contact us'.

If you're able to make the payment, it's a good idea to do it sooner rather than later. That's because most credit cards charge interest on any balance that's carried over and leaving it unpaid could cause the overall amount to increase over time.

Setting up an automatic Direct Debit to cover either the full amount (if you usually use the same amount of money every month), part of the amount or just the minimum payment can give you peace of mind. Paying only the minimum can keep you from missing a payment, but it will usually mean interest continues to build and it can take much longer to clear the balance.

Just remember that any balance that's carried over accrues interest. So, it's a good idea to check your monthly statements to understand what you owe.

What happens if you miss a credit card payment?

A few things could happen if you miss a credit card payment - whether that's by one day or longer.

The first thing to be aware of is the fees you could be charged. Depending on the type of credit card you have and the amount of interest the lender charges, you'll need to pay the amount you owe plus the interest.

The lender may also charge late fees - information about the charges and fees for your credit card is usually in the documentation you receive when you apply.

If you're unsure of how much the total amount will be, it's a good idea to contact your lender.

In the UK, lenders report your account status to credit reference agencies (such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) on a monthly cycle. If a payment is missed on its due date and remains unpaid by the next reporting snapshot, it may be marked as late on your credit report. If you manage to make the full payment before the lender's next reporting date, they might not record it as missed.

But if you miss the payment for that period - or are only able to pay some of the outstanding balance - it may show as a late or missed payment on your credit report.

If continued missed payments eventually lead to a default, or if the lender takes court action resulting in a CCJ (County Court Judgment), either may stay on your credit report for six years. That means that if you want credit in the future - a new card, car finance or a loan for example - you might have difficulty being accepted because lenders can see how you've managed money in the past.

How many missed payments before a default?

A default doesn't happen overnight. There is a clear escalation process between your first missed payment and a formal default being recorded on your credit report, and understanding this timeline can help you take action before things go too far.

Most lenders follow a broadly similar path. After one missed payment, you'll usually receive a reminder or a late payment notice. If you miss a second or third consecutive payment, your account moves into arrears and the lender will send more urgent correspondence. A default is typically issued after three to six months of missed payments, though the exact timeframe depends on the lender's policies and your individual circumstances. Throughout this period, you'll usually have opportunities to bring the account up to date or agree a repayment plan.

Before a default is recorded on your credit report, your lender is required to send you a formal default notice. This letter gives you at least 14 days to make up the missed payments or reach an agreement with the lender. If you don't take action within this window, the lender can then register the default with credit reference agencies. Once recorded, the default stays on your credit report for six years from the date it was issued - even if you later pay off the debt in full.

These three terms represent increasing levels of severity. A missed payment is a single month where the minimum payment was not made on time - it appears on your credit report as a late or missed marker for that month. Arrears refers to the total amount you owe in overdue payments and indicates an ongoing shortfall rather than a one-off event. A default is the most serious of the three - it means the lender has closed or frozen your account because payments have been missed over a sustained period, and it signals to other lenders that the credit agreement broke down.

Yes, in many cases you can. The 14-day window provided by the default notice is specifically designed to give you a chance to resolve the situation. If you can pay the overdue amount in full, or if you contact the lender and agree a suitable repayment plan, they may choose not to register the default. Acting quickly at this stage is critical - once a default is formally recorded, it cannot be removed unless it was applied in error.

When lenders are deciding to offer you money, the interest rate is often lower if you have a proven track record of responsibly managing repayments. A late payment, or several missed payments, can suggest you're riskier to lend to. The lenders might choose to counteract this risk by charging you a higher interest rate for your next credit product.

Learn more What's a good interest rate for a loan?

If your credit card came with a promotional offer - something like 0% interest for a period of time - missing a payment could mean losing that offer. Have a look at the agreement terms and see if you're impacted.

What happens if you miss a credit card payment by one day?

If you've missed a credit card payment by one day, the good news is that the consequences are usually far less severe than missing one for weeks or months. Most lenders build in a degree of flexibility, and a single day's delay is unlikely to trigger the worst outcomes - but it's still important to act quickly.

Some lenders may allow a short discretionary window before applying fees or other action, but many do not, so you should not rely on any grace period unless your provider confirms it. Where a provider does offer one, it is typically a few days after your due date, during which the lender may not charge a late fee or report the missed payment. However, grace periods are not guaranteed, and the length varies between providers. Check your credit card terms and conditions or contact your lender directly to find out whether a grace period applies to your account.

A payment that is one or two days late is very unlikely to appear on your credit report. Lenders generally only report a missed payment to credit reference agencies such as Equifax once it is at least 30 days overdue. So, if you realise you're a day or two late and make the payment straight away, it should not affect your credit file. That said, your lender may still apply a late payment fee to your account even if they don't report it externally.

Yes - it's well worth contacting your lender if you've been charged a late fee for a first-time missed payment. Many providers are willing to waive the fee as a goodwill gesture, particularly if you have an otherwise clean payment history. When you call, explain that the missed payment was a one-off, confirm that you've now paid the outstanding amount, and ask politely whether the fee can be removed. There's no guarantee, but lenders often prefer to keep a good customer happy rather than enforce a single penalty.

If you accidentally forgot to pay your credit card bill, don't panic. Make the payment as soon as you remember - the faster you act, the less likely you are to face lasting consequences. Once you've cleared the balance or at least made the minimum payment, consider setting up a Direct Debit so you're covered in future. Even a Direct Debit for the minimum payment amount can help reduce the risk of a missed payment being recorded on your credit report, provided there are sufficient funds in your account.

What happens to your credit score if you miss a payment?

If you miss a credit card payment and it shows on your credit report, you may see a drop in your credit score(s). Rebuilding your score afterwards may be helped by making all further payments on time and in full - but it can take a while to see your credit scores rise again, and other factors also play a role.

Learn more How to help improve your credit score

Does missing one credit card payment affect your credit score and report?

A single missed payment can have a real impact on your credit score, but the extent depends on your existing credit history and how quickly you resolve the situation.

There's no fixed number of points you'll lose, because credit scoring models weigh multiple factors at once. However, even one late payment that reaches the 30-day mark and is reported to a credit reference agency can cause a noticeable drop. For some people, the decline could be modest; for others with a previously spotless record, the relative impact may feel more significant because there is no other negative information to absorb the change.

Yes, your overall credit history provides important context. If you have years of on-time payments and responsible credit use, a single missed payment is treated as an anomaly rather than a pattern. Lenders reviewing your report can see that it was a one-off event. Conversely, if your credit file already contains other missed payments or high levels of debt, one more late payment adds to an existing pattern and may carry greater weight in scoring calculations.

Recovery depends on what you do next. If you bring the account up to date quickly and continue making all future payments on time, you could see your score begin to improve within a few months. The missed payment marker itself stays on your credit report for six years, but its influence on your score diminishes over time - especially as you build a more recent track record of positive repayment behaviour.

Generally, yes. A single missed payment suggests a temporary lapse, whereas multiple missed payments indicate a pattern of difficulty. Most lenders look at the frequency, recency, and severity of any negative marks. One missed payment from two years ago is viewed very differently from three missed payments in the last six months. If you've only missed one payment, focusing on consistent, on-time repayments going forward is the most effective way to demonstrate reliability to future lenders.

Can a late payment affect your ability to get credit?

If your scores have been impacted by a missed or late credit card payment, it's a good idea to wait for your scores to rise again before looking for other types of credit. If you apply for credit (a new credit card, a loan or car finance, for example) you might only be offered rates that reflect your score and other factors lenders consider - such as your income, existing borrowing, and affordability - so waiting for your scores to rise could mean seeing better offers.

How long do late payments stay on your credit report?

A late or missed payment may stay on your report for six years. Your ability to get credit, or to see offers with lower interest rates or higher limits, depends on how often you miss a payment.

That's because each missed payment has the potential to knock your credit scores down. And having lower scores means you may struggle to get additional credit.

What if you can't afford to pay?

Your score may improve over time after missing payments, but if you're frequently finding yourself unable to repay what you borrow on a credit card, it's a good idea to seek advice from somewhere like Citizens Advice or National Debtline.

How can you remove a late payment from your credit report?

Late and missed payments, once reported, may stay on your credit report for six years. But, if you think there's been an error, you can raise a dispute with the credit reference agency (like Equifax).

It's free to submit a dispute, and you can usually support your claim by sending through documents (like proof of payment). It's then up to the agency to handle your dispute in line with their policies.

What are acceptable reasons for late payments on your credit report?

If you believe a late payment on your credit report is unfair or incorrect, you may be able to dispute it - but not every reason will be accepted. Understanding which circumstances may support a challenge can help you decide whether it's worth pursuing.

• Payment processing error - you made the payment on time, but a technical issue or processing delay meant it wasn't received by the lender before the due date.

• Bank error - your bank failed to execute a Direct Debit or transfer you had correctly set up, causing the payment to be missed through no fault of your own.

• Fraud - unauthorised activity on your account led to missed payments or disrupted your ability to pay.

• Incorrect reporting by the lender - the lender recorded the payment as late when it was actually made on time, or reported the wrong payment status to the credit reference agency.

• Forgetting to pay - while understandable, this is not considered grounds for removal, as it remains the account holder's responsibility to make payments on time.

• Cash-flow problems - financial difficulty, while sympathetic, does not make a reported late payment inaccurate.

• Being on holiday or away from home - lenders expect that payment arrangements (such as Direct Debits) are in place regardless of personal travel.

If your dispute is unsuccessful but you feel the circumstances deserve context, you can add a notice of correction to your credit report. This is a short statement (up to 200 words) that explains why the late payment occurred. Lenders are required to read this notice when assessing your application, and it can provide valuable context - for example, if you experienced a serious illness or were affected by a natural disaster.

If you've raised a dispute with the credit reference agency and the lender, and you're unhappy with the outcome, you can escalate the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS can investigate your complaint independently and has the authority to instruct a lender to amend your credit file if it finds the late payment was reported unfairly. You'll need to have gone through the lender's formal complaints process first, and the lender must have issued a final response or taken more than eight weeks to reply before the FOS will step in.

Will you be charged a fee on late payments?

You might be charged a fee on any late or missed payments - information about the charges and fees for your credit card is usually in the documentation you receive when you apply.

How can you make sure you never miss a payment?

If you're worried about repaying any debt you owe - whether that's on a credit card or loan - it's a good idea to seek advice. You can go to charities like National Debtline and StepChange and ask one of their experts for guidance.

Generally, the best way to avoid missing payments is to plan ahead:

• Only apply for credit you can afford. Any credit you take out is a form of debt. Understanding the risks associated with missing a debt payment (like the ones above) is key to making sure you don't take on more than you can afford.

• Budget. Knowing how much you're likely to borrow every month on a credit card (i.e. how much of your credit limit you'll use), can help you set up a budget. You can check if your expenses will allow you to repay the expected amount every month and plan accordingly.

• Set up reminders of when your payments are due. Adding a recurring reminder to your calendar can help you visualise what payments are due. Setting up a coinciding alarm to go off a day or two before can also give you the chance to move money between your accounts ahead of the due date.

• Set up direct debits. An automatic Direct Debit - for the full balance, a set amount, or at least the minimum - can stop you missing due dates. See 'Set up a Direct Debit for future payments' above for the details and the trade-offs of minimum-only payments.

• Create an emergency fund. An emergency savings fund is meant to act as a safety net if you have an unexpected expense. Generally, having at least three months' expenses (especially the essential payments like a mortgage, car finance payment, phone bill and utilities, for example) is a great starting point. If you're able to start putting away some money, an emergency fund could give you some breathing room.