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Can I Change My Credit Card Due Date? Yes, Here’s How

It’s possible to move a credit card due date in most cases. Find out why it’s helpful.

September 1, 2022

You may be under the impression that your credit card due date is set in stone. But, in most cases, it’s written in pencil, and your credit card issuer is pretty flexible.

Some people prefer to pay all of their bills on the same day or they want bills to align with their paycheck schedule — while other people prefer spreading out their due dates evenly. Whatever the case, it could be in your best interest to change your credit card payment due date so it aligns with your needs and schedule. 

Below, we’ll cover:

  • What a credit card due date is and its significance

  • How to change your credit card due date

  • Why you may want to change your due date

  • What to do if you can’t change your due date

What’s a credit card payment due date?

Your credit card payment due date is the final day to make at least the minimum payment for a billing cycle before your credit card issuer considers it late. Your credit card billing cycle usually ranges from 27 to 31 days, depending on the card issuer.

Once the billing cycle ends, known as the credit card statement closing date, your due date for that period is typically set for 21 to 25 days after the cycle closes. The law says your credit card due date has to fall on the same day every month.

If the credit card company doesn't receive your minimum payment amount on or before the due date, it may apply a late fee. However, your credit report usually won’t reflect late payment history until your payment is at least 30 days late, at which point the late payment could potentially damage your FICO credit score.

If you mail in your monthly payment, don’t wait until the day before your credit card payment due date to do so. Credit card companies post payments as they receive them, not by their postmarked dates. So allow a few days for the credit card company to receive your payment in the mail.

You can avoid this issue by connecting your bank account to your credit card and making payments online. Another option is to call and make a payment over the phone, but you may incur a one-time payment fee. 

How can I change my credit card’s due date?

Most credit card companies will let cardholders change their due dates. Depending on your credit card issuer, there are two ways you can make this change:

  • Online/mobile app: Some companies allow you to perform due date changes online, and others let you do it via their mobile app.

  • Phone: A quick call to your card issuer’s customer service line can quickly change your credit card payment due date.

Most card companies won’t let you change your due date to the 29th, 30th or 31st because not all months have these dates. Many will have a cutoff time for changing the date, so calling the day before your due date to request a change that month may not be possible. 

In some cases, you can’t change your billing date at all. If you can’t change your due date, there are some other options for you, but more on this later.

When it makes sense to change your credit card due date

There are a few possible strategies for changing your credit card payment due date. Everyone has different needs, so do what works for you. Here are a few reasons you might want to change it.

To coincide with payday

If you find yourself running out of funds to pay bills at the end of the month, it may be in your best interest to make your bills coincide with payday.

One issue here is that some organizations pay their employees bi-weekly. But if you have a fixed pay date — say, the first and the 15th — you can schedule your credit card billing due dates to coincide perfectly with that influx of funds. This way, you can pay your credit card bill first and then budget the rest of your spending for the month.

To consolidate payments

Consistently making on-time payments is the biggest factor in getting a good credit score. If forgetfulness is more of a struggle, consider shifting your credit card bill payments to land on the same day (and close to other large payment dates, such as rent, mortgage or car payments).

By doing this, you only have to remember one date, and you can make all of your major payments at once. But there’s one downside, if you forget your payment date, that could also mean a lot of late payments all at once. As an extra precaution, set reminders on your phone and calendar.

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To spread out payments

Sometimes it’s more inconvenient to have all of your bills hit your bank account at once. If you find yourself coming up short on billing day, you may want to change your due date to spread out your payments.

If this reflects your situation, it may be best to spread your payments week to week so you have a consistent payment schedule. This billing scenario may work best for freelancers and gig workers who rely on variable income without specific paydays.

To avoid big recurring bills

If you have a car payment, mortgage or large installment payment to another lender every month, it may be in your best interest to move your credit card payment due dates as far away from those big payments as possible. 

An assortment of large bills all at once can be stressful and overwhelming. Adding a credit card payment to that mix — even if it’s a small one — could leave you light on funds.

If you pay rent on the first of the month and your car payment on the second, schedule your credit card monthly payments to land on the 16th. This way, your due dates are right in the middle of your two biggest installment payments, giving you a bit of breathing room.

To avoid interest charges

By moving your due date, you can also move the interest grace period, which is the period between the end of your billing cycle and the due date. The credit card company won't apply the statement's accrued interest to your account during this time. If you pay the complete statement balance by the credit card payment due date, you won’t incur interest charges from that statement. 

Imagine you have a large lump-sum payment, like a bonus check or big commission check, coming in a few months that you plan to use to pay off a large credit card balance. Unfortunately, it'll arrive after your due date, so you'll incur interest charges for that month. 

However, if you change your credit card payment due date to after you're scheduled to receive that cash, you can pay the statement balance and save on that month's interest. 

What to do if you can’t change your due date

 If your credit card company doesn’t allow you to change your due date, you still have other options. You just have to take matters into your own hands.

Let’s say you get paid on the first and 15th and you have multiple bills due on the first of the month: rent, car payment and credit cards. Instead of making a payment for a credit card bill that’s inconveniently due on the first, pay for your bill ahead of time — ideally, as soon as you get paid on the 15th. 

And if you don’t get paid on the 15th, you can set a fixed date in your calendar that works best for you. That way, you have enough time before your payments at the beginning of the month, making them more manageable.

Just remember not to pay too early. If you make a payment before the billing cycle ends, the credit card issuer may process it as an extra payment in the current billing cycle instead of as a payment for the upcoming billing statement. This would leave you with a minimum payment due in the next billing cycle, despite making the extra payment. 

If your budget doesn’t have the wiggle room to pay that extra minimum monthly payment by the credit card payment due date, you could incur a late fee and maybe even a late payment mark on your credit report. Carefully review your billing cycle and due date and determine when it makes sense to make your payment and that you’re doing so in the proper time frame.

Tally can help you manage your credit card payment due dates

Whatever the reason for changing your credit card payment due date — to match up with your payday, consolidate payments, spread out payments, avoid large recurring bills or avoid interest charges — it could help improve your financial situation. As long as your credit card issuer allows it, you can complete the change online or over the phone. 

If you're looking to consolidate and streamline your credit card payments, download the Tally†credit card debt repayment app. The app helps you manage your credit card payments by combining them into just one payment per month. Tally also offers a lower-interest personal line of credit, allowing you to pay off higher-interest credit cards efficiently. 

To get the benefits of a Tally line of credit, you must qualify for and accept a Tally line of credit. The APR (which is the same as your interest rate) will be between 7.90% and 29.99% per year and will be based on your credit history. The APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Annual fees range from $0 - $300.