FAQ: Will one late payment hurt a good score?
Yes. A first-time delinquency can drag down a score. This is especially true if the report is "thin" and does not have much or any other activity of on-time payments that same month. The later the payment, the more it can damage a score. However, a payment is not late on a credit report until it is at least 30 days late with the creditor. If payments cannot be made on time, talk with creditors and try to negotiate a new due date - maybe one closer to the next paycheck.
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