What happens to my credit score if I miss a payment?

Missing a payment can significantly damage your credit score. Payment history is the most heavily weighted factor in credit scoring, making up about 35% of your FICO score. A single missed payment can drop your score by 50 to 100 points or more, depending on how high your score was to begin with and how late the payment becomes. Lenders typically report payments as late after 30 days past due, so if you pay within that window you may avoid a negative mark. The damage worsens the longer the payment goes unpaid, with 60-day and 90-day late marks causing progressively more harm. A missed payment can stay on your credit report for up to seven years.