Many more credit card holders will face serious credit card delinquency this year, in a report on the consumer credit market from TransUnion (opens in new tab). In 2023, serious credit card delinquencies — usually defined as being more than 30 to 90 days late — are expected to rise from 2.1% to 2.60%, the highest they’ve been since 2010. Delinquency rates on personal loans are also expected to rise, to 4.3% from 4.1%.
Despite this, there are some bright spots in the report. Auto loan delinquency rates are expected to decline in 2023 and, despite everything, the survey shows that more than 52% of Americans are optimistic about their financial future in the coming year.
What credit card delinquency means for consumers
If you fail to pay your credit card bill on time, your account is considered “delinquent,” and if the overdue balance isn’t paid within 30 days, your credit score will be negatively impacted. If your account is delinquent for longer than 60 days, you’ll also be subject to a higher APR, and 90 days without paying could mean having your credit card closed and your debt sent to collections agencies, severely damaging your credit score.
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One of the main reasons cardholders are racking up a balance on their credit cards — and in turn failing to pay it off — is because inflation, multiple interest rate hikes and rising unemployment have been putting a strain on budgets. With the average credit card APR at 21.68% (opens in new tab) for new offers and 19.07% (opens in new tab) for existing accounts, it’s easy to see how payments add up over time.
These market forces and the rising popularity of Buy-Now-Pay-Later platforms can land consumers in debt that’s very hard to pay back.
Michael Hershfield, founder and CEO of Accrue Savings (opens in new tab), says “Buy-Now-Pay-Later platforms make it easy for customers to overspend without realizing it. As a result, many customers face a silent accumulation of debt as they fail to meet payments and rack up on late fees.”
Accrue Savings created a “Save Now, Buy Later” platform for consumers as a way to avoid debt. With this tool, they can “save up for a specific purchase without debt, interest or late fees,” said Hershfield. This “allows consumers to plan for future purchases by saving up and paying less with the help of their favorite brands (like SmileDirectClub, Value City Furniture, and Solstice Sunglasses). One-time, recurring, and crowdfunded deposits allow consumers the flexibility to save at any pace in a new secure, rewarded, and stress-free way.”
Paying off credit card debt and emerging from serious delinquency, especially in the face of inflation, can be difficult. But, these tips on how to pay off credit card debt can help.
