How To Recover From A Late Student Loan Payment

Despite your best intentions, you made a late student loan payment. The word delinquent flashes through your head, and you breathe a sigh of relief once the actual consequences become clear.

Because late student loan payments tend to hurt your credit rating and charge you fees, the consequences of a first late payment aren't as deep as they initially sound.

The grace period.

You are considered delinquent if you have one day more past due on your bill. But the status of this designation will be revoked if you make monthly payments during the grace period of your creditor. It is our reminder that a delinquency isn't a default status, something that will occur after multiple days of overdue payments.

Each lender sets its own grace period. During this time you will not be charged a late fee for delinquent payments. Sallie Mae, for example, waits fifteen days before imposing a penalty of 6 percent of your minimum payment fee.

No matter what the reason is, spare yourself the panicked reaction. Take five or so minutes in order to learn what your grace period is in case you make a late student loan payment.

Late payments and your credit score.

It's extremely rare that late payments aren't reported to credit bureaus (and aren't recorded on your credit report) before 45 days have passed or if it's longer than 90 days with federal student loans. If you exceed your grace period and the delinquency is reported to credit bureaus, you can dispute it. To do so, provide your teacher a letter along with any supporting documents.

Your likelihood of success will be higher depending on the time you've been current with your repayments, if you take full liability for the delinquency, and you're honest and polite when making requests. Your lender will consider your request or deny it within a week. You can also file a dispute for each credit reporting agency this way.

If you know you're due to make a late student loan payment, it's wise to talk to your banker. Being open and honest with your creditor can sometimes prevent late fees and or extend the time period before you are reported to credit agencies.

Avoid late payments in the future.

Do your best to set up a direct debit through your bank, so you never need to worry about remembering to bring your payment. Check your student loan repayment agreement to confirm that your order is processed even after your account funds fall short.

Not being late on a student loan payment is not the end of the line. By planning ahead and automating your finances, you can avoid ever missing a payment again.

How to avoid late payments?

When it comes to making payments, whether they are for rent, bills or other expenses, being on time is crucial. Unfortunately, for many people, this is easier said than done. If you find yourself struggling to make timely payments, here are a few tips that can help:

1) Make a budget and stick to it. Knowing how much money you have coming in and going out each month is key to keeping on top of your payments.
2) Set up automatic payments. This will help ensure that your bills are paid on time each month without having to worry about them.
3) Put away some money each month for unexpected expenses. This will help you cover any last-minute costs that may come up and cause you to fall behind on your payments.
4) Use a credit card with a low interest rate.

What to do if you've already missed a payment?

Missing a payment can be stressful, especially if you're not sure what to do next. This guide will help you take the right steps to get back on track.

First, don't panic! Missing a payment doesn't mean you're doomed to a life of debt. Second, assess the situation and figure out why you missed your payment. Maybe there was an unexpected expense or you just didn't have enough money that month. Whatever the reason, understanding why is key to finding a solution.

Third, reach out to your creditor as soon as possible. They may be able to work with you on a repayment plan or other solution. And finally, take action! Putting off solving your debt only makes things worse in the long run.