A single late payment can drop your credit score by 60 to 110 points depending on your credit profile. They remain on your report for 7 years from the date of the missed payment. If the late payment is inaccurate, you can dispute it. If it's accurate, you still have options.
Step 1: Verify the Late Payment Is Accurate
Pull your credit reports and review the payment history section for each account. Check whether the late payment is listed on the correct month, whether the account was actually delinquent, and whether any deferment or hardship agreement was in place at the time.
Step 2: Dispute Inaccurate Late Payments
If the late payment is inaccurate — you paid on time, the creditor applied your payment incorrectly, or the date is wrong — file a dispute with the bureau under FCRA § 611. Include bank statements or payment confirmations as documentation. The creditor must verify the exact date and status of the payment.
Step 3: Send a Goodwill Letter for Accurate Late Payments
If the late payment is accurate but was a one-time occurrence, you can write a goodwill letter directly to the creditor asking them to remove it as a courtesy. Reference your overall payment history with them, explain the circumstances, and ask politely. This is not guaranteed, but it works more often than most people expect — especially with creditors you still have an active relationship with.
Step 4: Dispute With the Furnisher Directly
Under FCRA § 623, you can dispute directly with the creditor (the furnisher) rather than the bureau. This is especially useful if the bureau keeps verifying the item based solely on the furnisher's say-so. A direct dispute forces the creditor to investigate using its own records.
What to Avoid
Do not dispute accurate late payments with frivolous claims — bureaus can mark you as a repeat frivolous disputer, which complicates future legitimate disputes. If the payment was late, pursue the goodwill approach instead.
ScoreVera Streamlines Both Paths
Whether you're disputing an inaccurate late payment or crafting a goodwill letter for an accurate one, ScoreVera generates the right letter and guides you through the correct process.