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The Daily Insight Hub

Will credit card companies sue for small amounts?

Author

Jackson Reed

Updated on January 25, 2026

The balance owed is large enough to justify a lawsuit: Most credit card companies won’t sue for a small balance. And if you owe a lot, the company might be willing to forgive part of it in exchange for a lump-sum payment. This is called debt settlement.

What happens if you pay less than minimum payment on credit card?

If you pay less than the minimum amount due on your credit cards, unfortunately your card issuer will still count that payment as a missed payment. As a result, this could trigger all sorts of consequences including a late payment fee.

Can credit card companies lower your minimum payment?

With a hardship plan, your card issuer may agree to lower your interest rate, suspend late fees or reduce your minimum payment on a temporary basis. You might even be able to skip a few payments while you work to rebound from the financial setback.

Can a credit card company sue me for payment?

The credit card company might sue you. If you still don’t get caught up, the credit card company might decide to sue you for payment. Alternatively, the credit card company might decide to sell the debt to a debt buyer.

What happens if you pay less than the minimum on a credit card?

Making some sort of payment may show the company you’re acting in good faith and not running away from your debt, but paying less than the minimum will still have some negative repercussions. Talk to a card company customer service representative about other options that will keep you in good standing with your creditors.

What happens if I miss a payment on a credit card?

Under that agreement, you agreed to make a certain minimum payment each month. If you make a payment that is less than the minimum amount due, this constitutes a default under the agreement and is effectively the same thing as missing a payment. Example.

Can you swing a minimum payment on a credit card?

Sometimes you just can’t swing even the minimum payment on a credit card. Making some sort of payment may show the company you’re acting in good faith and not running away from your debt, but paying less than the minimum will still have some negative repercussions.