Affirm does not have an official skip-a-payment feature, but you can request a one-time payment deferral through their customer service team
Affirm, the point-of-sale lending company, does not offer a built-in option to skip or pause a scheduled payment the way some loan servicers do. However, if you contact Affirm's customer service before your payment is due, you may be able to request a one-time payment deferral—which pushes your next payment forward by one billing cycle. This is not automatic and is not may provide; Affirm evaluates each request individually based on your account history and the reason for the request.
The key difference: a deferral is not the same as skipping the payment entirely. The payment still happens—it just moves to a later date. You will still owe the full amount, and interest or fees may continue to accrue depending on your loan terms. Affirm charges interest on most loans, so deferring a payment typically means you pay more overall.
Key Takeaways
- Affirm does not have a standard skip-payment option; you must contact customer service to request a deferral before the payment due date.
- A deferral pushes your payment forward one billing cycle, but you still owe the full amount plus any accrued interest.
- Approval is not may provide and depends on your account history and the reason for your request.
- If you miss a payment without requesting a deferral first, Affirm will report it to credit bureaus and may charge late fees.
- Affirm offers no formal hardship program like traditional lenders, so your options are limited to requesting a one-time deferral or working out a custom arrangement.
How to request a payment deferral with Affirm
Contact Affirm's customer service before your payment due date. You can reach them through the Affirm app (under Account > Help > Contact Us), by phone, or through their website chat. Have your loan details ready: the order number, the original purchase amount, and your current payment schedule.
Explain your situation clearly. Affirm does not publish specific hardship criteria, but they are more likely to grant a deferral if you have a documented reason—job loss, medical emergency, temporary income reduction—and a history of on-time payments. A single missed payment or a pattern of late payments will make approval less likely.
If Affirm approves your request, they will confirm the new payment date in writing (usually via email or in-app notification). Make sure you understand the new due date and whether any interest or fees have been added. If they deny your request, ask whether there are other options, such as a modified payment plan or a smaller interim payment.
What happens if you miss a payment without requesting a deferral
If your payment is not made by the due date and you have not arranged a deferral, Affirm will report the missed payment to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This happens as soon as the payment is 30 days late. A late payment stays on your credit report for seven years and can lower your credit score by 100 points or more, depending on your current score and credit history.
Affirm may also charge a late fee, though the amount varies. They will send you notices (via email, app, or mail) asking you to pay. If the account remains unpaid for 120 days or longer, Affirm may send it to a third-party debt collector or pursue legal action, though this is less common for smaller loans.
Interest and fees during a deferral
When you defer a payment, interest continues to accrue on most Affirm loans. Affirm offers both interest-free and interest-bearing loans depending on the merchant, the purchase amount, and your creditworthiness. If your loan charges interest, deferring a payment means you will pay more by the time the loan is fully repaid.
For example, if you have a $500 loan at 10% annual interest with six monthly payments, deferring one payment by 30 days adds roughly $4 to your total interest cost. The exact amount depends on your interest rate and the remaining balance. Affirm will not always disclose the additional cost upfront, so ask customer service to calculate it before you agree to the deferral.
Late fees, if charged, are separate from interest. Affirm's late fee policy is not published on their website, so confirm whether a fee applies to your deferral before you proceed.
Alternatives if Affirm denies your deferral request
If Affirm will not grant a deferral, you have limited options. Affirm does not offer formal hardship programs, payment plans, or settlement negotiations the way traditional lenders do. Your choices are:
- Pay a partial amount. Contact Affirm and ask whether they will accept a smaller payment now and defer the remainder. This is not standard, but some representatives may work with you if you demonstrate good faith.
- Pay in full early. If you can scrape together the full remaining balance, paying early stops interest from accruing further and prevents a late payment from being reported.
- Let it go to collections. If you cannot pay, the account will eventually be sent to a debt collector. This damages your credit but may give you time to gather funds. Collectors sometimes negotiate settlements for less than the full amount owed.
None of these are ideal. The best move is to contact Affirm as soon as you know you will struggle to make a payment—before it is due. Even if they deny a deferral, asking early shows you are trying to resolve it, which can matter if the account later goes to collections.
How a deferral affects your credit score
A granted deferral does not appear on your credit report as a negative mark. Affirm reports the deferral to credit bureaus as an account in good standing, because you are still current on your loan—the payment is just moved forward. Your credit score should not drop as a result of approving a deferral.
However, if you miss the new deferred payment date, that missed payment will be reported just as any other late payment would be. So a deferral buys you time, but it does not erase the obligation or protect you if you miss the rescheduled date.
Affirm deferral vs. other payment options
| Option | How It Works | Cost to You | Credit Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-time deferral | Payment pushed forward one billing cycle; interest continues to accrue | Additional interest; possible late fee | None, if approved and new payment is made on time |
| Missed payment (no deferral) | Payment not made; account reported late after 30 days | Late fees; additional interest; possible collections | Significant drop; stays on report for 7 years |
| Early payoff | Pay remaining balance in full before next due date | No additional interest or fees | Positive; account closed in good standing |
| Partial payment | Pay less than the full amount; request deferral on remainder | Interest on deferred amount; possible late fee | Depends on whether Affirm reports it as current or late |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I defer a payment if I have already missed one?
You can ask, but approval is unlikely. Affirm prioritizes borrowers with clean payment histories. If you have already missed a payment, contact customer service immediately to explain the situation and ask what options exist. They may offer a modified arrangement, but a standard deferral is less probable.
How many times can I defer a payment with Affirm?
Affirm does not publish a limit, but they treat each deferral as a one-time exception. Requesting multiple deferrals on the same loan or across different loans will raise red flags and make future requests less likely to be approved. Use a deferral only when you genuinely need it.
What if I defer a payment and then can't pay the deferred amount either?
Contact Affirm again before the new due date. Explain that you need additional help. They may deny a second deferral, but asking early is still better than missing the payment. If they refuse, you will face the same late-payment consequences as any other missed payment.
Does Affirm charge interest during the deferral period?
Yes, on most loans. Interest-bearing Affirm loans continue to accrue interest while a payment is deferred. Interest-free loans (usually 3, 6, or 12-month promotional offers) do not accrue interest during a deferral, but check your loan terms to confirm which type you have.
Will a deferral show up on my credit report?
No. A granted deferral is not reported to credit bureaus as a negative mark. Your account remains in good standing. However, if you miss the deferred payment date, that missed payment will be reported and will damage your credit score.