Open Sky processes most payments within one to three business days
Open Sky is a secured credit card issuer. When you make a payment to your Open Sky account—whether online, by phone, or by mail—the time it takes to post depends on the method you use and when you send it.
Online payments made before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day typically post the next business day. Payments made after 5 p.m. or on weekends and holidays are processed the following business day. Phone payments follow the same timeline. Mailed payments take longer: Open Sky receives mail payments within three to five business days of mailing, then processes them within one business day of receipt.
The key distinction is between when Open Sky receives your payment and when it shows up on your account. A payment can be received and still take a day to process and post to your balance.
Key Takeaways
- Online and phone payments to Open Sky post within one business day if submitted before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on a weekday.
- Mailed payments take three to five business days to arrive at Open Sky, then one additional business day to process.
- Payments submitted after 5 p.m. or on weekends are treated as received on the next business day.
- Open Sky does not process payments on weekends or federal holidays, so timing your payment matters if you are close to a due date.
Online and phone payment timelines
When you pay Open Sky online through their website or mobile app, the payment is submitted immediately. However, immediate submission does not mean immediate posting. Open Sky's payment processing window closes at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on business days. Payments submitted before that time are queued for processing that same day and typically post by the next business day.
Payments submitted after 5 p.m. Eastern Time or on weekends and holidays enter the queue for the next business day. So a payment made on Friday evening will not be processed until Monday, and will post by Tuesday at the earliest.
Phone payments work the same way. Call Open Sky's customer service line, provide your payment information, and the payment is submitted to the same processing queue as online payments. The timeline is identical: same-day processing if submitted before 5 p.m. on a business day, next-business-day posting.
Mailed payment timelines
Mailed payments take significantly longer because they depend on postal delivery first. Open Sky's mailing address is listed on your statement and on their website. Mail typically takes three to five business days to reach Open Sky's processing center, depending on your location and the postal service's current volume.
Once Open Sky receives your mailed payment, they process it within one business day. So the total timeline for a mailed payment is four to six business days from the date you mail it, assuming no postal delays.
If you are paying by mail and your due date is approaching, mail your payment at least one week in advance. This gives the postal service time to deliver it and Open Sky time to process it before the due date passes. Late fees apply if payment is not posted by the due date, regardless of when you mailed it.
What happens if your payment is late
If your payment does not post by the due date, Open Sky reports it as late to the credit bureaus. A single late payment can lower your credit score by 30 to 100 points, depending on your current score and credit history. Open Sky may also charge a late fee, which varies but typically ranges from $25 to $35 for the first late payment.
If you realize a payment will be late, contact Open Sky immediately. Some issuers will waive a single late fee if you call before the payment posts and explain the delay. Open Sky's customer service can also tell you the exact time your payment posted and whether it arrived before or after the due date cutoff.
Late payments stay on your credit report for seven years, though their impact on your score decreases over time. Paying on time going forward is the only way to recover from a late payment.
How to avoid payment delays
The safest approach is to submit payments at least three business days before your due date. This gives online and phone payments time to post and gives mailed payments time to arrive and be processed. If you mail a payment, add five to seven days to account for postal delivery.
Set up automatic payments through Open Sky's website if you want to remove timing from the equation. Automatic payments are deducted from your bank account on a date you choose and post to your Open Sky account on the same schedule as manual online payments. You can change or cancel automatic payments at any time.
If you use a bill-pay service through your bank, payments are sent from your bank to Open Sky as a check or ACH transfer. These typically post within two to three business days, but the timeline depends on your bank's processing speed as well as Open Sky's. Check with your bank about their bill-pay processing times.
Payment method comparison
| Payment Method | Processing Time | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Online (website or app) | 1 business day if submitted before 5 p.m. ET on a weekday | When you need to pay quickly and have a few days before the due date |
| Phone | 1 business day if submitted before 5 p.m. ET on a weekday | When you prefer to speak with someone or do not have online access |
| 4 to 6 business days from mailing date | When you do not have internet access or prefer a paper record | |
| Automatic payment | 1 business day, on a recurring schedule you set | When you want to remove timing risk and pay the same amount each month |
| Bank bill-pay | 2 to 3 business days | When you pay multiple bills through your bank and want one system |
What to do if a payment does not post
If you submitted a payment and it has not posted within the expected timeframe, contact Open Sky's customer service. Have your confirmation number ready if you paid online or by phone. If you mailed a payment, have the check number and the date you mailed it.
Open Sky can search their records for your payment and tell you whether it has been received and processed. If the payment was received but not yet posted, they can tell you when it will appear. If the payment was not received, you may need to resubmit it or stop payment on the original check and mail a new one.
If a payment was lost in the mail, Open Sky may ask you to file a claim with the postal service or provide proof of mailing. In the meantime, they may allow you to submit a replacement payment online or by phone to avoid a late fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Open Sky charge a fee for paying online or by phone?
No. Open Sky does not charge a fee for online or phone payments. Mailed payments are also free. Some third-party bill-pay services may charge a fee, but Open Sky's own payment methods are free.
Can I pay Open Sky with a debit card or another credit card?
No. Open Sky only accepts payments from a bank account (ACH transfer), check, or money order. You cannot pay with another credit card or debit card through Open Sky directly. Some third-party payment processors may accept credit cards, but they charge a fee.
What time does Open Sky's payment processing window close?
Open Sky's processing window closes at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on business days. Payments submitted after 5 p.m. or on weekends and holidays are processed the next business day.
If I pay online on Friday, will it post by Monday?
No. A payment submitted on Friday before 5 p.m. ET will be processed Friday and post by Saturday or Monday, depending on Open Sky's processing schedule. Payments do not post on weekends, so it will appear on your account by Monday at the latest.
What is the latest I can pay to avoid a late fee?
You must pay before your due date for the payment to post on time. If your due date is a weekend or holiday, the due date moves to the next business day. To be safe, submit online or phone payments at least one business day before your due date, or mail payments at least five to seven days before.