Goodwill Adjustment Letter — Request Removal of Late Payments or Negative Marks
Repair Relationships with Creditors and Protect Your Middle Credit Score®.
Sometimes life happens—a missed payment, a brief hardship, or an honest oversight. Even when your account is now current, that single negative mark can still lower your credit score for years.
A Goodwill Adjustment Letter gives you the opportunity to appeal directly to your creditor for a one-time courtesy removal of a legitimate negative entry—like a late payment—from your credit report.
At Middle Credit Score®, we help consumers take control of their credit journey without paying for expensive repair services.
This free letter template, along with dozens more, is available in our Credit Dispute Letters Support Center, providing step-by-step guidance to help you rebuild your financial reputation the right way.
🔍 When to Use a Goodwill Adjustment Letter
Send this letter when:
- You’ve had a late payment due to illness, job loss, or other short-term hardship.
- You’ve maintained good payment history before and after the incident.
- The account is now paid in full or current.
- You want to ask your lender for a one-time removal as a gesture of goodwill.
Creditors aren’t required by law to grant these requests, but many do when consumers show genuine effort and responsibility.
💡 Why This Letter Matters
A single late payment can lower your Middle Credit Score® by 60–100 points, depending on your credit history. Removing it can have an immediate positive effect on your credit standing.
By sending this letter, you:
- Appeal directly to the creditor’s discretion instead of disputing the record.
- Demonstrate accountability and ongoing financial responsibility.
- Strengthen your relationship with the creditor for future lending opportunities.
- Improve your Middle Credit Score® by eliminating an avoidable negative mark.
Even if the creditor declines, you’ve established communication and shown initiative—important steps in managing your credit reputation.
🧭 Step-By-Step: How to Send
- Locate your creditor’s customer service or credit reporting department address.
- Personalize the Goodwill Adjustment Letter below with your account details and explanation.
- Include copies of your recent payment statements and identification.
- Send it by certified mail or secure online message (if available).
- Wait for written confirmation of the creditor’s decision, and follow up if you don’t hear back within 30 days.
Always be polite, sincere, and concise—tone can make all the difference in the success of a goodwill request.
🔗 Continue Improving Your Credit
Find more free letter templates in our
➡️ Credit Dispute Letters Library
and learn expert strategies to rebuild your Middle Credit Score® through budgeting, credit utilization, and debt management at the
➡️ Middle Credit Score® Academy.
🧠 Bottom Line
A Goodwill Adjustment Letter offers a chance to restore your credit record through communication and good faith.
When written thoughtfully and backed by a consistent payment history, it can be one of the simplest and most effective ways to lift your Middle Credit Score®.
- Goodwill Adjustment Letter – requests removal of a late payment or negative mark as a courtesy.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP Code]
[Date]
[Creditor or Lender Name]
[Address]
Re: Request for Goodwill Adjustment on Account [Account Number]
Dear [Creditor Representative or Department],
I hope this letter finds you well. I have been a loyal customer of [Creditor Name] and have consistently maintained my account responsibly. Unfortunately, due to [briefly explain reason—e.g., “a temporary medical hardship” or “unexpected job loss”], a late payment was reported on [specific date]. Since that time, all payments have been made on time.
I am writing to request a goodwill adjustment to remove the late payment entry from my credit report. I fully acknowledge the oversight and take responsibility for the delay. However, I have since stabilized my finances and have demonstrated consistent reliability in managing this account.
As a gesture of goodwill, I ask that you consider removing the late payment notation from my credit reports with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. This adjustment would reflect my long-term positive relationship with your institution and support my continued efforts to rebuild and maintain a strong Middle Credit Score®.
Thank you for your time and understanding. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to continuing our positive relationship.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
⚖️ Disclaimer
The sample letter provided above is for educational and informational purposes only. Middle Credit Score® does not guarantee specific results or credit report changes. Each creditor may have its own policies, and outcomes may vary. Consumers are encouraged to review the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and seek professional or legal advice if they need personalized assistance. Middle Credit Score® is not a credit repair company and does not perform credit repair services.
