 TITLE: Can One 30-Day Late Payment Hurt Your Credit? CONTENT: What Happens When Your Payment Is Late?\n---------------------------------------\nWhen you make a payment after its stated due date, you're generally subject to a late payment fee. This can happen immediately or following a designated grace period (more on this in a moment). You may also lose access to promotional interest rates on your credit card, which can be costly if you carry a large balance.\nIf your payment is 30 days or more past its due date, your creditor may also report your late payment to one or more of the three credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. The impact one late payment has on your credit score depends on your unique credit history. For example, if you have excellent credit and this is your first late payment, your credit score may drop significantly—more dramatically than it would for someone who has already accumulated multiple late payments. Why? After a string of late payments, that person's credit score has already sustained damage.\nOn the other hand, your excellent credit score and clean history might allow you to maintain a relatively good score, even with one 30-day late payment. And a single 30-day late payment is less impactful than a payment that is 60, 90 or 120 days late. END