Can you ask for a late fee to be removed?

Asked by: Silas Sanford  |  Last update: December 5, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (20 votes)

Don't shy away from your lender. Reach out, explain your situation, and you may find them willing to waive the fee, especially if it's a first-time offense or you've been a loyal customer.

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 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 a late payment fee be waived?

Banks may waive late fees for customers who have a history of making timely payments. Talk to your provider. This keeps your interest rates unchanged.

How do I ask a company to remove late payments?

Missed a Payment? Try Writing a Goodwill Letter to Remove It From Credit Reports. A goodwill letter explains why you had a late payment and asks the creditor to take it off your credit reports.

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26 related questions found

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 professionally ask for a late payment?

Further to my previous correspondence, I am contacting you regarding late payment for invoice [Invoice Number]. The invoice was due on [Due Date], and payment is now overdue by [Number of Days Overdue]. Be advised that late payment interest may be applied if we do not receive payment within 30 days.

Can late fees be removed?

However, legitimate late payments cannot be removed and will stay on your credit reports for up to seven years, even if you bring the account current. Although you might not be able to remove them early, their impact on your credit scores can diminish over time.

Are late payment fees legal?

If you want to charge late payment fees, you certainly can. However, these need to be clearly stated on the invoice so the customer is aware of them and encouraged to pay on time.

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.

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.

How do I ask for late payment forgiveness?

A goodwill letter is a formal letter sent to a creditor, lender or collection agency to request forgiveness for a late payment or other negative item on your credit report. In the letter, you typically: Explain the circumstances that led to the late payment or issue.

How do I get rid of late payment charges?

For this, you have to write a letter to your lender explaining the reason for the late payment. The lender might forgive your late payment considering your timely payment history.

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.

Can you remove late fees from 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 late payment fees be waived?

If you have a history of on-time payments or a very good explanation of why your payment was late and a solid plan for avoiding it in the future, you may be able to get your credit card issuer to waive the fee.

Can companies legally charge late fees?

You can charge a flat rate or a monthly finance charge, usually a percentage of the overdue amount. For example, companies typically charge a 1% to 2% late fee. To charge a late fee, you'll need to ensure that your fees comply with state laws and have an agreement outlining your late fee policy.

What is an acceptable late payment fee?

How is late payment interest calculated? As mentioned, our research indicates that most businesses charge a flat penalty of 1% to 1.5% of the overdue amount.

How to get late payments removed?

If you find an incorrect or old late-payment one of your credit reports, you can file a dispute with the credit bureau that issues the report. You can also dispute the mistake with the creditor that sent the information to the bureau, such as the lender, credit card issuer or collections agency.

What is the late fee reversal?

You just need to call the credit card customer care and inform them regarding the same. How long does it take to reverse a charge on my credit card? It takes around two to four working days to reflect the reversal amount on your account.

How do I write a letter 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.

How do I ask for a late fee?

5 Ways To Professionally (And Effectively) Ask For Late Payments
  1. Send the First Reminder One Week Before the Payment Due Date. ...
  2. Second Payment Reminder: On the Due Date. ...
  3. Third Payment Reminder: One Week After the Due Date. ...
  4. Fourth Payment Reminder: Two Weeks After the Due Date.

How do I respond to a late payment professionally?

Responding to a late payment email involves addressing the issue promptly and professionally. Start by apologizing for the delay and acknowledging any inconvenience caused. Be transparent about the reasons for the late payment, without oversharing personal details.

How to ask for overdue payment politely?

We understand that it may be a busy time, but we wanted to remind you of your outstanding payment on invoice # [number] due [date]. We have attached an additional copy of the invoice for easy reference. If you have any questions regarding your payment, please don't hesitate to reach out.