Missed the 0% Deadline: What Happens Next (UK)

The statement says £680. Last month it said £680. This month it says £694, and you have not spent a penny.

Find your situation

1. You can clear it within a few months. Do it now. Every month you wait adds interest, and a Direct Debit for a fixed amount stops you forgetting. MoneyHelper suggests aiming to clear the whole bill each month to avoid interest (MoneyHelper).

2. It will take longer, and your credit file is healthy. A 0% balance transfer card can pause the interest. MoneyHelper says transfers usually cost around 3% of the balance and usually need a good credit score, and warns that you face a high rate on what remains if you do not clear it before the new deal ends (MoneyHelper). On £680 the 3% fee is about £20.

3. You are struggling. Keep paying at least the minimum, because missing a payment can damage your file and cost you other deals (MoneyHelper). Do not borrow to cover it before speaking to a free adviser. Read debt management plans.

What waiting costs

Our own illustration, not a quote. Take £680 at an example rate of 24.9% APR, about 2.08% a month, so roughly £14 of interest in the first month. Here is what different monthly payments do, with no new spending:

Paying £100 a month instead of £30 clears it 23 months sooner and saves about £187. Use your own rate and balance in the calculator.

Two things not to do

• Do not take a cash advance to clear it. MoneyHelper notes cash withdrawals carry a fee of around 2% to 3% plus interest.
• Do not open a string of new cards to find a 0% deal. MoneyHelper warns that too many applications in a short time can damage your credit score.

Source for the cash advance fee: MoneyHelper. For why interest feels like it never falls, read APR vs interest rate.

Where to go next

• APR vs interest rate
• Balance transfer vs consolidation loan
• Check your credit score for free
• Debt management plans

Quick answers to the worries that keep you up

What rate will I pay now?

It is set in your card agreement, so check your statement. MoneyHelper says credit card interest rates are typically between 25% and 60% and quotes an average of 22% on another page (MoneyHelper credit card guide; MoneyHelper). Our illustration uses 24.9% purely as an example.

Do I owe interest back to day one?

That depends on your agreement, so read its terms. MoneyHelper’s guide says you pay expensive interest on anything you still owe when the 0% period ends (MoneyHelper). A store-card deferred interest deal can work differently, so do not assume the two are the same.

Can I move the balance to a 0% balance transfer card?

Often yes, with a good credit score. MoneyHelper says transfers usually cost around 3% of the balance and are usually only available with a good score, and that you should clear the debt before that deal ends (MoneyHelper). See balance transfer vs consolidation loan.

Did the missed deadline hurt my credit file?

The deadline itself does not. A missed payment can: MoneyHelper says it could damage your credit file and end the 0% deal (MoneyHelper). Check yours free: how to check your credit score.

What if I cannot pay it off?

Pay at least the minimum, and speak to a free debt adviser before taking new borrowing to cover old debts, as MoneyHelper advises (MoneyHelper). StepChange offers free advice on 0800 138 1111 (StepChange).

Why does the minimum payment feel pointless?

MoneyHelper says minimum payments tend to be set very low, and that paying only the minimum for 18 months can lead to persistent debt (MoneyHelper). See what it costs on the minimum payment trap calculator.

Read next

• APR vs Interest Rate: What’s the Actual Difference?
• 0% Balance Transfer or Consolidation Loan? (UK 2026)
• How to Check Your Credit Score for Free in the UK (2026 Guide)
• Credit Card Daily Interest (UK): What It Costs