Afterpay – How to use it

Are you looking for alternatives to credit cards? If you’re looking for convenient ways to make your online payments or shop online, consider using Afterpay. Fans of “buy now pay later” plans will surely appreciate the options that this app has to offer.

The best part? You can use Afterpay even if you don’t have the best credit rating. Using it also won’t affect your credit score or financial history. 

Let’s take a closer look at how Afterpay works and what this payment platform has to offer.

What Is Afterpay?

Afterpay is a payment service that operates in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. It lets you make online payments conveniently via an app.

It’s a great alternative to credit cards and traditional financing that usually charge high interest rates. In contrast, Afterpay charges no interest. Since it does not require a credit check or tons of documentation, you can use it almost immediately. 

How Does It Work?

Afterpay makes shopping easier with its “buy now pay later” scheme, which allows you to pay for online purchases in four affordable payments. This means that you don’t need to shell out the entire amount upfront.

When you use Afterpay at any online store, the platform advances the entire amount for your purchase. You then repay Afterpay in 4 installments over 6 to 8 weeks. There are no extra fees if you pay on time. Otherwise, late fees may apply.

How to Use Afterpay

If you’re shopping for any product online, all you need to do is select Afterpay as the payment method during check out.

Once you’ve registered for Afterpay, you need to make an initial down payment for the purchase. Then you need to pay for the remaining amount in 3 smaller installments within the specified period.

Visit the Afterpay website to create your account. You will be asked for basic personal information as well as your credit or debit card details.

Once you sign up for Afterpay and download the app, you can use the virtual Afterpay Card. It is a contactless Mastercard that’s integrated and stored in your Google Pay or Apple Pay wallet. You can use the Afterpay card in-store anywhere it’s accepted.

How Does Afterpay Differ From Using a Credit Card or Traditional Financing?

If you need to make a major purchase but don’t have cash on hand, what are your options? Traditionally, you can either get a bank loan or use a credit card.

But both payment methods pale when compared to Afterpay.

Affordability

The primary difference is in the fees involved. Compared to most credit cards and traditional financing, Afterpay is more budget-friendly as it has no interest or hidden fees. You’ll only be charged a late fee if you miss a payment. Total late fees are capped at 25% of your purchase value.

In contrast, credit cards come with plenty of additional costs. These include annual fees, foreign transaction fees, ATM withdrawal fees, over the credit limit fees, and so on. Not only that but using credit cards can also have an impact on your credit score. 

Convenience

Another perk of Afterpay is that it is more convenient than traditional financing. To get a bank loan, you need to submit a ton of documents and other legal requirements. Plus, the waiting time can take weeks.

Credit cards require a credit check and your banking history before they give approval. In contrast, you can use Afterpay in a matter of seconds using your smartphone.

Frequently Asked Questions About Afterpay

Does Afterpay Help Build My Credit History?

Afterpay doesn’t build credit or help you build your credit history. This is because it is not required to report its transactions to credit bureaus. Even if you use Afterpay to make timely payments, it won’t help your credit in any way.

Will Afterpay Affect My Credit Score?

Afterpay doesn’t affect your credit score or credit rating. Since the platform does not do credit checks or report late payments, credit bureaus can’t use this information to assess your financial status.

Where Can I Use Afterpay?

Afterpay is accepted by thousands of online platforms. You can use Afterpay during checkout on your favorite online stores. Check the list of platforms that support Afterpay in the US here.

Does Afterpay Charge Interest? 

Afterpay doesn’t charge any interest. There is no catch. Afterpay splits your payment into four smaller easy-to-pay parts at no extra cost. However, you will be charged a late fee if you miss a payment. You also won’t be able to use Afterpay for any other purchase until you settle your account.

Can You Use Afterpay If You Have a Bad Credit Score?

You can use Afterpay even if you have a bad credit score or low credit rating. This is because Afterpay doesn’t do credit checks. Anybody can use the service regardless of their credit rating.

Afterpay Shopping Guides

We’ve written a number of guides to help you use Afterpay and find the best stores and products.

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Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand how Afterpay works. With these details in mind, go ahead and try Afterpay today.

By splitting the payment into four installments, it lets you buy products online and use them immediately. Since you pay small amounts at a time, it helps reduce your financial stress and gives you breathing room in your budget.

You can’t beat the convenience and flexibility offered by this payment platform. With this app, you don’t have to worry about your credit score or loan requirements.

The good news? Afterpay is available across thousands of platforms, with new ones being added every day around the world.

Contact Afterpay customer service

If you have would like to contact Afterpay then we recommend trying the following customer service phone numbers. Please choose the phone number for the country you are located.

CountryPhone Number
USA 🇺🇸855-289-6014
Australia 🇦🇺1300 100 729
New Zealand 🇳🇿0800 461 268