How Long Is A Credit Card Authorization Good For?

By Bruce Boswell •  Updated: 12/14/21 •  6 min read
Filed under: Credit Cards

Knowing about your credit card and how much you can use it is integral to having a happy life. If you don’t know the potential limits of your credit card, then you might find yourself overstretched and in a difficult situation.

Knowing about the amount of interest you’ll pay, how to check when your credit payment has gone through and what you can and can’t use your credit card for is a core part of being a responsible adult. 

How Long Is A Credit Card Authorization Good For

However, you might often wonder how you can find out the particular limits related to your credit card. How long can you go without paying off credit on your credit card? What are the spending limits to your credit card? How long is a credit card authorization good for? 

These questions and more will be answered in this piece which will help explain what you can and can’t do with your credit card. 

How Long Can You Go Without Paying Off Credit On Your Credit Card? 

It is a question that, particularly when you are stressed, can result in a great deal of worry. If you can’t meet your credit payments on your credit card during a particular period, for how long can you go without paying credit off your credit card?

Well, the answer varies depending on your amount of credit, your credit provider and how long you have not paid credit on your credit card. Of course, it is better if you pay the credit off as soon as possible because of the interest rates that are applied to the card.

The more money you spend without paying it off your credit card, the worst situation you can find yourself in. 

Credit companies are understanding, to a degree, about the situations that you find yourself in. If you miss a month the credit company won’t suddenly cancel your card but they will enquire when you intend to pay for the money spent on the card and whether you intend to pay the full amount or only part of it.

 This is important as it will help the credit card provider determine whether you are in trouble or whether you have simply decided not to pay any of your credit off.

There is of course a distinction between those who simply expect credit for free and those who are in trouble and need help. Most credit providers are understanding of this and won’t immediately attempt to take back the money you owe by force. 

You can of course enjoy between 45 and 56 days of interest free credit however this will change the longer that you don’t pay back the credit that is owed on your card.

Whilst credit firms can be flexible, this does not mean that you can not expect to pay back any of the money you have used on your credit card and the interest that is attached to it. 

It is best to ensure that you pay back the credit card’s credit as often as possible and when you are unable to pay back as much as you like to contact your credit provider and see if you can work with them to find an acceptable solution to the issue.

Your credit card provider doesn’t want you to not pay back your credit card payment. They will therefore be more likely to accept a certain amount of payment than none at all. 

It is also important to remember that after seven years any outstanding credit on your card is cancelled completely and that you will not have that old credit debt affecting your credit rating. 

How Long Is A Credit Card Authorization Good For?

As credit cards are often used to pay for bills or to pay for other services, you might wonder how often you have to authorise that your credit card be used for such a purpose. The answer is that it ultimately depends on the merchant and their policy on fraud. 

Because companies don’t like to be accused of having lax security, they will often make you do credit card authorization every time you go to buy something.

This is so the company can say with confidence that they believe that the item or items was purchased by you and not someone pretending to be you. This is also important as it is a core part of protecting your right as a consumer. 

However, some other merchants will not make you do this and will allow you credit card authorisation from anywhere between a day and a month.

However, most companies and merchants won’t allow authorization to last for a month simply because it opens up the possibility of more fraud on the account or it being used by someone who isn’t you. 

Keeping Your credit Card Safe

One of the most important things that you have to do when using your credit card is to make sure that you keep it safe. Your credit card isn’t a plaything, nor is it designed to simply be there when you want it.

It is an important piece of financial data which can be linked to your credit score. 

Looking after your credit card means you are looking after your life also.

Without proper care and attention your credit card can spiral out of control with interest rates meaning that you will have to pay much more to get your card clear than you otherwise might have to if you have kept up regular payments. 

Keeping your money under control is not only a sign that you are a responsible adult but that your life is going in the right direction. This is why you should always monitor how much money you spend on your credit card and ensure that you keep the money where it should be – at a manageable level. 

Debt isn’t something that any of us want to go through which is why credit cards can seem like a fantastic option but quite easily turn into an utter disaster zone.

We must together recognize the need to get our credit card credit limits into a reasonable place not just for us but for the future of our family. 

Bruce BoswellBruce Boswell

Bruce Boswell

Bruce Boswell enjoys researching and writing about all things related to investing and saving money. Whenever he has a chance, Bruce loves travelling all around the world with his wife and trying new foods.