 TITLE: Can One 30-Day Late Payment Hurt Your Credit? CONTENT: How to Avoid Late Payments in the Future\n----------------------------------------\nGoing forward, the best thing you can do for your credit scores is to avoid late payments and pay your bills on time, every time. A few tips to keep you on track:\n*   Consider setting up automatic bill payments in your online banking account.\n*   Add payment due dates to your personal calendar.\n*   Set up reminders or alerts so you don't miss due dates.\nYou may see ads for credit repair companies that promise to remove late payments from your credit report. Just be aware: Accurately reported late payments won't be removed. Your time and effort are better spent on cultivating good credit habits so you can improve your credit score yourself over time.\nWhile you're doing this, it's a good practice to check your credit score and report regularly, which you can do for free through Experian. You'll be able to spot and address any inaccuracies on your credit report as they arise and monitor your progress as your credit improves. END