The idea is to stay one step ahead of your lender! Mail your payment 7-10 days before the due date to ensure it arrives on time
. Better yet, schedule automatic payments, but be sure to verify that the payment was received in case of a computer glitch. If it has only happened once, or even twice, most issuers will waive the fee if you take the time to call. Unfortunately, there's little that can be done for repeat offenders. Always check your statements for any changes regarding the due date and mailing address. Remember, late fees also give lenders an excuse to increase your interest rate at the same time so you can really get stung! Your best move is to pay your balance in full and on time.