Even though it might seem contradictory, credit unions seeking to reduce credit card delinquency are advised to consider tightening their card deadlines.
CU card consultant Ondine Irving said credit unions sometimes increase their card delinquency by leaving their fees for delinquent card payments too low and applying those fees too long after the due date to mean anything.
Irving stressed that credit unions do not have to and should not charge the same sorts of high late fees that have characterized big bank card issuers, but she added that credit unions do not have to charge only a nominal amount either. Likewise, credit unions should not start assessing the late fee the day after the payment data, but should leave it until ten days or two weeks later either.
"Those credit unions which have updated their late fees to the $20-$25 average using a five-day grace period (versus 10-15 days) tend to have lower delinquency," Irving said. "When cardholders are struggling to make payments, they realize which creditors have the more generous grace periods and lower fees. Don't position your credit union to be last on the list to be paid," she added.
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