Credit Card Hardship Program: How to Ask, What to Expect

On this page

• What is a credit card hardship program?
• What a hardship program may offer, and what it can cost you
• A pause or a smaller payment
• A lower interest rate, for a while
• A longer-term repayment plan, which may close the card
• In some cases, a settlement
• Who can ask: you don't need to be behind
• How to ask for a credit card hardship program
• 1. Work out what you can pay
• 2. Check the website, then call
• 3. Explain your situation
• 4. Ask about the terms
• 5. Get it in writing
• How a hardship program can affect your credit
• If the card company says no, or it isn't enough
• Bottom line
• Common questions
• Sources

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A credit card hardship program is an arrangement your card company may offer when a financial emergency means you can't keep up with your payments. In a 2019 post, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said these programs often let you postpone a set number of monthly payments or pay a lower monthly payment at a reduced interest rate, until you repay the balance in full. The options depend on your situation, so the way in is to call and ask.

What is a credit card hardship program?

Card companies have different names for it. The same CFPB post says credit card companies can, and often do, provide alternative repayment options, and that they offer loss mitigation programs, sometimes called forbearance or hardship programs. The idea is the same: the company changes your payments for a while so you can keep paying something instead of falling further behind.

It's up to the company. The CFPB's current guidance says that many card companies are willing to work with you to change your payment if you're facing a financial emergency. "Many" isn't "all", and the terms vary. The options depend, the 2019 CFPB post says, on your income, how much you can afford to pay, and the amount you owe, among other factors.

Card companies have their own reasons to say yes. A CFPB report describes creditors' long-term concessions as a way to make repayment more manageable and mitigate lender losses.

What a hardship program may offer, and what it can cost you

Treat everything below as possibilities to ask about in a credit card hardship program, not terms you can expect.

A pause or a smaller payment

The CFPB lists postponing a set number of payments, or paying a lower monthly payment at a reduced rate, as what these programs often allow. In a 2020 post written during the pandemic, the CFPB described emergency forbearance as an option that allows you to skip or reduce your payments for a limited period of time. The same post warned that you'll need to make up any skipped or reduced payments after your forbearance period ends, and that interest may keep accruing in some cases.

A lower interest rate, for a while

That post also said your credit card company may temporarily reduce your interest rates for a hardship if you ask for it, and added: remember that the credit card's interest rate will return to normal when the term ends.

A longer-term repayment plan, which may close the card

For accounts that are already delinquent but not yet charged off, the CFPB's 2020 report says creditors can offer long-term hardship repayment programs, and that these programs can involve the creditor closing the account and setting a repayment plan for the full account balance over a fixed term, often with concessions like waivers of certain fees and interest rate reductions. If you depend on the card, ask about this before you agree. A closed card can also change your credit utilization, which our credit utilization guide explains.

In some cases, a settlement

The 2019 CFPB post says that if the company determines that you cannot afford a full repayment plan within a certain timeframe, you might be able to negotiate to settle the debt for less than you owe, depending on the company's policies and your account. Settling is a different deal with its own costs; our guide to debt settlement pros and cons covers them.

Who can ask: you don't need to be behind

You can ask before anything goes wrong. A CFPB handout says many companies may be willing to help if you're facing a financial emergency, and that you do not need to be behind on your payments to ask for help. Its advice is to call if you believe you can't pay the minimum.

Waiting tends to make things worse. The same handout lists what ignoring the problem may lead to: higher interest rates, higher minimum payments, losing your charging privileges, late fees and damage to your credit scores. Our guide to what happens if you stop paying credit cards goes through that timeline.

How to ask for a credit card hardship program

The CFPB's advice is short: contact your credit card company immediately. The FTC says the same in its own words: if you're behind on your bills, call the creditors you owe money to, tell them what's going on and try to work out a new payment plan with lower payments you can manage.

1. Work out what you can pay

Before you call, add up your income and expenses and look for costs to cut. If you can't find enough for the minimum payment, the CFPB handout says to decide how much you can afford to pay. Having a real number makes the call easier, and it keeps you from agreeing to a payment you can't keep. A payoff plan shows what each card needs per month at the budget you have.

2. Check the website, then call

Some companies explain their options online first. A 2020 CFPB post about pandemic relief suggested you check the lender's website to see if there are hardship or relief programs available. Then call your card company and ask what hardship options it has.

3. Explain your situation

The CFPB suggests being ready to explain:

• why you can't pay the minimum
• how much you can afford to pay
• when you could restart your normal payments
• what new payment amount you are requesting and for how long.

That list comes from the CFPB's answer on what to do if you can't pay your credit card bills. If you'd rather put it in writing, or want notes in front of you on the call, our hardship letter builder lays out what changed, what you're asking for and what you can pay.

4. Ask about the terms

During the pandemic, the CFPB suggested having questions ready before you call. These are adapted from its list:

• Are there fees for this option?
• Will interest keep building while my payments are lowered or paused?
• How long does it last, and when do normal payments start again?
• What happens if my situation hasn't changed when it ends?
• What will you report to the credit reporting agencies?
• Will I lose the ability to use the card?

5. Get it in writing

The 2019 CFPB post says to get written confirmation of any alternative repayment option to which you agree. Keep it, and make every payment the agreement asks for.

How a hardship program can affect your credit

How a credit card hardship program shows up on your credit reports is something to ask the company about. A 2020 CFPB post about pandemic relief said to ask questions about the terms of the accommodation, including how it will be reported to credit reporting agencies.

Timing matters. Once you're late or miss a payment, you're considered delinquent, and a 2019 CFPB post says that, generally, that delinquency can stay on your credit report for up to seven years. That's one reason the same post says to contact your credit card company as soon as possible if you think you might miss a payment.

Afterward, check that your reports match what you agreed. The same post said to check your credit reports to make sure they accurately reflect the agreement with your lender, and to dispute any errors you find.

If the card company says no, or it isn't enough

A no from one company, or a deal on one card while you're behind on several, doesn't leave you stuck. The next step to look at is nonprofit credit counseling.

The CFPB says many credit counseling organizations are nonprofits, and that before you sign up you should ask if you will be charged, how much, and what services will be provided. A counselor may suggest a debt management plan, allowing you to make one payment each month for all the loans you enroll in their debt management plan, as a 2019 CFPB post puts it. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) says a Debt Management Plan (DMP) is not a loan.

A DMP uses the same kind of creditor hardship programs this guide describes. The CFPB's report says credit counseling agencies can work with consumers to assess their hardship situation and enroll them in workout programs across multiple creditors through debt management plans. The FTC says that under a plan, your creditors may agree to lower your interest rates or waive certain fees. It also says a plan can take 48 months or more to complete, and you might have to agree not to apply for or use any more credit until it's finished. The FTC suggests looking for counseling at places like credit unions and universities, and says many of these organizations offer services with low fees, but some charge high fees, so ask for a specific quote in writing for any one-time or monthly fees. Our debt management plan guide covers how enrollment and fees work.

For the full order of options, from a payoff plan through settlement and bankruptcy, see how to get out of credit card debt.

Bottom line

A credit card hardship program is your card company's own arrangement, and the options depend on your situation. It may pause your payments or lower them at a reduced rate for a while, but skipped payments may need to be made up, a lower rate may end, and a program for a delinquent account can involve closing the card. Call early, know your numbers, ask what will be reported and get the agreement in writing. If it isn't enough, a nonprofit credit counselor is the next step. The Debt Check compares your options using your own numbers.

Common questions

What is a credit card hardship program?

It's an arrangement your card company may offer when you can't keep up. A 2019 CFPB post says these programs, sometimes called forbearance or loss mitigation programs, often let you postpone a set number of monthly payments or pay a lower monthly payment at a reduced interest rate until you repay the balance in full. The options depend on, among other factors, your income, how much you can afford to pay and the amount you owe.

Do I have to be behind on payments to ask for a hardship program?

No. A CFPB handout says you do not need to be behind on your payments to ask for help. It says to call your card company if you believe you can't pay the minimum.

Will a credit card hardship program close my account?

It might. A CFPB report says creditor hardship programs for delinquent accounts can involve the creditor closing the account and setting a repayment plan for the full balance over a fixed term. Ask the company whether you'll keep charging privileges before you agree.

Does a hardship program hurt your credit?

Ask the company how the arrangement will be reported to the credit reporting agencies. A 2019 CFPB post says a delinquency can generally stay on your credit report for up to seven years, which is one reason to call before you miss a payment. Afterward, check your credit reports.

What if my card company won't offer a hardship program?

You can talk to a nonprofit credit counselor. The FTC says a debt management plan through a counselor may get creditors to lower your interest rates or waive certain fees, and a plan can take 48 months or more. Ask about fees before you sign up.

Sources

1. 1CFPB: What should I do if I can't pay my credit card bills?
2. 2CFPB: Need help with your credit card debt? Start with your credit card company!
3. 3CFPB: Act fast if you can't pay your credit cards (handout)
4. 4CFPB: Credit card debt during coronavirus: Relief options and tips
5. 5CFPB: Protecting your credit during the coronavirus pandemic
6. 6CFPB: Quarterly Consumer Credit Trends, Debt Settlement and Credit Counseling (July 2020)
7. 7FTC: How To Get Out of Debt
8. 8NFCC: What is a Debt Management Plan

By DebtCheckUSA Editorial Team. First published October 26, 2026. Advertiser disclosure