Until now I've lived a simple sheltered life.....get credit card bill, pay in full before due date. Now, I am about to go on extended trip and want to make sure I don't get late fees. I thought if you pay a minimum due amount by the due date, you get interest charges but no late fee.
Today I learned from CSR that if I pay current balance in full today and reduce balance to zero (an amount I am sure that is greater than any minimum due amount), I could still be hit with a late penalty. The problem is that if after I reduce the balance to zero, I make more charges before the statement period ends on Feb 9, and then pay nothing between Feb 10 and the due date, I will be considered to be late because only payments after statement period count..... and the earlier one to reduce current balance to zero payment does not count against the minimum payment because it is too early. I was very surprised to learn this....and want to avoid because late penalty can be as much as $39.
The only solution offered so far was to suscribe to autopaying the full balance.......I had previously not wanted to do that but seems to be the only option right now if I leave on the trip before the statement period ends.
Is my understanding of this situation correct? Any other solutions? Don't want to pay online during the trip.
Today I learned from CSR that if I pay current balance in full today and reduce balance to zero (an amount I am sure that is greater than any minimum due amount), I could still be hit with a late penalty. The problem is that if after I reduce the balance to zero, I make more charges before the statement period ends on Feb 9, and then pay nothing between Feb 10 and the due date, I will be considered to be late because only payments after statement period count..... and the earlier one to reduce current balance to zero payment does not count against the minimum payment because it is too early. I was very surprised to learn this....and want to avoid because late penalty can be as much as $39.
The only solution offered so far was to suscribe to autopaying the full balance.......I had previously not wanted to do that but seems to be the only option right now if I leave on the trip before the statement period ends.
Is my understanding of this situation correct? Any other solutions? Don't want to pay online during the trip.