How to pay your credit card bill

Choose a method your provider accepts

Common options include Direct Debit, a transfer from a bank account and a debit-card payment. Available methods and processing times depend on the provider. Use its own instructions for the account details and reference; a payment sent with the wrong reference may be harder to trace.

Choose what a Direct Debit collects

Your provider may offer the minimum payment, full statement balance or a fixed amount. The minimum can leave you paying interest. A fixed amount can help with planning, but you still need to meet any higher minimum on your statement.

Look at your bank-account budget before choosing the collection amount. A payment that works on paper still needs enough money behind it on collection day.

Check when a new Direct Debit starts

Submitting an instruction does not necessarily cover the next payment. Santander, for example, says setting one up takes about a month and that a payment may be needed by another method meanwhile. That is a provider example, not a timetable for every card.

Look for confirmation of the first collection date. If it is unclear, ask whether you need to pay this month manually.

An extra payment may not cancel the collection

Lloyds warns that it may still collect the full Direct Debit after an additional payment. Check your own provider’s treatment before moving money out of the paying account.

A quick example

Suppose a £100 Direct Debit is scheduled and you pay another £50 manually. It is tempting to leave only £50 in the bank account, assuming the collection will shrink. If the provider still collects £100, the total payment will be £150.

This is an illustrative situation. Ask: “What amount will you collect now that I have made this extra payment?” Keep enough money available for the confirmed collection.

After you send the money

Keep the confirmation and check the card account once the stated processing time has passed. If the payment does not appear, contact the provider with the date, amount and reference. If you cannot afford the required payment, ask for help before the deadline where possible; changing the payment method will not fix an unaffordable bill.