Question

Which is a short-term consequence of making a late payment on your bill?
It will be harder to buy a house because it affects your credit history.
There will be a late fee added to the bill.
It will be harder to secure a new loan at a low rate.
The bank will charge a fee for having a negative balance.

Answer 1

There will be a late fee added to the bill.

Explanation: a late fee is an immediate, short-term consequence. The credit-impact items (harder to buy a house, harder to get low-rate loans) are longer-term effects, and a negative-balance bank fee relates to overdrafts, not directly to a late payment.