Where Your Michaels Card Payment Goes
The Michaels credit card is issued by Synchrony Bank, not by Michaels itself. When you make a payment, your money goes to Synchrony, which holds your account and decides whether you've paid on time. Michaels has no role in processing your payment or tracking whether it arrived — that's entirely Synchrony's job. Understanding this matters because if something goes wrong with your payment, you contact Synchrony, not the store.
You can pay your Michaels card in three ways: online through your Synchrony account, by phone with a Synchrony representative, or by mailing a check to the address on your statement. Each route has different timing and confirmation steps, which we'll walk through below.
Key Takeaways
- Your Michaels card is managed by Synchrony Bank, so payments go to Synchrony, not to Michaels stores.
- Online payments through your Synchrony account typically post within one business day and give you when ready confirmation.
- Phone payments take the same time to post but require you to speak with a representative and note your confirmation number.
- Mailed checks take five to seven business days to arrive and post, so send them at least ten days before your due date to avoid late fees.
- Your due date is set by Synchrony and appears on every statement; paying after that date triggers a late fee even if the payment arrives within days.
Paying Online Through Your Synchrony Account
Log in to your Synchrony account at mysynchrony.com or through the Synchrony mobile app. Enter your username and password. If you don't have an online account yet, you'll need to set one up first — Synchrony will ask for your card number, Social Security number, and date of birth to verify your identity.
Once logged in, select "Make a Payment" or "Pay Now." Enter the amount you want to pay (you can pay the full balance, the minimum payment, or any amount in between). Choose your payment method — you can pay from a checking or savings account using your routing and account number, or from a debit card. Synchrony will show you the date the payment will post, which is usually the next business day if you pay before 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Review the details and confirm. Synchrony will give you a confirmation number when ready — write this down or take a screenshot. The payment will show as pending in your account right away, then move to posted status the next business day. You won't receive a separate email confirmation unless you've turned that setting on in your account preferences.
Paying by Phone
Call Synchrony at the number on the back of your Michaels card. A representative will ask for your card number and the last four digits of your Social Security number to verify your identity. Tell them you want to make a payment and give them the amount.
The representative will confirm the amount, the date it will post (usually the next business day), and your payment method — you'll need to provide your checking or savings account number and routing number, or a debit card number. Once you confirm, the representative will give you a confirmation number. Write it down when ready and ask them to repeat it if you didn't catch it the first time.
Phone payments post on the same timeline as online payments. There's no advantage to calling instead of paying online except if you prefer speaking to a person or if you're having trouble accessing the website.
Paying by Mail
Write a check payable to Synchrony Bank. On the memo line, write your Michaels card number. Include a payment stub from your statement if you have one — it has your account number printed on it and helps Synchrony route the payment faster. If you don't have a stub, write your card number clearly on the check itself.
Mail the check to the address shown on your statement under "Payment Address" — this is different from the address where you send disputes or correspondence. Mail it at least ten business days before your due date. The postal service typically takes three to five days, and Synchrony takes another two to three days to process and post the payment once it arrives. If you mail it fewer than ten days before the due date and it arrives late, you'll be charged a late fee even though you sent it on time.
You won't receive confirmation that the check arrived. Check your online account three to five business days after you mail it to see if the payment has posted. If it hasn't posted by five days after you mailed it, call Synchrony to confirm they received it.
What Happens If You Miss Your Due Date
Your due date is printed on every statement and is set by Synchrony — it's usually the same day each month. If your payment posts after that date, you'll be charged a late fee, typically between $25 and $40 depending on your account history. A late payment also appears on your credit report and can lower your credit score.
If you realize you're going to miss the due date, make a payment when ready — even a partial payment counts as on-time as long as it posts by the due date. Online and phone payments post within one business day, so these are your fastest options. If you're mailing a check, it's already too late to make the due date; call Synchrony instead to make a phone payment.
If you've already been charged a late fee, you can call Synchrony and ask if they'll waive it as a one-time courtesy, especially if you've never been late before. They won't always agree, but it's worth asking.
Setting Up Automatic Payments
You can set up automatic payments through your Synchrony account so you never have to remember to pay manually. Log in to mysynchrony.com, go to "Manage Automatic Payments," and choose whether you want to pay the full balance, the minimum payment, or a fixed amount each month. Select the date the payment should post each month — pick a date you know you'll have funds available.
Synchrony will deduct the payment automatically from your checking or savings account on that date each month. You can change or cancel automatic payments anytime through your account. Automatic payments post on the same timeline as manual online payments, so they'll show as posted the next business day.
Automatic payments are useful if you want to avoid late fees, but make sure you have enough money in your account on the payment date. If the payment bounces because of insufficient funds, you'll be charged an overdraft fee by your bank and a returned-payment fee by Synchrony.
Disputing a Payment or Checking Payment Status
If you made a payment but it doesn't show up in your account after five business days, log in to your Synchrony account and check the payment history. It should show the date you made the payment, the amount, and the status (pending or posted). If it shows as posted but your balance hasn't changed, wait another day — sometimes the balance updates a day after the payment posts.
If the payment still doesn't appear after a week, or if you made a payment and were later charged a late fee even though it should have posted on time, call Synchrony with your confirmation number. They can look up the payment in their system and tell you exactly when it posted. If there was an error on their end, they can remove the late fee.
Keep records of every payment you make — write down the confirmation number, the date, and the amount. If you ever need to prove you paid, you'll have documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my Michaels card at a Michaels store?
No. Michaels stores do not accept credit card payments. You must pay through Synchrony — online, by phone, or by mail. Some Michaels locations have a customer service desk, but they cannot process payments on your account.
What if I pay more than I owe?
The extra amount becomes a credit on your account. Synchrony will explore it to your next statement's balance. If you want the money back instead, call Synchrony and ask them to issue a refund check, though this can take several weeks.
Do I have to pay the full balance, or can I pay just the minimum?
You can pay any amount between the minimum payment and the full balance. The minimum is shown on your statement. Paying only the minimum means you'll carry a balance and be charged interest, but you won't be late. Paying the full balance avoids interest charges.
How do I know if my payment was on time?
A payment is on time if it posts to your account on or before your due date. Check your online account to see the posted date, not the date you made the payment. If you paid online or by phone before 8 p.m. Eastern time, it will post the next business day. If you mailed a check, count ten business days from when you mailed it.
What if I have a balance and want to close my Michaels card?
You can close the card anytime, but you still have to pay the balance. Closing the card doesn't erase what you owe. Pay off the balance first, then call Synchrony to request that they close the account.