INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Credit card misuse can have negative consequences on the credit worthiness of an individual.Credit cards offered by various banks are a
useful option for individuals to meet their financial needs
However, misuse of credit cards by non-payment or late payment of dues can have negative consequences on the credit worthiness of an
Banks refer to credit worthiness of an individual when they offer a loan to their customers and delayed or non-payment of dues negatively
impacts credit score which can lead to refusal of loans for future purposes, say financial experts
Hence, to maintain healthy credit score individuals must pay their total outstanding by the due date to avoid late payment penalty charges,
interest on amount due and maintain a healthy credit score, they add.Banks and companies offering credit cards give its customers an option
to pay minimum amount due if they cannot pay the total amount due.In case if a person has total amount due of Rs 50,000, he/she can pay
minimum amount due say for example Rs 2,500
After paying minimum amount due, although the total amount due will come down to Rs 47,500 but the interest will be charged on total amount
Analysts say paying minimum amount due regularly can lead to a person falling in a debt trap.: Have You Maxed Out Your Credit Card Five
Things You Need To KnowWhile lenders may allow you to pay the minimum amount due on your credit card, all outstanding amounts are featured
in the accounts Information section (under Payment status and Payment History) of your CIBIL Report - and this may impact your CIBIL Score
and your future access to credit, Sujata Ahlawat, vice-president and head of direct to consumer interactive at TransUnion CIBIL said in an
email response to TheIndianSubcontinent."Always ensure you pay the full credit card amount on time, every time, and definitely before the
payment due date-after all there is a 45-day repayment window that you may leverage
Regular and timely payments can help build a positive credit footprint, and, in turn, better access to credit when the need arises," Ms
limit, then in that case individuals can opt for personal loan and pay the full amount back
Instead of exhausting the entire credit limit frequently or if you have multiple credit cards with payments pending, you may consider taking
a single personal loan (at a lower rate of interest) or even a loan against gold, and pay off all the outstanding amounts, says Ms
Ahlawat."Consumers should ensure they do not exceed more than 30 per cent of their credit utilization limit on a monthly basis," Ms Ahlawat
emphasises.Non-payment or delayed payments can adversely affect your CIBIL Score, and a low CIBIL score educes your chances of access to
credit, Ms Ahlawat added.
