How to Get a Credit Card Company to Remove a Late Payment

Credit card late payments can appear on your account history and potentially impact financial standing. In certain situations, it may be possible to request that a credit card company remove a late payment entry from your credit report. This process often involves communication with the issuer and presenting a clear case for consideration.

Gathering Information for Your Request

Before contacting your credit card company, compile specific details about the late payment and your account history. Begin by reviewing your credit card statements to identify the exact date the payment was due and the date it was actually made.

Next, assess your overall payment history with that particular credit card company. Creditors are often more receptive to requests from customers who generally maintain a strong record of on-time payments. Note how long you have been a customer and the number of on-time payments you have made consistently, perhaps over several years.

Identify the specific reason that led to the late payment. Common reasons that may be considered include a one-time oversight, a technical issue with payment processing, a forgotten due date due to travel, or unforeseen hardships such as a medical emergency or temporary job loss. While acknowledging responsibility, briefly explaining the extenuating circumstance can provide context to the credit card company.

It is also beneficial to research if the credit card company has any publicly stated policies regarding goodwill adjustments or late payment forgiveness. While such policies are often unwritten or discretionary, some financial institutions may have internal guidelines that offer a one-time courtesy removal for loyal customers with otherwise good payment histories.

Communicating with Your Credit Card Company

Once you have gathered all necessary information, the next step is to initiate contact with your credit card company to formally request the removal of the late payment. You can communicate through various channels, including a phone call to customer service, using the secure message center on their online portal, or by writing a formal letter.

When contacting the company, maintain a polite, calm, and direct tone. Remember that you are asking for a “goodwill adjustment” or “one-time courtesy removal,” which is a favor, not a right. Start by clearly stating your full name, account number, and the specific date of the late payment in question.

Articulate your request by presenting the information you prepared, highlighting your positive payment history. For instance, you might say, “I have been a loyal customer for X years with a perfect payment history until this one instance on [date] due to [brief, valid reason]”. Emphasize that this late payment was an isolated incident and not reflective of your usual financial behavior. Explain the brief, valid reason for the late payment without oversharing or making excuses.

You can also highlight any steps you have taken to prevent future late payments, such as setting up automatic payments or calendar reminders. This demonstrates your commitment to responsible financial management moving forward. If the initial representative cannot directly assist, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or a department that handles goodwill adjustments. Persistence, coupled with a respectful approach, can be beneficial in these situations.

Steps After Initial Contact

After your initial communication with the credit card company, it is important to follow up and document the outcome. If your initial request for a goodwill adjustment is denied, do not be discouraged. You can politely ask to speak with a supervisor or a different customer service representative, as outcomes can sometimes vary depending on who you speak with. If a phone call is unsuccessful, consider sending a formal written request, often referred to as a “goodwill letter,” which can be sent via certified mail for tracking.

It is important to document all communication related to your request. Record the date and time of each interaction, the name of the representative you spoke with, and a summary of the conversation and its outcome. If you send a written request, keep a copy for your records. This documentation can be valuable if you need to escalate your request or refer back to previous discussions.

If your request for late payment removal is approved, confirm the removal in writing, if possible, or through your online account. Understand that it may take some time for the change to reflect on your credit report, as credit card companies typically report updates to credit bureaus every 30 to 45 days. Once sufficient time has passed, typically within one to two billing cycles, verify that the late payment has been removed from your credit report.

You can verify the removal by obtaining free copies of your credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You are entitled to one free report annually from each bureau. Carefully review each report to ensure the late payment entry for that specific account and date has been deleted. If the late payment is still present and you believe it should have been removed, contact the credit bureau to dispute the information, providing any documentation of the credit card company’s agreement to remove it.