 TITLE: How Subprime Loans Can Affect Your Credit CONTENT: Subprime loans affect your credit scores the same way any other loan would. Your payment history is the most important factor in your scores, so it's essential that you make your payments on time every month.\nOne way to ensure this happens is to set up automatic payments from your checking account and always make sure there's enough in the account to cover what you owe. If you do happen to miss a payment, remember that it won't be reported as late on your credit report until 30 days after the due date.\nIf it's just a few days late, you may be charged a fee, but it won't show up on your credit history if you pay it promptly. END