Have you ever been late on a loan repayment? It seems that just at the time that you need it least, banks and other lenders slap hefty charges on your account. This is the last thing you need, especially when youre finding it difficult to keep up with your repayments. Its like a spiral, youre late on a payment, so you get a late fee, then the fee makes it harder to meet your next payment so you get another late fee, or a late fee from one of your other accounts. Before you know it all your money is going on late fees instead of on the payments themselves.
So how do you deal with this situation?
Well the first thing to know is that you can never be charged a late fee for being late on repaying an existing late fee. For example, suppose you owe $100 on a credit card. If you were late you might incur a $20 late fee. On your next month youll still owe the $100 plus interest, but youll also owe the $20 late fee. If you only have enough for the $100 plus interest, pay that, and tell the lender in your bill payment that its for your regular payment. Youll still owe the $20 late fee, but you cant be charged a late fee for not repaying it on time....