Can You Change the Due Date on a Credit Card?

Credit card due dates are deadlines for monthly payments, crucial for avoiding late fees and managing finances. Aligning these dates with income or other financial obligations can significantly impact budgeting and cash flow.

The Possibility of Changing Your Due Date

Most credit card issuers allow cardholders to change their payment due date. This flexibility helps individuals manage finances by aligning payment schedules with paychecks or consolidating bill payment dates. While widely available, specific policies and limitations, such as how frequently a change can be made, vary by company.

Steps to Request a Due Date Change

Requesting a credit card due date change is typically straightforward, with a few common methods. Many credit card issuers allow changing your due date through their online banking portals or mobile applications. Within these platforms, you can navigate to an account services section to select a new preferred date.

If an online option is not readily available or preferred, contacting the credit card issuer’s customer service line is another widely used method. The customer service number can usually be found on the back of your credit card or on your monthly statement. During the call, a representative will guide you through the process, confirm your identity, and process your request for a new due date. Some issuers, like Bank of America, may require a phone call for this type of request.

In some less common instances, particularly for specific account types or if digital and phone options are unavailable, a written request by mail might be an option. Regardless of the method, cardholders should be prepared to provide their account number and state their desired new due date. It is important to note that while many issuers allow selection of a date between the 1st and 28th of the month, some dates might be restricted. After the request, some issuers may provide immediate confirmation, while others might indicate a waiting period for the change to take effect.

Important Considerations for Due Date Changes

When a credit card due date is changed, it also shifts the associated billing cycle. The billing cycle is the period, typically 28 to 31 days, during which transactions are recorded. The first statement issued after a due date change might cover an unusual period, either shorter or longer than a standard cycle, to align with the new payment schedule. It can take one to two billing cycles for the new due date to officially take effect, meaning cardholders should continue to pay according to their old due date until the change is confirmed.

For cardholders who carry a balance, interest accrual is a continuous process. Interest typically accrues daily on the outstanding balance. If the initial billing cycle under the new due date becomes longer, more interest may accumulate during that transitional period before the new payment is due. This is a direct consequence of a longer period before payment, rather than a penalty for changing the date.

The grace period, which is the time between the end of a billing cycle and the payment due date during which interest is not charged on new purchases if the previous balance was paid in full, can also be temporarily affected. Federal regulations require a minimum grace period of 21 days. During the transition to a new billing cycle, the grace period for the first new statement could be adjusted, potentially being shorter or longer than usual.

Maintaining a consistent and timely payment history remains paramount, even during a due date transition. Paying on time is a significant factor in credit scoring. While changing a due date itself does not directly impact a credit score, missing a payment during the transition due to confusion about the new date can result in late fees and negative reporting to credit bureaus, which could affect your credit score. It is advisable to monitor statements closely and set reminders to ensure payments are made by the correct due date, old or new.