[UPDATE: Some offers mentioned below have expired and/or are no longer available on our site. You can view the current offers from our partners in our credit card marketplace. DISCLOSURE: Cards from our partners are mentioned below.]
Do you have better things to worry about than your credit cards? Since most of us do, it’s easy to misplace a monthly statement, lose a card or even forget to make a payment. And when we forget, it would be nice to have a credit card issuer that is ready to forgive you and even help you make it better. Thankfully, there are several credit cards that offer terms to help cardholders who might make a mistake from time to time.
Keep in mind that a late payment can still affect your credit, as it will be listed on your credit report. (You can see how any late payments are affecting your credit scores for free on Credit.com.) However, there are other potential negative impacts that you can avoid if you choose a card that’s more forgiving.
Here are three credit cards for the forgetful.
1. PenFed Promise
This card consistently wins our Best Credit Card in America award for the Simplest Card because it has no fees whatsoever. This means that forgetful cardholders don’t have to worry about paying a late payment fee. And although most other cards will impose a penalty interest rate on those who make a late payment, this card will continue to offer cardholders the standard rate, regardless of their payment history. To receive this card, applicants must be a member of the Pentagon Federal Credit Union, which is open to members of a wide variety of military, government and defense industry workers, as well as members of their family or household. In addition, membership in the military is not required. It is also open to those who belong to one of a number of support groups, which anyone can join. And since there are no fees for this card, that means that there is no annual fee, too.
2. Citi Simplicity
Like the PenFed Promise, the Citi Simplicity features no late fees or penalty interest rate. This card also boasts 18 months of interest-free financing on both new purchases and balance transfers (with a 3% balance transfer fee). Other benefits for the forgetful include automatic account alerts to remind cardholders of their balance levels, payments due or when they go over their credit limit. Account alerts can be received by email or text messages directly on their mobile phone. Cardholders can also choose their own payment due date, so they can pick the time of the month that works for them and is easiest to remember. There is no annual fee for this card.
3. Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One has a streamlined rewards system, which means that cardholders don’t have to remember all sorts of confusing terms and conditions to use the rewards that they have earned. With the Quicksilver card, customers earn 1.5% cash back, with no bonus categories to register for or worry about. As a Visa Signature card, customers have access to 24/7 emergency card replacement and cash disbursement, in case their card is lost, stolen or just forgotten. There is no annual fee for this card.
At publishing time, PenFed Promise Visa, Citi Simplicity, Discover it Miles and Capital One Quicksilver are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply for and ultimately sign up for any of these cards. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.
More on Credit Cards:
- How to Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rates
- Tips for Paying Off Credit Card Debt
- How to Get a Credit Card With Bad Credit
Image: iStock