Chase Credit Card: What to Do If You're Falling Behind 2026

There’s no single “Chase rate.” It depends on the card. The Chase Freedom Unlimited card, for example, currently offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a variable APR of 18.24% to 27.74%, depending on creditworthiness. Other Chase cards have their own rates and terms.

For a sense of scale, the Federal Reserve’s Q2 2026 data put the national average for accounts actually carrying a balance at 22.15%. Your own rate, the one that actually matters, is on your statement.

If you know you’re going to have trouble making your payment, don’t wait for the account to become seriously delinquent. Chase itself recommends working with your card issuer as soon as you know you won’t be able to pay.

Call the number on the back of your card and ask what payment or financial hardship assistance may be available for your account. Chase notes that available options and consequences can differ depending on the situation, so don’t go into the conversation expecting a particular interest rate, payment reduction, or program length.

Before agreeing to anything, ask:

• What will my monthly payment be?
• How long will this arrangement last?
• What interest rate will apply?
• Are any fees being reduced or waived?
• Will I still be able to use the card?
• Will the account be restricted or closed?
• What happens if I miss a payment under the arrangement?
• How will this be reported to the credit bureaus?

Get the terms in writing, or save a copy of whatever you agree to, before relying on them.

If Chase offers a structured payment plan, treat it the way you would with any lender. Get the specifics before you say yes:

• What’s my payment, and for how long?
• What rate applies while I’m on it?
• Does the card stay open, or does it get closed or restricted?
• What happens if I miss a payment along the way?
• How does this show up on my credit report?

A Debt Management Plan (DMP) works differently. Instead of dealing with Chase directly, you make one payment to a nonprofit credit counseling agency, and they distribute it across your creditors, Chase included if it’s part of your plan. Creditors sometimes agree to lower rates or waived fees as part of a DMP, but that’s never guaranteed. The FTC recommends confirming your creditors actually accepted the plan, and checking your statements to make sure any promised breaks are really showing up.

See our Credit Counseling & DMP Guide for the full process.

Here’s the general timeline, though your exact account terms can vary:

• Right after a missed payment: expect a late fee, and possibly a rate change depending on your card’s terms.
• Around 30 days late: this typically gets reported to the credit bureaus.
• 60 days or more: a penalty APR can apply, depending on your account terms.
• 180 days late: federal banking guidance calls for the account to be charged off, closed and written off as a loss.

Charge-off is a bookkeeping action, not forgiveness. You still owe the money, and a charge- off can sit on your credit report for up to seven years.

Settlement is different from a hardship plan or a payment plan. It means trying to resolve the debt for less than you owe, usually as a lump sum, and it tends to become the realistic option once a hardship arrangement isn’t enough and paying the full balance isn’t happening.

Don’t expect a specific settlement percentage upfront. It depends heavily on the account’s status and who currently holds it. And don’t stop paying just hoping an offer will eventually show up, that’s not how it reliably works.

There’s a tax piece worth understanding too. Canceled debt is generally treated as taxable income unless an exception applies. If Chase or whoever holds the debt cancels $600 or more, they’ll typically file a Form 1099-C with the IRS, but even amounts under $600 can still be taxable. Bankruptcy and insolvency are the two big exceptions, so don’t assume a 1099-C automatically means you owe tax on that full amount. Our Debt Relief Guide covers the whole settlement process, taxes included.

Yes. Like any creditor, Chase (or whoever ends up holding the debt) can pursue a lawsuit to collect an unpaid balance. Depending on the account, collection could stay with Chase directly, move to a third-party collector, get sold, or eventually turn into a lawsuit. There’s no one universal path.

A missed payment or a charge-off doesn’t automatically mean a lawsuit is coming. But if you’re actually served with a summons or complaint, don’t ignore it. There’s a deadline to respond, and missing it can lead to a default judgment. Our Debt Lawsuits Guide covers what to do next.

Instead of asking “what’s the best way to deal with Chase,” ask what problem you’re actually solving:

Just need some room to breathe? Start by asking Chase about payment assistance. If an affordable arrangement is available, dealing directly with the creditor may let you address the problem before considering more consequential options.

Juggling more than one card? Credit counseling or a DMP can combine them into one payment.

Still have decent credit access? Debt consolidation might genuinely lower your cost.

Can’t realistically pay the full balance? Debt settlement is worth a serious look.

Is the whole picture unaffordable, not just this card? Bankruptcy deserves consideration too.

Chase. Customer Service contact information (chase.com/customerservice) Chase. Lost or Stolen Card support pages (chase.com), verified credit card customer service number Chase. Freedom Unlimited pricing and terms (creditcards.chase.com), verified current APR range Chase. Credit Card APR Ranges, Explained (chase.com educational content) Chase. What Happens If I Can’t Pay My Credit Card Bill? (chase.com), first-party guidance on contacting the issuer early and general late-payment consequences Federal Reserve. G.19 Consumer Credit release (Q2 2026 data, August 2026 release:

22.15% accounts assessed interest) Office of the Comptroller of the Currency / FFIEC. Uniform Retail Credit Classification Policy (180-day charge-off standard for open-end credit) FTC guidance on Debt Management Plans IRS. Form 1099-C reporting threshold, cancellation-of-debt income rules, and insolvency/bankruptcy exclusions