Missed or might miss a payment

What actually happens

If you're only a few days late, most lenders do not report it to credit bureaus. You may get charged a late fee, but your credit score usually stays unchanged.

Once a payment is more than 30 days late, it can be reported — and that’s when your credit score may drop.

Typical timeline

• 1–29 days late → usually no credit impact
• 30+ days late → reported to credit bureaus
• 60–90+ days late → larger impact and higher risk

What affects how much it hurts

• Your previous payment history
• How late the payment is
• The type of account

What you can do now

• Pay before it reaches 30 days late
• Contact the lender if you’re close to missing
• Ask for a goodwill adjustment if it was a one-time issue