What starts as one missed payment can turn into financial ruin if the consumer isn’t careful. Minor money problems can snowball into even more serious issues when nothing changes. This may lead to liens, bankruptcy and other legal actions.
At a glance, one missed payment doesn’t seem like much. However, credit card companies will charge a late payment fee and add extra interest on the amount missed. More recently, creditors have begun increasing the total interest rate charged to delinquent accounts by as much as 10% and increasing the amount of the minimum payment owed every time a payment is late or missed altogether.
For example, a simple monthly payment of $100 can become a $350 monthly payment very rapidly. Most consumers will ration out money in their budget, dividing it among creditors, utilities and basic needs, like food and fuel. Doubling or tripling the amount paid to one bill usually reduces the amount of money left to pay the others, causing a late payment to other creditors. That late payment will result in another fee, added interest and higher monthly payment. Continue reading ‘Late Payments Can Snowball Into Financial Crisis’ »