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Millions of Americans are struggling to pay their bills and need some help, especially with credit card debt relief. Fortunately, many credit card lenders are offering some form of assistance that won’t affect your credit score negatively.
If you’re in the position where you can’t make a payment, contact your lender or bank immediately. They may be able to delay or lower your payment.
If you’re unsure what your bank or credit card provider is doing to help customers affected by COVID-19, check the list below. I’ve highlighted all the major credit card companies and what debt relief assistance they’re providing their customers.
1. Capital One instructs you to contact them if you’re facing financial difficulties.
Capital One’s Customer Assistance page instructs anyone affected by COVID-19 to contact them.
They also encourage you to take advantage of their online self-service banking tools. Download the Capital One mobile app or just log on online.
2. American Express’s financial relief program can help you lower your bill.
American Express’s financial relief program can help you:
- Lower your bill
- Avoid late payment fees
- Lower your interest rate
- Prevent your accounts from going past due
You can give them a call at (866)703-4169 for help or chat with them online.
3. Bank of America’s Client Assistance Program offers payment deferrals.
Bank of America’s Client Assistance Program (CAP) allows you to request refunds for overdraft fees, non-sufficient funds fees, and monthly maintenance fees.
When you land on the page, click “Request payment deferral.” They promise there will be “no negative credit bureau reporting for up-to-date clients.”
They also have paused foreclosure sales, evictions, and repossessions for the time being if you have a home loan.
Call them at (800) 432-1000, or schedule an appointment.
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4. Chase will let you delay up to three payments on your personal credit card.
Under Chase’s credit card relief program, customers and businesses affected by COVID-19 can enroll online to delay credit card payments, as well as payments on other types of loans.
Chase encourages its customers to download the Chase app rather than calling. You can also sign in to your online account or email them a secure message about your situation.
5. Citi is waiving minimum payments and late fees for two billing cycles.
Citi is waiving minimum payments and late fees on credit cards and personal loans for two billing cycles for customers who request COVID-19 assistance online.
Check their coronavirus page for more details. To manage your account or get in touch quickly, download the Citi mobile app or register for online banking access.
6. Synchrony is encouraging customers to contact them about credit card payments.
Synchrony doesn’t have a dedicated coronavirus page. Rather, they encourage you to contact them personally if you’re having trouble meeting your monthly credit card payment.
To do so, register for online banking or download the MySynchrony app.
7. Discover instructs you to contact them if you need assistance.
Discover’s coronavirus page includes a dedicated coronavirus FAQ page, where they instruct customers facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 to contact their customer service teams.
You can message Discover through their Account Center online, via the Discover mobile app, or through one of the following numbers:
- Card customers: (800) 497-2816
- Online banking customers: (800) 347-7000
- Personal loan customers: (877) 256-2632
- Home loan customers: (855) 295-2193
- Student loan customers: (800) 223-5614
8. Goldman Sachs (Apple Card) will let you skip a payment without interest charges.
According to Apple Card’s COVID-19 response, Apple will let you skip your April monthly payment without incurring interest charges if you enroll online in their Customer Assistance Program.
When you enroll, credit bureaus will report your account as being enrolled in the Customer Assistance Program.
Enroll with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac:
- Apple posted a link that uploads a pre-written message in the Messages App; click the link, then log in to the Messages App with your Apple ID
- Tap the send button
- Tap the “Connect” button
- Reply “Yes”
- Confirmation of your enrollment will be sent to the email address associated with your Apple ID
Enroll with the Wallet app:
- Open the Wallet app and tap Apple Card
- Tap the “More” button
- Tap “Message,” and type in, “I want to enroll in the Customer Assistance Program”
- Tap send
- Make sure you’re signed in to iMessage with your Apple ID to ensure you’re enrolled
You can then cancel a scheduled payment after you enroll. Here’s how:
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap “Apple Card”
- Tap the “More” button
- Under Scheduled Payments, tap the payment you want to cancel
- Tap “Cancel Payment”
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9. Comenity has payment programs to help affected customers.
Comenity’s COVID-19 response instructs customers to contact them by calling the “phone number on the back of your credit card” to inquire about their credit card debt relief program.
You can also type in your credit card number online to find the number, or log in online to manage your account.
10. HSBC is deferring and reducing payments for 120 days.
HSBC’s coronavirus response allows for customers to defer or reduce payments for 120 days after “enrollment.”
Their page doesn’t detail who’s eligible for assistance or how to enroll in their credit card debt relief programs. Your best bet is to download the HSBC app and contact them there, or to register for online banking and get in touch.
11. Barclays is offering credit card and personal loan payment relief.
On Barclays’ COVID-19 page, they instruct cardholders to log in to their account at the “website listed on the back of your card.”
From there, they instruct you to choose “Contact Us” and then “Payment Relief” to submit your request.
If you have a personal loan, log in to your account and choose “Payment Relief Request.”
For customer support, call them at (877) 523-0478.
12. Navy Federal Credit Union is offering late fee refunds and extensions.
Navy Federal Credit Union is offering a number of debt relief programs for their customers, including credit card payment deferrals, credit card limit increases, late fee refunds, and other loan arrangements for those with student, auto, or home loans.
For better assistance, download the Navy Federal mobile app. To inquire about deferring payments, credit limit increases, and late fee refunds, sign in online.
13. PNC may allow you to postpone your credit card payment.
According to PNC’s coronavirus response page, affected customers can apply for a postponement by filling out a Payment Deferment Hardship Request form.
You won’t accrue late fees during the postponement period if you’re enrolled. If you have questions specifically about your credit card, visit their FAQ page or call (800) 558-8472 for 24/7 assistance.
14. Truist is offering payment relief for BB&T and SunTrust customers.
Truist is offering “fast payment relief” for BB&T customers and SunTrust customers who apply online.
You can also request payment relief by phone:
- For BB&T customers, call (800) 226-5228
- For SunTrust customers, call (877) 820-2103
15. U.S. Bank instructs customers to call them about their options.
U.S. Bank’s COVID-19 page doesn’t provide explicit instructions for credit card holders. They only claim that they’re “offering financial solutions” for customers that could help.
To get in touch, download the U.S. Bank app, sign up for online banking, or call (888) 287-7817.
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16. USAA has a 90-day credit card payment deferral program.
USAA is offering special payment assistance programs for eligible members.
Your options include a:
- 90-day credit card payment deferral
- 60-day payment extension
To get in touch, call (855) 764-4617, download the USAA mobile app, log in to your account, or set up online banking.
17. Wells Fargo is offering fee waivers and payment deferrals on a case-by-case basis.
According to Wells Fargo’s coronavirus response, credit card customers can get late fee waivers, payment deferrals, and “expanded assistance” on a case-by-case basis.
For general banking questions, visit their FAQ page. To get in touch about payment assistance, log on to your account, set up online access or download the Wells Fargo app.
18. Your FICO Score and VantageScore shouldn’t be affected by coronavirus.
Both FICO and VantageScore issued coronavirus statements. Here’s what you should know:
- If you’re facing financial difficulties, contact your lender first. Your lender may have several options to help you, including forbearance programs or reporting your account to credit bureaus under natural disaster coding.
- Forbearance plans and deferral payment plans, which include reduced payments, interest-only payments, or no payments, will not negatively affect your FICO Score or VantageScore
19. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are offering free credit score reports.
The three major credit bureaus are offering free credit reports through the end of April.
You can also get one free credit report every 12 months from any of the three credit bureaus.
If you think your credit score has been negatively affected by the coronavirus, you can submit a 100-word consumer statement to your report by law. According to Equifax, the following statement should suffice:
“Be advised that the negative accounts on my credit report are related to the Coronavirus. I intend to make these up as soon as I can.”
To leave a statement on your credit reports, contact Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion online.
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