If you use a credit card and have a balanceyou’ll likely have a payment to make every month. Paying your credit card bill on time is important to keep your account in good standing.
Deciding how to make your credit card payments
Capital One has several options that allow you to choose a payment method that is convenient for you.
AutoPay: A convenient option to help avoid late paymentsenrolling in AutoPay allows you to select your payment options for your Capital One credit card account on a recurring basis.
Make or schedule a one-time payment online: Paying online is convenient and secureand usually the fastest and easiest way to make payments.
Pay by phone: To make a one-time payment by phonecall the number on the back of your card or on your statement. Our automated voice system is convenientsafe and accessible.
Pay by mail: Send a check or money order by U.S. mail or express overnight shipping. If you mail your paymentit is the date we receive it—not the date mailed/postmarked—that determines whether the payment is on time or late. Mailing a payment can take a number of daysso plan accordingly to make sure we get it on time. Making payments online is usually fastest and easiest.
Pay in person: You may be able to make your payment in person with cash or by check at your local Capital One location.
Scheduling payments: You may have as many as 3 pending payments scheduled at one time. To view scheduled paymentsincluding onlinemobilephone and AutoPay paymentslook at your payment activity. From hereyou can also cancel a payment before it is in process.
Managing payments online
Sign in to your account to:
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Delete or change a payment account on file
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View your scheduled payments
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Cancel a payment that has not been processed yet
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View processed and posted payments
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View your minimum payment due
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Review your past payments
Understanding what’s due and when
Your due date is the date by which your payment must be received. At Capital Onewe must receive your payment before 12 midnight ET on your due date in order to credit it to the current billing cycleexcept if your due date is the same day as your statement closing datewhen we must receive your payment before 8 p.m. ET in order to credit it to the current billing cycle.
You’ll need to make at least the minimum payment by the due date to keep your account in good standing and avoid late fees.
Your due date is the same every month. You have the option to choose or change your payment due date for more control over your finances.
If you change your due dateyour new due date will be updated in the next billing cycleso your new date will take effect within 4-6 weeks. Until thenpay at least your minimum payment by the due date on your statement to avoid late fees and associated charges.
Paying off your credit card every billing cycle
Paying your credit card bill on time and in full can help you avoid interest charges on purchases and late fees. This means you pay less in interest than if you carry over your balance month after month.
Interest paid on your charges may carry over after your billing cycle or statement date. Even if you pay off the full balance of your credit card for one monthyou may still see an interest charge the next month because interest is calculated daily.
If you pay off your balance in full for at least two consecutive monthsyou will avoid any interest charges in the following month.
Usuallyyour available credit increases immediately when you make a paymentbut sometimes can take longer. If you’re making a large purchaseit’s a good idea to check your available credit beforehand.
Want to find out what it will take to get your balance paid down? Use our credit card payoff calculator.
What is AutoPay and how does it work?
A convenient option to help avoid late paymentsenrolling in AutoPay allows you to select your payment options for your Capital One credit card account on a recurring basis.
Setting up AutoPay allows you to pay:
- Your minimum payment: This amount is the least you can pay to avoid a late payment fee. You will see it each month on your monthly statement. If you choose to pay a fixed amount less than the minimum paymentmake an additional payment to keep your account up-to-date.
- Your last statement balance: This amount is your total balance as of the date your statement was issuedas shown on your monthly statement. AutoPay will adjust to no more than your current balance as of 1-2 days before your due date.
- A fixed monthly payment: This is an amount you set. The minimum monthly fixed amount is $35. If your current balance is less than $35we will only process the payment for the amount you owe.
Extra payments:
You can make extra payments on your account and it won’t cancel or change any scheduled payments. AutoPay payments still occur unless you cancel them or have $0 balance. Sometimes this can lead to you paying more than you intended for the month.
How many online payments can I schedule?
You may schedule up to 3 online payments by adding the bank account information to use for those payments. If you’d like to schedule more than 3 paymentsconsider setting up AutoPay.
Can I use another credit card to make payments on my Capital One account?
Noyou won’t be able to use another credit card to pay off or make a payment on your Capital One credit card.
Will making my payment free up more credit?
Usuallyyour available credit increases immediately when you make your paymentbut sometimes that can take longer.
If you’re making a large purchaseit’s a good idea to check your available credit beforehand.
Can I mail a credit card payment?
YesCapital One accepts credit card payment by mail. To make sure your payment posts as quickly as possibleon your checkwrite the 16-digit number that appears on your Capital One credit card.
If you mail your paymentit is the date we receive it—not the date mailed/postmarked—that determines whether the payment is on time or late.
Mailing a payment can take a few daysso plan accordingly to make sure we get it on time. Making payments online is usually fastest and easiest.
US mail
Capital One
Attn: Payment Processing
PO Box 71087
CharlotteNC 28272-1087
Overnight
Capital One
Attn: Payment Processing
6125 Lakeview Rd
Suite 800
CharlotteNC 28269
USPS Priority mail may not get processed the next day because it does not get delivered directly to a payment processing center.
In order to assure quickest delivery and processingplease use an express mail service such as FedexUPSDHLetc.
Do I need to pay the minimum amount due on my statement?
Yesmaking at least your minimum payment per month can help you avoid penalties and keep your account in good standing when you’re unable to pay your balance in full.
It is the smallest payment amount required on your account balance each month.
- Minimum payments are typically calculated based on monthly balances.
- If you want to make smaller payments during the billing cyclejust make sure your cumulative payments meet or exceed the minimum due before the due date.
- Making only the minimum payment every month while carrying a balance can be the slowest way to pay off credit card debt—especially if new charges are made each month.
- Minimum payment amounts and other account-specific information can be found on your monthly billing statements and by signing into your account online.
How can I avoid late fees?
If you're late making a payment or pay less than the minimum amount dueyou may be charged late fees.
The deadline for making a payment is 12 midnight ET on your due dateexcept on the statement closing date when the deadline is 8 p.m. ET. In some casesyour due date may be on the same day as your statement closing date. In that casepayments must be received before 8 p.m. ET. If you miss paying your minimum amount due by cutoff time on the Capital One due datea late fee likely will result.
We typically report accounts as late to the credit bureaus after they are more than 30 days past due. For more informationreview the top things to know about late credit card payments.
What should I do if I can’t pay my credit card bill?
If you’re past due and can’t pay your billthere may be things you can do. Capital One offers payment plans to eligible customers.
Contact us to see what options may be available to you.