Stuck with a credit card late fee? Here's how to get it waived

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• If you don't pay your credit card bill on time, a late fee will show up on your statement the next month.
• The average credit card late fee is $26, and late fees account for more than half of all consumer fees.   
• If you accidentally paid your bill late, here are three steps you can take to get a credit card late fee waiver.

When used responsibly, credit cards come with numerous benefits for borrowers. You'll receive additional protection against credit card fraud, and some cards come with cash back rewards. But if you miss a payment, you'll get hit with a late fee (although some credit cards don't charge late fees).

If you get stuck with a credit card late fee, Louis J. Schoeman, Director and Financial Expert at Forex Suggest, recommends trying to get it waived as soon as possible. He says that most credit card companies are surprisingly understanding. "In most cases, they will waive it if it's your first time," he explains. 

How credit card late fees work

Your credit card company issues a late fee if you can't make the minimum monthly payment by the due date. The exact fee depends on the card issuer, but most charge a flat fee. 

A late fee will show up on your credit card statement the following month. The late fee increases your total balance, and you'll have to pay interest on that fee. Some credit card companies do offer grace periods, which is a timeframe within which the payment can be delayed without a late fee. 

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the average late fee is $26 per late payment. Late fees account for 99% of penalty fees and more than half of all consumer fees.  

How late payments can hurt you

It's important to get in the habit of paying your bills on time because late payments can negatively impact you. "How late fees can affect you really depends on your circumstances and the agreement you have in place," says Schoeman. 

If your payment is only one or two days late, you'll receive a late fee. Some credit card companies have tiered late fees, which means the fee is based on your balance. For instance, the first late fee could be $20, but subsequent late fees could increase.

If your payment is more than 30 days late, your credit card issuer will report the late payment to the major credit bureaus. Schoeman says your overall credit profile will determine how much it affects your credit score. 

And if your payment is more than 60 days late, your credit card company may issue a penalty APR. For instance, if your regular APR is 18.24%, you could receive a penalty APR of 29.99%.

Schoeman says that one thing many people don't realize is that late payments can thwart any promotions you've received with the card. "This is especially important if you've acquired an interest-free credit card because one late payment can nullify that interest-free period." 

How to get credit card late fees waived

Things happen, and even the most responsible borrower may occasionally make their credit card payment late. But depending on the circumstances, some credit card issuers will waive late fees. If you accidentally paid your credit card late and got hit with a late fee, here are some steps you can take. 

1. Immediately pay your bill

If you've missed your payment, the first step you should take is to pay your bill immediately. Leaving your credit card bill unpaid for too long can damage your credit and cause more significant financial problems down the road. Plus, your issuer will be more willing to work with you if they can see you quickly took care of the problem.

2. Check to see if you've received a late fee

Next, you want to verify that you did receive a late fee. You can check your credit card statement to see if your lender charged a late fee. You'll also be able to see if you received a penalty APR or lost access to any credit card rewards. 

3. Contact your credit card issuer

Schoeman recommends contacting your credit card issuer and explaining the situation. There are many scenarios where the late payment is understandable, and your credit card issuer may be willing to work with you. 

"If you're self-employed and happened to get a late payment from a customer or you've been of ill health, the likelihood is that the credit card company will sympathize with you and waive any fees," he explains.

Apologize for the late fee, and explain why it happened. Make sure to highlight your history as a good customer and ask if they'll be willing to waive the fee. 

Ways to avoid credit card late fees

Your credit card issuer may be willing to waive the late fee for a one-time occurrence. But they'll be less inclined to work with you if you routinely pay your bill late. Here are a few ways you can avoid credit card late fees going forward:

• Review your budget: Start by looking at your monthly budget and assessing whether you can afford to make your minimum payments each month. You'll need to find ways to cut back in other areas if you can't. 
• Set up payment reminders: If you have trouble remembering to pay your bills on time, you can set up payment reminders on your phone. That way, you always know when an upcoming payment is due. 
• Automate your payments: When you automate your monthly payments, you don't have to remember to log in and pay your bill. You can do this by logging into your account and activating the autopay feature. 
• Adjust your payment due date: If your payment falls at an inconvenient time — for instance, a few days before payday — you can contact your issuer and ask them to adjust your due date. 

The bottom line

It's easy to forget your payment due date and pay your credit card bill late. Fortunately, if you have a history of on-time payments, you can contact your issuer and ask to receive a credit card late fee waiver.

However, you want to look for strategies to avoid late payments in the future. Reviewing your budget, adjusting your due date, and setting up autopay will help you avoid late fees and the financial consequences that come with them.