Can a late payment fee be removed?

Asked by: Ike Sauer  |  Last update: November 19, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (12 votes)

If there's an incorrect late payment on your credit reports, you can file a dispute with the creditor or the corresponding credit bureau to try and get the mark removed. But if the late payment is correct, you should know you probably won't be able to get rid of the derogatory mark before its time.

How to get a late payment fee removed?

Request a Goodwill Adjustment: If you've generally been a good customer, you can write a goodwill letter to your credit card company. Explain your situation, acknowledge the missed payment, and request that they remove the late payment entry as a goodwill gesture.

Can I get a late payment removed from my credit report?

Unfortunately, an actual late payment is nearly impossible to remove from your credit report even if you were able to convince your card issuer to waive any fees you may have been charged. Still, late payments sometimes get reported erroneously to the credit bureaus and can be disputed.

Can I ask for a late fee to be waived?

Indeed the judge has the authority to waive the late fee. This is in his or her discretion and is not a right. You may ask, but if the request is denied say nothing further and pay it.

Can you ask a company to remove a late payment?

Ask the lender to remove it with a goodwill letter

The process is easy: simply write a letter to your creditor explaining why you paid late. Ask them to forgive the late payment and assure them it won't happen again.

How To REMOVE LATE PAYMEMTS from Credit Report In 2024

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How to request late payment forgiveness?

Reassure the creditor that the late payment was a one-time occurrence and not typical of your financial behavior. Explain any steps you've taken to prevent future issues. Clearly state your request, whether it's removing the negative item from your credit report, a late fee waiver or another form of leniency.

What is a 609 letter to remove late payments?

A 609 letter won't erase valid negative marks like late payments, defaults, or collections if the information has been verified and is correct. Additionally, 609 letters won't relieve you of your obligation to repay any existing debt.

How do I fight a late fee?

To get an incorrect late payment removed from your credit report, you can:
  1. File a Dispute with the Bureau: Each agency provides tools for you to challenge something on your credit report. ...
  2. Send a Dispute Letter to the Lender: Send a letter explaining what is wrong to the creditor.

How do you politely ask for a fee waiver?

When requesting a fee waiver, you'll need to explain why you are seeking financial assistance and how a fee waiver would help you pursue your academic goals. For example, you could mention the financial hardships your family is facing.

What is a reasonable late payment fee?

The typical late payment fee for invoices is 1% to 2% of the past due payment amount per month. How do you remind a customer of a past-due invoice? You can politely remind a customer about an unpaid invoice with a payment reminder email that includes the invoice number and due.

Can you have a 700 credit score with late payments?

It may also characterize a longer credit history with a few mistakes along the way, such as occasional late or missed payments, or a tendency toward relatively high credit usage rates. Late payments (past due 30 days) appear in the credit reports of 33% of people with FICO® Scores of 700.

Do goodwill letters work for late payments?

If a creditor accepts your goodwill letter, it can help you improve your credit score. But the majority of goodwill letters are unsuccessful. This is especially true if you have a payment history with late or missed payments.

Do late payments ever go away?

A late payment will be removed from your credit reports after seven years. However, late payments generally have less influence on your credit scores as more time passes. Unpaid debts and debts in collections also generally come off your credit reports after seven years.

Can late payment fee be removed?

If you incur a late fee and you aren't habitually late with your payments, the creditor may be willing to waive it.

Is it true that after 7 years your credit is clear?

Most negative items should automatically fall off your credit reports seven years from the date of your first missed payment, at which point your credit score may start rising. But if you are otherwise using credit responsibly, your score may rebound to its starting point within three months to six years.

What do I say to get late payments removed?

I truly believe that it doesn't reflect my creditworthiness and commitment to repaying my debts. It would help me immensely if you could give me a second chance and make a goodwill adjustment to remove the late [payment/payments] on [date/dates]. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope you'll approve my request.

How do I ask for a late fee to be waived?

Contact Your Credit Card Issuer

Apologize for the late fee, and explain why it happened. Make sure to highlight your history as a good customer and ask if they'll be willing to waive the fee.

What do you say to get a fee waived?

Clearly state your request for a fee waiver and why you need it. Highlight your financial hardships and why you cannot pay the fee. Provide supporting documents to demonstrate your financial need. Use a polite and professional tone in your email.

How do I ask my bank to waive a fee?

Try taking these steps:
  1. Call your bank. Contact your bank as soon as you realize you've been charged an overdraft fee. ...
  2. Explain what happened. Give a few details as to why you overdrafted. ...
  3. Provide a timeline. ...
  4. Point out your history as a customer. ...
  5. Always be polite. ...
  6. Get a second opinion. ...
  7. As a last resort, try this.

Can late fees be reversed?

Contact Your Card Issuer

If you pay late, credit card issuers may be willing to waive the late fee and reverse the penalty interest as a courtesy if you call in and request it.

How do you ask for late payment forgiveness?

Here are two of your most viable options to remove late payments from your credit report:
  1. Call Your Credit Card Issuer and Ask Them to Take the Late Payments Off Your Credit Report. ...
  2. Write a Goodwill Letter to the Creditor Explaining Why You Haven't Made Timely Payments.

Can you negotiate late fees?

By working with your creditors, you may be able to get some of the late fees and interest charges reduced or removed from your total balance due.

What is a 623 dispute letter?

A 623 dispute letter is a written communication submitted to a credit bureau, typically by a consumer, to dispute inaccuracies or discrepancies in their credit report.

What is the 609 loophole?

2) What is the 609 loophole? The “609 loophole” is a misconception. Section 609 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows consumers to request their credit file information. It does not guarantee the removal of negative items but requires credit bureaus to verify the accuracy of disputed information.

How do I write a letter to a creditor to remove a late payment?

How to write a goodwill letter
  1. Offer an apology and be as sincere as possible.
  2. Express your gratitude to the creditor for the services they have provided you.
  3. Make sure that you include the reason why you missed the payment.
  4. State your case as eloquently as possible.