JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Since VyStar Credit Union members are still having trouble accessing certain features on their accounts, like bill pay, they are worried about late payments on credit cards, mortgages and personal loans.
Those late payments can ding credit scores and damage financial reputations. The problem at VyStar has been going on for about a month.
You may be OK for now. Still, it’s best to check your credit report.
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“That’s a good idea,” said Tom Stephens, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Northeast Florida. “And you also should know that most creditors don’t report late pays to the credit bureau until they’re 30 plus days late. So you’ve got a little wiggle room there.
“You might you might have to pay a fee, which VyStar might refund or return,” Stephens said. “But probably if you get it paid within the 30-day period, it’s not going to hit your credit score.”
Because VyStar’s issues with online access on the web and its app are still going on, and if it drags on longer, it may become an issue.
“You should have a note put on your credit file that this happened and that VyStar caused the issue,” Stephens said. “But the failure is of their system. And that might help.”
Stephens said if your credit score is healthy to begin with, the problems should be minimal. He suggests checking your credit report a couple of times a month until VyStar resolves its issues. Then he recommends routinely checking your credit report three times annually.