Your payment history determines a third of your credit score for a surety bond, so it’s vital that you pay your bills on time, every time. When you miss a payment, it stays on your credit report for seven years. The more recent you missed a payment, the worse it is for your credit report.
The best way to do help yourself stay on track is to sign up for due-date reminders with credit card companies. You can usually get reminders at least 10 days in advance of your due date as either emails or text messages. Some utilities will also send you alerts, but you have to sign up on your own to get them.
If you find yourself unable to pay on time because of the due date, contact your credit card companies and ask to move the date to one that works better for you.