 TITLE: What Is a Grace Period? CONTENT: Do Payments Made Within the Grace Period Affect Your Credit?\n------------------------------------------------------------\nIn most cases, payments made during the grace period will not affect your credit. Late payments—which can negatively impact your credit— can only be reported to credit bureaus once they are 30 or more days past due. If you don't submit a payment during the grace period, you'll be responsible for paying any interest or late fees that are added to your account.\nIf you do not pay your bill within 30 days of the due date, the creditor—in addition to charging you any late fees or interest—will have the right to report the missing payment to one or more of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax). Payment history is the most important aspect of your credit score, and even one late or missed payment can negatively impact your scores.\nIf you've missed a payment in the past and are unsure if its listed in your credit report, consider getting a free copy of your credit reports and credit scores from Experian to see if any negative marks appear on your credit report. END