Let’s be real, life happens.
You miss a payment. Maybe your paycheck was delayed, you forgot the due date, or your auto-pay failed without you noticing.
But once the panic fades, the next big question hits:
“How bad is this for my credit score?”
The answer? It depends on how late the payment was, how often it happens, and how your credit profile looked before. But make no mistake: late payments can do serious damage.
In this post, we’ll find out what actually happens behind the scenes when you’re late, how it affects your score, and what you can do to fix the damage or prevent it in the first place.
Part of the Series: Best Strategies for your Credit!
How to Improve Your Credit Score
├─ 10 Proven Boost Your Credit Score Strategies
├─ How to Build Credit with No History: Effective Steps
├─ How to Get Free Annual Credit Report in 3 Steps
├─ Best Secured Credit Cards for Beginners
├─ How Credit Utilization Affects Your Score
├─ Why Is Your FICO Score Different from Bank to Credit Card?
└─ How Late Payments Affect Your Score [Current Article]
What Counts as a “Late Payment”?[1][2]
Your payment is officially “late” the day after your due date.
But that doesn’t mean it hits your credit report right away.
Here’s how it works:
- 1–29 days late → You might get hit with a late fee, but it won’t appear on your credit report
- 30+ days late → This is when it gets serious, your lender reports it to the credit bureaus
- 60, 90, 120, 150 days late → Each missed month adds more red flags to your report
- 180+ days late → Could be sued by debt collectors, and this becomes a major negative mark
📌 Important: Even one 30-day late payment can drop your score by 60 to 110 points, depending on your credit history.
How Much Does One Late Payment Hurt?
It depends on a few things:
| Factor | How It Affects the Impact |
|---|---|
| Your current score | The higher your score, the more it can drop. Ironically, good credit is more “fragile.” |
| How late the payment is | 30 days late hurts, but 90+ days late is worse, and stays longer |
| How recent the late payment is | Recent lates (past 12 months) matter more than older ones |
| How many late payments you’ve had | One late is bad. A pattern of them? Much worse. |
🔍 Example:
- A 760 FICO score could drop to around 670 with just one 30-day late
- A 650 score might drop to around 610 or lower
Why Are Late Payments So Damaging?
Because payment history is the biggest part of your FICO score, it makes up 35% of the formula.
Want even more about FICO score formula?
👉 Check out our “How to Improve Your Credit Score” article.
Lenders care about one thing: will you pay them back?
A history of missed payments tells them you might not and that’s a red flag.
Here’s what else late payments do:
- Stay on your credit report for 7 years
- Scare off lenders and landlords
- Raise your interest rates on future loans or credit cards
- Get you denied for new credit
Can You Fix a Late Payment?
Yes, but not always easily.
🔁 1. If It Was an Honest Mistake
Call your lender and ask for a “goodwill adjustment.”
If you have a solid history and this was a one-time error, some lenders will remove the late mark as a courtesy.
📌 Tip: Be polite, explain the situation, and ask if they’d consider removing the report.
✍️ 2. Dispute Errors
If the late payment was reported incorrectly (for example, you actually paid on time), you can file a dispute with the credit bureau.
- Submit proof (bank statement, payment receipt)
- The bureau must investigate within 30 days
💰 3. Catch Up and Pay Off
Even if the late mark sticks, catching up on your payments stops the bleeding.
If the account goes 60 or 90 days late, that’s even worse, so act fast.
After you pay, time becomes your best friend:
→ The older the late payment, the less it affects your score.
How to Prevent Late Payments in the Future
If you’re juggling bills and due dates, here are a few simple tools to stay on track:
✅ Set up autopay for at least the minimum
✅ Use calendar reminders a few days before each due date
✅ Group due dates to the same week of the month, if your lender allows
✅ Ask for due date changes if your payday doesn’t line up well
✅ Keep a small emergency buffer in your checking account
A late payment might feel like a small hiccup, but it can cause a big drop in your credit score, especially if it’s reported.
The good news? One mistake doesn’t define your credit journey.
Whether it’s getting back on track, negotiating with lenders, or building better habits, you can recover, and even come back stronger.
So if you’ve slipped up, don’t panic, just take action.
🔗 Want to see the full picture?
References
- [1] Experian, When Do Late Payments Get Reported?
- [2] Lendingtree, What To Do When You Have Delinquent Debt
