Costs And Fees: How to Avoid Late Fees on Credit Cards?

by R. MAK. on August 14, 2009 · 0 comments

in Card Technology, Credit Card Basics, Credit Card Debt, Credit Card Processing

 

Being late in paying your bills is going to cost you, big time.

Having credit card late fees at $39, this is no time to be late with your card payment.

Mind those Payment Rules 

I suggest you that one of the most important things that can be done by you is that you should follow your card issuer’s payment guidelines precisely. You can see these guidelines on  the back of each credit card bill.

payment rules

When we are talking about processing credit card payments, then all these little details are incredibly important.

Everything may be included in payment guidelines from a specific payment address to the time of day by which the payment must be received to be credited that day. Many issuers also gives direst the customers to send their payments must in the same preprinted envelope sent to the customer.

While it is required by the Fair Credit Billing Act issuers should credit payments the day they are received, each issuer is permitted to set specific payment guidelines. If any of the given guidelines are not met, then the issuer can possibly take as many as five days in order to credit the payment.

So follow those payment guidelines carefully as if you don’t then an on-time payment could easily become "late" during that five-day period.

late_fees

To make sure that your payment gets credited immediately as you send them:

  • Use the preprinted envelope that is provided to you by the credit card company.
  • You should include the billing coupon, and make sure that you have written the amount being paid in the box provided.
  • You have to ensure that checks are legible and the payment amount is correct. You have signed the check. You have to write the credit card account number on the check.
  • Send your payment with proper postage to the payment address that has been requested by the issuer. It would be a good idea to mail your payment at least one week in advance of the due date. It would be even better if you send your payments ten days to two weeks prior to a due date.

Avoid Late Fees

Below I am giving you few payment tips and strategies that will show you how to keep yourself away from those monster late fees.

7 Ways to Avoid Late Fees

  1. You should follow payment guidelines
  2. You should pay minimum immediately
  3. You may change your due date
  4. You may set up automatic online, on-time payments
  5. You may pay by phone
  6. You may use Express mail or wire payment
  7. Good payers can ask for a waiver from their card company

Pay Minimum Immediately

The safest strategy for anyone who is willing to send a card payment by snail mail is to pay the bill as soon as it arrives, even if in case you can only make the minimum payment. A great way to guard against late fees is to give your issuer the 2% minimum payment it wants ASAP. And when you’ve got more cash then you can always send a bigger payment.

 
 

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