27 (Not Very) Good Excuses for Late Payments
It happens to everyone. The “oh crud” moment when you realise that a bill or cash loan repayment had to be paid two days ago, and it didn’t happen. If this is a common occurrence for you, then you’re probably well practised in giving good excuses for late payments. So without further ado, let’s look at the top 27 reasons for missing payments (disclaimer: your service provider or lender is not going to thank you for these…).
27 (not very) good excuses for late payments
27. “The cheque is in the mail”
Yep, it’s a classic. You mailed your cheque out late for a bill, hoping it wouldn’t be cashed until you had the money in your account. Ok but, plan better next time.
26. “I didn’t know I owed that much”
A commonly used excuse but to be honest, in this day and age, you should be keeping a careful eye on all your accounts online.
25. I didn’t understand how the balance due is calculated
Another common reason for unpaid bills. Our advice? Before you open any credit accounts or apply for a loan, always make sure you understand the terms and conditions.
24. Fear of low account balance
You get paid, you pay your bills. That’s just how it works. Sometimes that means you might have a low bank balance for a few days until it starts all over again. Make sure you plan for it rather than it being a surprise.
23. My roommate hasn’t paid me his/her half
Roommate situations can be tricky. But if the bill is in your name don’t let that be an excuse for late payment. It hurts you in the long run if you don’t pay your bills, so talk to your roommate pronto.
22. I ran out of cheques
Maybe 40 years ago, this would have been a good excuse for a late payment. But in today’s world, there are so many other ways to pay. Go online and get that bill paid!
21. I didn’t know I had to pay separately for utilities
Make sure you read your lease. If it doesn’t specify the utilities are included or if you had to turn them on, it’s on you.
20. I have no idea where the bill is
This is almost as good as “the dog ate it”. These days, electronic delivery has pretty much made not knowing where the bill is a completely invalid reason for missing payments.
19. My roommate was supposed to pay it
There’s one simple rule for bills: if it’s in your name, you’re expected to pay it.
18. I accidentally threw the bill away
As far as excuses for not paying a bill go, this one is difficult to swallow. Even if you accidentally throw your bill away, you still have to pay it, unfortunately. Sign up for online account access for all your bills. Then you don’t have to worry about thinking of a good excuse for late payment!
17. I was out of town
Check your calendar and make sure you set up payments before you leave so you don’t miss a due date while you’re away.
16. I didn’t get paid
This stinks, of course, but that is why it’s important to set up a savings account to cover you in emergencies.
15. I am sick and unable to work
It sucks if you are ill, but bills still have to be paid. Call your bill provider to try and work out a payment plan.
14. I spent too much on Christmas
Unfortunately, you can’t get December off from paying bills. If you are worrying about thinking of a late payment excuse around Christmas time, you could always consider a Christmas loan.
13. Protesting amount billed
It’s certainly important to call your credit card company or other creditors if you see an error on your bill, but you’ll still need to make minimum payments while you’re sorting out the mess.
12. I am in the process of changing banks
Fine, but you still owe money. This is yet another reason to get online access so it’s easy to update the bank account information.
11. My parents are going to pay it
If this is your excuse, lucky you! However, you still need to make sure you have the money from them to pay the bill or that your parents send in the cheque for you.
10. I was in an accident
Accidents happen, but whatever has happened doesn’t mean bills don’t need to be paid. However, if you call your creditors and explain the situation, it’s possible they will be willing to work with you.
9. I just don’t have the money right now
Well, then make a phone call or get online, oftentimes you can change your due dates to coincide with your pay periods.
8. The due date isn’t when I get paid
See above. In terms of late payment excuses, this one doesn’t fly.
7. My dog died
As heart-breaking as your pet’s death may be, unfortunately, companies won’t accept this as a good excuse for late or missing payments. Taking care of vet bills can be costly though, so it might be a good idea to take out an emergency loan to get you through this expensive time. If you need a little help, check out 12 ways you can get help with vet bills.
6. I am out of work
This is a tough one. It could be one of the very few legitimately good excuses for late payments. But if you call and talk with your creditors, it’s likely you can come up with a payment plan or change a few due dates to ease your situation until you are back on your feet.
5. I just got back from holiday and can’t afford it
Hmm, probably shouldn’t be spending that much on a holiday or even going on one if it’s going to cause you not to be able to pay bills.
4. My internet is down
Go to the library. Use your phone’s data. Whatever it takes, but you still need to pay your bills.
3. I never got a bill
This is one of the most common late payment excuses. This issue can cause major credit issues for you if you don’t figure out what’s going on. Pay attention to your mail. Sign up for electronic delivery. If there is a problem or a bill actually got lost in the mail, you need to catch it early.
2. I just didn’t want to pay it
Yeesh! You can’t bury your head in the sand, sorry. Just sit down and hit send on the payment.
And… 1. I forgot!
The most common reason for missing a payment that we can all relate to at some point. It everyone once in a while. Just make sure to pay as soon as you remember!
Making ends meet, paying for all the groceries, petrol and whatnot is hard. Basically, adulting is hard! So if you find yourself in a jam and you don’t want to use the rent or mortgage money to pay bills, consider taking out a small personal loan from Swoosh.
You’ll know upfront exactly how long you’ll have to pay off one of our online loans, unlike a credit card. The easy application makes it simple to get your money, take care of your bills and start paying it off. No more excuses!