 TITLE: How to Pay Your Credit Card Bills in a Financial Emergency CONTENT: 1\\. Contact Your Creditors\n--------------------------\nPaying at least the minimum on your credit card bills every month will help you avoid hurting your credit and keep you in good financial standing with your card issuers. But if that's not possible, call your card issuers now. Credit card companies recognize economic downturns, and often respond with assistance programs. For example, your credit card company may allow cardholders to skip payments without accruing interest for a certain time period. Help won't come to you automatically, though, so you must be proactive and contact your card issuers. END