What happens if I pay only the minimum amount due?

Asked by: Abdul Swift PhD  |  Last update: February 20, 2026
Score: 5/5 (31 votes)

If you only pay the minimum due on your credit card, the remaining balance may accrue interest and increase your credit utilization, which could negatively affect your credit scores and make it harder to get out of debt.

Is it OK to pay only minimum amount due?

A: Paying only the minimum amount due leads to prolonged debt due to accumulated interest and a higher credit utilisation ratio and can result in paying significantly more over time due to interest and fees.

Do I get charged interest if I pay minimum payment?

Yes, if you pay the minimum payment on your credit card statement, you could still get charged interest. By paying the minimum you keep your account in good standing but you do not avoid accruing interest. The exception to this is if you have a card with a 0% introductory APR, which usually is for a set period of time.

Does my credit score go down if I only pay the minimum?

Making only the minimum payment on your credit card can impact your credit score. While it may not immediately hurt your score, consistently paying only the minimum amount due can negatively affect your credit utilisation rate and potentially lower your credit score over time.

Why is it a bad idea to only pay your minimum monthly payment?

Making only the minimum payment on your credit card is necessary at times, but making it a habit will cost more in interest and extend the amount of time you have to repay your debt.

What is Minimum Amount Due in Credit Card || Advantages & Disadvantages of Paying Minimum Amount Due

45 related questions found

How much interest will be charged if I pay the minimum payment?

Let's say your credit card balance is ₹20,000, and your interest rate is 18% p.a. (1.5% per month). If you only pay a ₹800 minimum each month, it will take you 32 months to repay the debt. Further, you'll pay ₹5,411 in interest!

Is minimum payment illegal?

What is the minimum card payment law? There is no minimum card payment law, which means that there's nothing stopping businesses from setting a minimum spending limit. However, there are rules set out by card networks which state that any merchant accepting their cards cannot set a maximum or minimum limit.

What is the minimum payment on a $500 credit card?

Percentage method: Some credit card issuers calculate the minimum payment as a percentage of your outstanding balance. This percentage typically falls within the range of 1% to 3% but can vary. For example, if your outstanding balance is $500 and the minimum payment percentage is 2%, your minimum payment would be $10.

Which is the best strategy for paying your credit card bill?

Use the debt snowball method

In order to use this method, list all of your credit card debts from lowest balance to highest balance. Now start concentrating on wiping out the credit card with the lowest balance while still making the minimum payments on the other cards. The point of this strategy is to build momentum.

Does my credit limit reset after minimum payment?

The credit limit is the total amount of credit available to you on the card, and it will only reset if you pay off the entire balance or if your credit card issuer increases your credit limit. Making a minimum payment on your credit card balance will only satisfy the minimum payment requirement for that billing cycle.

What happens if I make my minimum payment?

If you only pay the minimum each month, the interest charges can snowball. The additional interest and any other fees are added on to your balance and can increase a lot over time.

What if I don't pay my full credit card balance?

As time passes, and you incur daily compounded interest, your debt will continue to grow — even if you don't make additional purchases. Second, the balance kept on your credit card account can impact your credit utilization rate, which is one of the factors used to calculate your credit scores.

Do you get charged interest if you pay minimum payment?

Paying only the minimum amount means: it takes you longer to pay off your balance. you pay more interest.

What factor has the biggest impact on a credit score?

Payment history — whether you pay on time or late — is the most important factor of your credit score making up a whopping 35% of your score. That's more than any one of the other four main factors, which range from 10% to 30%.

What happens if I pay only the minimum due on my credit card ICICI?

Longer repayment term: If you habitually keep on paying only the minimum amount due on your credit card, you will take a very long period of time to repay the entire amount. This, in turn, would turn out to be an unwanted financial burden for you.

What is the trick for paying credit cards twice a month?

What is the 15/3 rule in credit? Most people usually make one payment each month, when their statement is due. With the 15/3 credit card rule, you instead make two payments. The first payment comes 15 days before the statement's due date, and you make the second payment three days before your credit card due date.

How to pay off $50,000 in debt in 1 year?

Here are a few tips to tackle a $50,000 debt in the span of a year.
  1. Create a budget and track your income and spending. ...
  2. Be mindful of debt fatigue. ...
  3. Prioritize paying high-interest debt first. ...
  4. Get a higher-paying new job. ...
  5. Freelance on the side. ...
  6. Negotiate with your credit card companies and other creditors.

How can I legally get rid of credit card debt?

How to Wipe Out Credit Card Debt
  1. Debt Settlement. Debt settlement is a process that involves negotiating with creditors to pay less than the full amount you owe. ...
  2. Debt Management Plan (DMP) A debt management plan (DMP) is a special payment plan you can enroll in through a nonprofit credit counseling agency. ...
  3. Bankruptcy.

How long to pay off $5,000 credit card with minimum payment?

1% of the balance plus interest: You would pay off $5,000 in 285 months. That means it would take nearly 24 years to eliminate your $5,000 balance if you only make minimum payments. During that time, you'll pay a total of $9,332.25 in interest for a total payoff cost of $14,332.25.

How much is 26.99 APR on $3000?

How much is 26.99 APR on $3,000? An APR of 26.99% on a $3,000 balance would cost $67.26 in monthly interest charges.

What happens if you pay minimum due on credit card?

Yes, you can keep your credit card active by paying just the Minimum Amount Due every month. But, you will have to pay high interest charges and also, there will be no interest free credit period. Just remember that the less you pay of the outstanding amount, you will be made to pay more in interest.

What happens if I only make the minimum payment?

If you only pay the minimum due on your credit card, the remaining balance may accrue interest and increase your credit utilization, which could negatively affect your credit scores and make it harder to get out of debt.

Why should you avoid paying only minimum payments?

Does only paying the minimum balance due on your card affect your credit score? Over time, only paying the minimum balance can negatively affect your credit score as the balance you carry affects your credit utilization ratio, which accounts for about 30% of your score.

What is an illegal payment?

If a final payment were made without a declaration, it would be an illegal payment.