As of 2021, Americans were $16.64 trillion in debt. Household debt balances increased by $85 billion in the first quarter of 2021, a 0.6% rise from 2020 Q4. Household debt balances at the beginning of 2021 were $499 billion higher than at the end of 2019. These numbers underscore how important it is to read the back of your credit card statement for details on the specific length of your grace period and to determine how your finance charges are calculated in regard to your personal debt.
The Credit Card Act of 2009
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act was passed by Congress and signed by U.S. President Barack Obama on May 22, 2009. The act “builds on the strong first step taken by the Federal Reserve toward improving disclosures and ending unfair practices.” Before the act was passed, banks could raise interest rates without warning, vary due dates from one month to the next, and charge “inactivity fees” if a customer did not use the card. According to the White House Fact Sheet, some critical elements of reform in this law include:
Banning Unfair Rate Increases: Financial institutions will no longer raise rates unfairly, and consumers will have confidence that the interest rates on their existing balances will not be hiked. Preventing Unfair Fee Traps: Institutions will have to give card holders a reasonable time to pay their monthly bill—at least 21 calendar days from time of mailing. The act also ends late-fee traps such as weekend deadlines, due dates that change each month, and billing deadlines that fall in the middle of the day.Plain Sight/Plain Language Disclosures: Credit card contract terms will be disclosed in language that consumers can see and understand so they can avoid unnecessary costs and manage their finances.Accountability: The act will help ensure accountability from both credit card issuers and regulators who are responsible for preventing unfair practices and enforcing protections.Protections for Students and Young People: The act contains new protections for college students and young adults, including a requirement that card issuers and universities disclose agreements with respect to the marketing or distribution of credit cards to students.
When You Might Not Have a Grace Period
Certain types of credit card transactions, such as cash advances and balance transfers, may not allow for a grace period. Thus, these transactions begin accruing interest as soon as the money is posted to your account, assuming that you don’t have a 0% promotional rate in effect. New purchases on a credit card may lack a grace period if you start the billing cycle with a balance. If you want to avoid paying interest on a transaction that doesn’t have a grace period, you’ll have to pay it off immediately.
The Requirement to Transmit Your Billing Statement
Credit card issuers are required to mail your billing statement at least 21 days before fees will be charged to your account. Your credit card statement won’t necessarily give you an indication as to whether your balance has a grace period, and that is a detail you have to keep up with on your own if you hope to take full advantage of it. If you’re only making the minimum payment on your credit card each month, the grace period won’t apply. You’ll be charged interest on the unpaid balance plus your new purchases each month until you’ve completely paid off the balance. Only then will the grace period apply to new purchases.
Payment Grace Period on Loans
Loans also have payment grace periods, but they’re not the same as those associated with a credit card. For a loan, the grace period occurs after a payment is due but when it can still be made without penalty. This period of time is typically around 15 days. Make sure to check with your loan provider before assuming that you have a grace period at all. Student loans have a six-month grace period after you’ve graduated or your enrollment has dropped below half-time. After this six-month grace period, your student loan goes into repayment, and you’re required to make a payment each month. According to the U.S. Department of Education, most loans will accrue interest during this six-month grace period, and you can choose to pay the interest during that time to prevent it from being added to the principal balance.
