Creditor Guides
Every issuer handles delinquent accounts a little differently. Find your card or lender below to see what to expect.
Creditor Comparison at a Glance
How each creditor we cover tends to handle hardship requests, charge-offs, and collections. These are reported patterns, not promises about your account.
Capital One
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Payment plans for eligible past-due accounts, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Chase
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship help case by case, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Citi
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Short-term and long-term hardship programs, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
American Express
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Financial relief programs, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Synchrony
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship options vary by store card program
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Comenity (Bread Financial)
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship options vary by store card program
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Bank of America
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship help case by case, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Wells Fargo
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship help case by case, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Barclays US
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship help case by case, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
U.S. Bank
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship help case by case, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Apple Card (Goldman Sachs)
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Customer assistance requests handled in the Wallet app or by phone
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Merrick Bank
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship help case by case, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Credit One Bank
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship help case by case, by request
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Target Credit Card
Credit card issuer
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship options vary by store card program
- Charge-off timing
- Usually around 180 days past due
- After charge-off
- Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer
- Lawsuit risk
- Possible, reported as part of collections
Klarna
Buy now, pay later
- Hardship help reported
- Payment date can sometimes be moved before a due date passes
- Charge-off timing
- No card-style charge-off, unpaid plans go to collections
- After charge-off
- Referred to a third-party collection agency
- Lawsuit risk
- Rarely reported for small BNPL balances
Affirm
Buy now, pay later
- Hardship help reported
- Payment date changes on some loans, no late fees charged
- Charge-off timing
- Longer loans can be charged off like installment loans
- After charge-off
- Referred to a third-party collection agency
- Lawsuit risk
- Rarely reported for small BNPL balances
Afterpay
Buy now, pay later
- Hardship help reported
- Hardship requests reviewed case by case, late fees capped
- Charge-off timing
- No card-style charge-off, unpaid plans go to collections
- After charge-off
- Account frozen, balance can go to a collection agency
- Lawsuit risk
- Rarely reported for small BNPL balances
| Creditor | Hardship help reported | Charge-off timing | After charge-off | Lawsuit risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital OneCredit card issuer | Payment plans for eligible past-due accounts, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| ChaseCredit card issuer | Hardship help case by case, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| CitiCredit card issuer | Short-term and long-term hardship programs, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| American ExpressCredit card issuer | Financial relief programs, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| SynchronyCredit card issuer | Hardship options vary by store card program | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| Comenity (Bread Financial)Credit card issuer | Hardship options vary by store card program | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| Bank of AmericaCredit card issuer | Hardship help case by case, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| Wells FargoCredit card issuer | Hardship help case by case, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| Barclays USCredit card issuer | Hardship help case by case, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| U.S. BankCredit card issuer | Hardship help case by case, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| Apple Card (Goldman Sachs)Credit card issuer | Customer assistance requests handled in the Wallet app or by phone | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| Merrick BankCredit card issuer | Hardship help case by case, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| Credit One BankCredit card issuer | Hardship help case by case, by request | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| Target Credit CardCredit card issuer | Hardship options vary by store card program | Usually around 180 days past due | Kept in-house or sold to a debt buyer | Possible, reported as part of collections |
| KlarnaBuy now, pay later | Payment date can sometimes be moved before a due date passes | No card-style charge-off, unpaid plans go to collections | Referred to a third-party collection agency | Rarely reported for small BNPL balances |
| AffirmBuy now, pay later | Payment date changes on some loans, no late fees charged | Longer loans can be charged off like installment loans | Referred to a third-party collection agency | Rarely reported for small BNPL balances |
| AfterpayBuy now, pay later | Hardship requests reviewed case by case, late fees capped | No card-style charge-off, unpaid plans go to collections | Account frozen, balance can go to a collection agency | Rarely reported for small BNPL balances |
Charge-off around 180 days past due is the general banking standard for revolving credit card accounts. Your own card agreement and monthly statement control what actually applies to you. Open a creditor guide for the sources behind each row.
Credit Card Issuers
What to expect when you fall behind or try to negotiate with these card issuers.
Capital One Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
Struggling to pay your Capital One card? Learn about hardship programs, payment plans, charge-off timelines, and settlement options.
Citi Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
Falling behind on a Citi card? Here's how Citi's payment assistance works, what happens at charge-off, and your options if settlement becomes necessary.
Chase Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
What to ask Chase about payment assistance and hardship programs, what happens at charge-off, and your options if settlement becomes necessary.
American Express Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
How Amex's Financial Relief Program works, what happens at charge-off, and your options if settlement becomes necessary.
Synchrony Bank Store Cards: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
What to ask Synchrony about hardship or payment assistance on your store card, what happens at charge-off, and your options if settlement becomes necessary.
Comenity Bank Store Cards: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
What to ask Comenity about hardship programs on your store card, what happens at charge-off, and your options if settlement becomes necessary.
Bank of America Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
How Bank of America's hardship program works, what happens at charge-off, and your options if settlement becomes necessary.
Wells Fargo Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
What payment relief Wells Fargo may offer, what happens at charge-off, and your options if settlement becomes necessary.
Barclays Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
How to ask Barclays for hardship help, what they can offer you, and what happens if your card charges off. Steps you can take today.
U.S. Bank Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
Falling behind on your U.S. Bank card? See how their hardship program works, what happens at charge-off, and your options at every stage.
Apple Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
Falling behind on your Apple Card? Apple has a clear payment assistance program. Here's how it works, who to contact, and your options.
Merrick Bank Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
Falling behind on your Merrick Bank card? Here's what to ask about, what Payment Protection actually covers, and your options at every stage.
Credit One Bank Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
Falling behind on your Credit One Bank card? Here's how their hardship program works, what happens at charge-off, and your options.
Target Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
Behind on your Target Credit Card or Circle Card? Here's how their hardship program works and what your options look like at every stage.
Buy Now, Pay Later
How BNPL lenders handle missed payments and past-due balances.
Klarna: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
Behind on Klarna payments? Klarna has a real repayment-plan option. Here's how it works, what happens if you're late, and your options.
Affirm: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026
Behind on Affirm payments? Affirm skips late fees, but missing a payment still has consequences. Here's what happens and how to get help.
Afterpay: What to Do If You're Falling Behind
Behind on Afterpay? They have a real hardship process. Here's what happens if you miss a payment, how to ask for help, and your options.
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