Buy Now, Pay Later

BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) is a system where you don't pay at the time of purchase and instead settle the bill after receiving the product or after a set period. In Japan, Paidy, Merpay Smart Pay, atone, and NP Atobarai are popular services. Internationally, Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm are major players that have rapidly expanded by integrating into e-commerce checkout flows.

Payment methods fall into three main patterns: next-month lump-sum payment (often fee-free), 3-to-6 installments (fees may apply), and deferred payment via convenience store or bank transfer (like NP Atobarai). The key difference from credit cards is that credit checks are performed in real-time and are simplified. Since no card number entry is required, BNPL is chosen by users in their teens and twenties who don't have credit cards, as well as those who prefer not to enter card information for online purchases.

Behind BNPL's convenience lurks the risk of overspending. Because payment is deferred, the feeling of "spending money" is weak at the time of purchase, and it's not uncommon for next month's bill to balloon unexpectedly. Using multiple BNPL services simultaneously makes it especially difficult to keep track of each service's billing dates and balances.

Late payments also require caution. Beyond incurring late fees, some services report to credit bureaus. Paidy is a member of CIC (a designated credit information agency), and prolonged delinquency could negatively affect future credit card and loan applications. When using BNPL, it's essential to confirm your payment capacity for the following month in advance and set your own monthly spending limits. Linking with a budgeting app to visualize BNPL usage is also an effective countermeasure.