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Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards

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lazerz69
Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards

I have an Excel spread sheet with all the accounts in order of the due date.  Each time a payment is made it is entered in the spread sheet.

Message 21 of 57
longtimelurker
Epic Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards


@newUser0 wrote:

All my payements are paid in FULL till now. I don't know, I some what have a fear that if the Auto Payment of too many cards might get confused and might miss a Payment.

 

Did any one had a bad experience/ missed payments while using the  auto payment?


Unless you need to carry a balance (actually carry, not just report with one) then the first line of defense should be setting auto-pay to Pay Statement Balance on Due Date.

This is the most reliable way of avoiding missed payments and paying interest etc.  (But obviously only if you have the funds!).

 

Can there be issues?  Possibly, but I have never had one.   The point is that it is (sort of) their responsibility to pull, and unless there was a good reason, such as your bank account didn't have enough funds, you could almost certainly get any late fees refunded etc if there was an issue.  Now the language in the auto-pay agreement probably will contain denial of liability, but if it came to it, a consumer-friendly small-claims court would probably side with you  (But no guarantees of course)

 

Also, anything can go wrong with anything, your manual push or pull can fail, your check can be mishandled etc.  I would use autopay as the best safety net, and add other things as you feel the need (paranoia, OCD, "just common sense" etc)

Message 22 of 57
AgentofGaming
New Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards

I use mint.com to track the total balance of my credit cards. I then have a direct deposit goto one checking account and I always make sure the balance of that checking account is greater than the total balance of credit cards. With automatic full payments setup (I think the term was "Pre-Authorized Debit" in Canada) I didn't have to worry about the due date.


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Message 23 of 57
longtimelurker
Epic Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards


@AgentofGaming wrote:

I use mint.com to track the total balance of my credit cards. I then have a direct deposit goto one checking account and I always make sure the balance of that checking account is greater than the total balance of credit cards. With automatic full payments setup (I think the term was "Pre-Authorized Debit" in Canada) I didn't have to worry about the due date.


Right.  I should have added that the one thing people don't like about auto-pay is that it gives credit card companies some access to your bank account.  So one solution is as AgentofGaming does, set up a bank account just for the purpose of paying credit cards.   The downside is that do you then need to keep track more carefully to ensure it is funded enough at the appropriate times.

 

 

Message 24 of 57
k-s
Regular Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards

Between DBF and I, we have 15 credit cards, 2 auto loans, and a student loan. I manage these with a spreadsheet that I keep on my iPad and update it as I pay things. I have each account, balance, statement date, due date, and a checkbox column where I mark each as I pay it. Works well for me. I also ALWAYS log on to double check each one right before they're due. 

EQ MyFICO: 719 - Discover It TU FICO: 749 - EX 728
Amex PRG: NPSL | Amex Blue Sky: 2k | Amex BCE: 10k | Amex TrueEarnings: 5k | Amex Delta Gold: 2k | Discover It: 4k | SFCU: 13k | Quicksilver: 4k | Venture: 10k | Freedom: 2k | CSP: 7.5k | Amazon Visa: 5k | Citi TYPremier: 6.3k | Best Buy: 4.5k | Macy's Amex: 6k | Nordstrom: 4k | Old Navy Visa: 4k | Target: $1.2k | Angel: 1k
Message 25 of 57
slweal87
Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards

I move my due dates to the same date, or spread among two dates (one for Chase, one for all others so I don't get confused about which date is which card).

 

I don't think this has been suggested yet.

 

I like the idea of setting up autopay for the minimums just in case... but I don't know if that could lead to a card reporting a (+) balance. I have trouble trusting autopay. I get a small discount on my student loans but I fear one day the bank will mess up. Especially when changing checking accounts as I just did recently.

 

Also I pay more than once a month.

1. WFCU Visa (2,000) 2. Chase Freedom (1,500) 3. Chase Amazon (300) 4. Chase Sapphire non-preferred (5,000) 5. Discover IT (3,500) 6. Capital One Quicksilver (3,000) 7. Citibank Dividend (4,300) 8. AMEX Costco True Earnings (5,000) 9. Barclaycard Arrival w/ AF (3,000) 10. Target REDcard (2,700) 11. Amex Blue Cash Everyday (10,000)
Message 26 of 57
AyalaZero
New Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards


@DaveSignal wrote:

This is a miniaturized version of part of the spreadsheet that I created to keep track of this kind of stuff:


This is awesome, is this on Excel or what is this on?  I use excel but it looks nothing like this!!

Starting Scores: Low 500's 2/27/08
Current Scores:Transunion: 700 02/13/15 Experian: 713 02/17/15 Equifax: 736 02/18/15
Goal Score: 770 Across the board!!
Message 27 of 57
takeshi74
Senior Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards


@newUser0 wrote:

 

As the number of cards you have increases, how do you all manage to keep track of it and pay them on time? 

 


This is a fairly common topic around here.  I use the same Excel workbook I've used since 2004 (though it has grown and evolved over the years) for crude budgeting, balancing my checkbook and tracking credit cards.  I refer to that workbook on a very frequent basis -- not quite daily but almost.  At the very least, I fully review everything each time I get paid (twice/month) and look at the items due that fall into the time period covered by that paycheck.  I generally go ahead and then manually schedule all payments that can be scheduled immediately when I'm paid.  While I'm a tech geek I'm also a bit of a control freak on certain things and don't care for or trust autopay but that doesn't mean that it isn't a useful tool for others.

 

Other typical responses includes finance apps, services like Mint and Manila, etc.  The key is that you have to find and use what works for you and stick with the number of cards that you're able to manage.  If autopay is a fitting solution then use it.  If you need to use reminders in your calendar then use them.  If you're a pen-and-paper type of person then get yourself organized with a physical solution.  If you need multiple layers to protect you from yourself then use them.

Message 28 of 57
longtimelurker
Epic Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards

I don't quite get the distrust of auto-pay, as any other method seems to have at least as many moving parts that can go wrong, and I feel, rightly or wrongly, that auto-pay pushes at least some of the responsibilty for mistakes onto them.   Obviously people differ!   

 

But maybe I am trusting it too much.  Has anyone had an issuer/bank problem with auto-pay when set up correctly (i.e. the bank account and routing number were entered correctly and there were sufficient funds for the payment)?  And if so, did the credit card company reverse any charges for late fees and interest etc? 

Message 29 of 57
ksantangelo23
Frequent Contributor

Re: Manage on Time Payment on Credit Cards


@AgentofGaming wrote:

I use mint.com to track the total balance of my credit cards. I then have a direct deposit goto one checking account and I always make sure the balance of that checking account is greater than the total balance of credit cards. With automatic full payments setup (I think the term was "Pre-Authorized Debit" in Canada) I didn't have to worry about the due date.


Life without Mint.com - I cant imagine it!

 

I love the site, and its awesome Android App! Smiley Happy

 

Everything in my financial life is on there. I set up an account for my grandmother, too. (Yes, it's that simple and easy to use)

 

Its more than just credit cards; although it is one of my favorite features.

AMEX Hilton Ascend: $55,000 | Chase Sapphire Reserve: $30,000 | PNC Points: $17,500 | AMEX BCE (AU): $18,000 | AMEX BCP: $15,000 | US Bank Cash+ $15,000 | AMEX Business Prime: $14,000 | AMEX SimplyCash: $12,000 | Capital One QS: $13,500 | Chase Business Ink: $12,000 | PNC Everyday (AU): $12,000 | JCPenny Store Card: $10,500 | Chase Slate: $9,400 | Capital One QS: $6,500 | (2nd) US Bank Cash+ (2nd): $7,500 | Discover IT: $6,000 | Chase Freedom: $3,500 | Auto Lease: $0/$21,000 | Auto Loan: $0/$18,000 |

TU: 818 EX: 809 EQ: 801

Message 30 of 57
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