Due to its mode of operation which allows users to buy and pay later, many people want to know if you can go to jail for not paying Afterpay, especially at the stipulated time. Find out the details of this as you read through this article to the end.
Before we begin, however, let’s get a short overview of what Afterpay is, how it works, and how to pay them. After that, we will move on to see the answer to the question of discussion.
What Is Afterpay?
Afterpay is a business enterprise that provides the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) service. In this system, customers are granted the opportunity to shop and pay overtime without any interest.
In other words, you can shop through the services of Afterpay by paying just a fraction of the total cost (depending on the shop) and the balance would be spread through an agreed period. You are expected to pay back the balance within this time without added interest.
The services of Afterpay were first introduced in Australia in 2015 and later in the USA in 2018. Its popularity has since spread to other parts of the world. It has a mobile app on which you can register for an Afterpay card. The data enables you to make contactless at participating stores.
However, knowing that there is no added interest on your payments with Afterpay does not mean there wouldn’t be penalties for defaulting or additional charges. So get familiar with its terms and conditions before young ahead to use Afterpay as your payment method in stores. See more on this as we proceed.
How Does Afterpay Work?
Here is simply how it works. When you shop with Afterpay, you make an initial deposit of 25% of the total cost of that shopping. The balance or unpaid amount is then divided into 4 installments which could take as long as 6 weeks.
This is not without some terms and conditions which are determined by the store or company which you are buying from. Installments with Afterpay do not attract interest. Nonetheless, delayed payment does have its penalties.
Can You Go To Jail For Not Paying Afterpay?
No, you can not go to jail for not paying Afterpay. Failure to pay a loan from Afterpay or any loan scheme does not send one to jail or prison. Hence you will not be arrested or thrown into prison if you are unable to meet up with the payment.
There are, however, penalties for not paying up the debt on time or not paying at all. See them in the next section.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Afterpay?
Since we have said that you won’t go to jail for not paying Afterpay, it is not an avenue to evade the debt as the company will take one or more of the following actions if you do not pay at the due date.
Late Payment Fees.
The first action that would be taken if you do not pay Afterypay is to add a fine to your payment. This time comes in the form of additional charges that you would be made to pay up before you can use the services of the company next time.
The late payment fees differ from one country to the other. In the US, you are made to pay an additional $8 or 25% of the price of the product purchased.
Lower Credit Limit.
Another action that can be taken is to lower your future credit limit with Afterpay. That is, you will no longer be able to access much credit with them again. This is because failure to pay on time is seen as a threat to the business as it operates without checking your credit history.
You Won’t Be Able To Use Afterpay Again.
Another action that can be taken against you when you do not pay up the debt at the due time is to stop you from using Afterpay. This policy makes it impossible for the debtor to use Afterpay for any new purchases even if you have previously had a good payment history.
Stop Your Account.
In worst-case scenarios, the company might result to stopping or blocking your account if you do not pay them.
You Could Be Sent To Collection Agencies.
Also, if you fail to pay back, you could be sent to collection agencies which is not healthy for your financial future.
How To Pay Afterpay.
There are two ways to pay Afterpay. You can either set an automatic withdrawal from your account when it is due or you manually pay up by logging in to your account. During your registration process, you were made to link a debit or credit card to the Afterpay account.
With that, the money can be deducted when it is due for payment. However, you can manually do it when you log in to your account, go through your payment schedule and pay up before the due date.
How To Shop With Afterpay.
It is important to note that you can shop with Afterpay both online and in stores. Before doing that, however, you would need to create an account. The following are the steps involved.
- Download the Afterpay mobile app
- Sign up and create an account by following the prompts to provide all the needed information.
- Go to the store or company you wish to shop with.
- Select the item of interest.
- Enter your address
- At the checkout point, select Afterpay
- Make your first deposit and the time you are expected to pay up the balance will be displayed in your account.
- Once this is confirmed, you will get your purchased item.
Also Read: Wayfair Payment Options
FAQs
Can I Pay Afterpay A Day Late?
Yes, you can pay your debt with Afterpay a day late. All you have to do is to change the due date of your payment either on the mobile app or on this website.
What Is The Afterpay Grace Period?
The grace period is offered to those who are late with their payments and do not have a particular payment plan. The grace period may be up to 10 or more days. At the expiration of that time, late payment fees will apply.
Conclusion
Can you go to jail for not paying Afterpay? The answer as we gave discussed is No. However, we have shown you several actions and penalties that you could face if you do not pay up the loan. So ensure that you pay up to prevent any of such happenings.