Missed a credit card payment? Here is how to get the fee back
A late fee is often the easiest thing to get back. Most people who ask get it waived. Here is what happens after a missed payment, and how five big banks compare.
Data as of Nov 14, 2026. Numbers with a source link are quoted from that source. Numbers marked Estimate are Haggle estimates until our own calls measure them.
$41
most it can charge if you were late again within six billing cycles
Kilpatrick Townsend · May 5, 2025
Sorted by late fee refunds granted
Discover comes first on this measure. The highlighted column is the one the table is sorted by, and each column header says where its numbers come from.
| Bank | Late fee refunds grantedEstimate | Highest late feeEstimate | Wait to a personEstimate | Satisfaction scoreJ.D. Power 2025, via Clark.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover | 96% | $41 | 5 min | 617 |
| American Express | 95% | $40 | 4 min | 643 |
| Citi | 90% | $41 | 11 min | 608 |
| Chase | 88% | $40 | 9 min | 619 |
| Capital One | 85% | $40 | 6 min | 621 |
What happens after a missed payment
The same federal rules apply at every big card issuer.
The day after the due date
The issuer can charge a late fee. For a big issuer it can be up to $30 the first time, and up to $41 if you were also late in one of the six billing cycles before.
About 30 days late
Issuers report the late payment to the credit bureaus after about 30 days, and your credit score may drop.
60 days late
Only once a minimum payment is more than 60 days late can the issuer apply a penalty rate to the balance you already have.
Six on-time payments later
If you then make six minimum payments in a row on time, the issuer must bring the rate on that balance back down to what it was before.
Questions people ask
Which bank is most likely to refund a late fee?
In our estimates, Discover grants the most refund requests, at 96% (Estimate).
Does asking for a late fee refund work?
Usually. 92% (LendingTree survey, via FOX 5 NY) of people who asked to have a late fee waived got it.
How much can a credit card late fee be?
For a big issuer, up to $30 (Kilpatrick Townsend) for a first late payment and $41 (Kilpatrick Townsend) if you were also late in one of the six billing cycles before.
When does a missed payment show up on my credit report?
Issuers report the late payment to the credit bureaus after about 30 days, and your credit score may drop. (CFPB, 2024 penalty fees rule)
Can my bank raise my rate after one missed payment?
Only once a minimum payment is more than 60 days late can the issuer apply a penalty rate to the balance you already have. If you then make six minimum payments in a row on time, the issuer must bring the rate on that balance back down to what it was before. (12 CFR 1026.55(b)(4))
Haggle makes the call for you
It says it is an AI assistant, waits on hold, and asks for exactly what you want. You pay only if the bank says yes.
