YouTube thumbnail showing a worried shopper, grocery items, and bold text highlighting 41 percent late buy now pay later payments as an economic warning sign.

41% of Buy Now Pay Later Users Late on Payments in Past Year

Wealth Strategy
March 23, 2026•1 min read

41% of Buy Now Pay Later Users Late on Payments in Past Year

“Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” — Benjamin Franklin

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A recent report from LendingTree reveals that more than 4 in 10 users (41%) of buy now, pay later loans (BNPL) say they paid late on at least one of them in the past year. This figure is up from 34% one year ago. In addition, LendingTree found that many borrowers who take out these loans use them to buy groceries or takeout and believe that successfully managing one of them will boost their credit score – which they say it will not.

A shopper at a grocery store checkout looking stressed while checking payment alerts on a phone, representing rising buy now pay later debt pressure.

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Director of Education & Outreach, National Real Estate Investors Association

Brad Beckett

Director of Education & Outreach, National Real Estate Investors Association

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