Can a Goodwill Letter Help My Credit Score?

What Is a Goodwill Letter?

A goodwill letter is a written request you can send to a creditor or lender asking them to remove a negative item — like a late payment — from your credit report as a kind gesture, or act of goodwill.

People usually send goodwill letters when a negative mark was the result of a one-time mistake or unexpected situation and when the account has otherwise been in good shape.

🔑 A goodwill letter is a chance to ask for understanding. It’s about connecting with the creditor as a person and explaining what happened.

A thoughtful, well-written letter won’t guarantee results, but it may help. Some creditors choose to make goodwill adjustments, especially if you’ve shown that the issue was temporary and you’ve been responsible since. 

That said, creditors don’t have to say yes to these requests. In fact, the law requires them to report accurate information to the credit bureaus, even if it’s negative. This includes late or missed payments, as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

When Is a Goodwill Letter a Good Idea?

👉 You might be a good candidate to send a goodwill letter if you usually make your payments on time and only have one or two negative marks on your credit report.

Goodwill letters may help in these situations, but it’s best to use them sparingly.

If your credit report shows several late payments or other negative marks, a goodwill letter probably won’t help much. But if it was a one-time mistake and you’ve been on track since, it could be worth trying.

How To Write a Goodwill Letter

Your letter should be simple and concise. Be sure to identify the collection account for the creditor, including: 

• Your name and address

• The account number

• The amount of the debt

This helps the creditor quickly find your information so they can review your account.

📄 The body of your goodwill letter should include a brief explanation of why you missed a payment or provided a late payment. For example, maybe you’ve experienced job loss, had a medical emergency, or experienced a significant negative change in your finances.

Provide some context about the events leading up to the negative mark on your credit report. Then let the creditor know that the circumstances that were negatively affecting you have improved. 

Tell them you’ve gotten back on your feet or made positive changes that will help you avoid making the same mistake in the future.

It’s also important to explain what problems the negative item on your credit report has caused. Maybe you’re having a hard time getting a mortgage, refinancing a loan at a lower interest rate, or getting an auto loan. 

Briefly explain the impact of the negative item on your credit report, and then nicely ask to have it removed.

Tips for Writing an Effective Goodwill Letter

Here are some tips for writing an effective goodwill letter:

• Acknowledge and accept full responsibility for your slipup.

• Keep the tone humble, polite, and personable. 

• Avoid using harsh language or passing the blame onto others.

Remember to send your goodwill letter to the company that is providing or furnishing the negative information to the credit bureau, not the credit bureau itself.

Free Goodwill Letter Template

Below is a sample goodwill letter. Feel free to make changes to this goodwill letter template to fit your unique situation. Personalize the items in bold.

[First Name Last Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State ZIP code]

[Date]

[Creditor Name]

[Creditor Address]

[City, State ZIP code]

Account number: [ABC-123456789]

Reference number: [XYZ-123456789]

Amount of debt: $[1,234.56]

To whom it may concern:

Thank you in advance for your understanding and consideration of my goodwill request in this letter. The purpose of this letter is to address [a late payment(s)/a missed payment(s)] on my [name of account] account. I saw that there was a negative mark on my most recent credit report, and I’d like to ask you to remove it.

Prior to the [late payment(s)/missed payment(s)], I had an excellent track record of making timely payments. I know that I need to make prompt payments on my [name of account] account, and I will make sure that I stay on top of things from here on out. I [made a late payment(s)/missed a payment(s)] because of [circumstances that show your hardship or negative change of circumstances]. This won’t happen again.

I’ve taken steps to address [hardship circumstances/negative change of circumstances] by [list steps or changes you’ve made to make things better and more positive].

I’m hoping to [state the next financial move you’d like to make — apply for or refinance a mortgage/get a car loan/consolidate your debt/refinance student loans/etc.]. The negative mark on my recent credit report may disqualify me from taking this next step. I am committed to paying back the amounts I borrow, and this was a one-time slipup on my part. I would be incredibly thankful if you were to give me a second chance and make a goodwill adjustment to remove the [late payment(s)/missed payment(s)] from [date/dates].

Thanks again for your time and consideration.

Best regards,

[First Name Last Name]

How Effective Are Goodwill Letters?

Goodwill letters don’t always work. In fact, they often don’t. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a shot. Many people decide to send one anyway because there is no cost and the potential payoff (removing a negative mark from your credit report) can be big.

Goodwill letters are more likely to work if…

• You’ve only missed one or two payments.

• You’ve made on-time payments before and after the mistake.

• You had a temporary financial hardship, like a job loss or medical emergency.

• Your account is still open and in good standing.

• You have a good relationship with the creditor — for example, you’ve been a loyal customer for years.

They’re less likely to work if…

• You’ve missed multiple payments.

• Your account was charged off or sent to collections.

• You regularly pay late or have other negative marks.

• The creditor has a strict no-exceptions policy.

Some folks have better luck with smaller lenders or credit unions. Larger banks and national credit card companies tend to follow stricter reporting rules. Some people also choose to send their goodwill letter by certified mail so they can confirm it was received.

Why Goodwill Letters Don’t Always Work — and What To Do if Yours Is Declined

Goodwill letters are a common credit repair tool, but they don’t always get results. That’s mostly because creditors have to follow certain rules when reporting information to the credit bureaus. Under the FCRA, they’re required to report accurate information. Even if that information is negative.

If a creditor removes accurate information from a credit report, they could get into legal trouble. So even if your request is heartfelt and your payment history is strong, many creditors still decide not to make goodwill adjustments.

Even so, many people still choose to send a goodwill letter. It’s low risk, free, and in some cases, it works — especially when the account is otherwise in good standing and the issue was a rare slip.

What To Do if Your Goodwill Letter Is Declined (or You Don’t Hear Back)

Don’t get discouraged. Many people who send goodwill letters don’t get the response they hoped for. But there are still steps you can take to move forward and improve your credit over time:

✅ Keep making on-time payments. Positive payment history is one of the most powerful ways to rebuild your credit.

✅ Use credit-building tools. Secured credit cards or credit-builder loans can help you rebuild your score if used responsibly. Upsolve recommends Self’s credit building tools.

✅ Check out the myFICO message boards. These forums are full of real-life stories from others who’ve sent goodwill letters. You might learn how certain creditors handle these requests and what language has worked for others.

✅ Be patient. Most negative marks, including charge-offs, fall off your credit report after seven years. Over time, their impact on your score also tends to fade.

Even if your goodwill request is declined, just taking the time to send it can feel like a small win. It’s a sign you’re actively working to turn things around, and every step in that direction matters.

Can a Goodwill Letter Help You Remove a Bankruptcy Filing From Your Credit Report?

No. Bankruptcy filings are public record. Generally speaking, goodwill letters won’t work to remove public record items that show up on your credit report. Credit bureaus routinely check the public record database PACER for bankruptcy filings. 

Creditors or collection agencies don’t provide bankruptcy information to the credit bureaus, and credit bureaus will disregard or ignore any goodwill letters asking them to remove previous bankruptcy filings. So there’s really no way to remove a bankruptcy filing from your credit report with a goodwill letter.

Creditors have agreed not to report some public record items, like liens and court judgments, to the credit bureaus. This agreement falls under the National Consumer Assistance Plan (NCAP). 

Since the NCAP isn’t a federal law, this agreement could change at any time. But like bankruptcies, if liens and judgments did start being reported to the credit bureaus, writing a goodwill letter would not be an effective way to get these removed. Instead, you need to wait for those items to fall off your credit report.

Alternatives to Goodwill Letters to Help With Credit Score

Goodwill letters aren’t the only tool people use to fix credit issues. If the negative mark on your report is due to a collection, repossession, or charge-off, a pay-for-delete letter or debt settlement offer might be a better fit. And if the information is just plain wrong, a credit dispute letter is the right move.

Each of these tools has a different purpose:

• Goodwill letters ask for forgiveness.

• Credit dispute letters challenge mistakes on your credit report.

• Pay-for-delete letters offer payment in exchange for deletion.

Knowing when to use each one can help you take the next best step. And no matter which approach you take, rebuilding your credit with on-time payments and low balances will make a big difference over time.

Credit Dispute Letters: Best for Inaccurate Information

If you find information that’s wrong on your credit report, you can use a credit dispute letter to report it and have it removed. This can be a great way to boost your credit score.

👀 Information to look for and dispute when incorrect: 

• Late payments that were actually paid on time

• Accounts that don’t belong to you

• Balances that have already been paid off but still show as unpaid

Many people use credit disputes to fix errors caused by reporting mistakes, identity theft, or account fraud. You can file a dispute directly with the credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion), and they’re required by law to investigate.

💡 It’s a good idea to check your credit reports regularly. You can get a free copy of each report at AnnualCreditReport.com every week.

To learn more, read Credit Dispute Letters: What They Are & How They Work.

Pay-for-Delete Letters: Best for Collections You’re Willing to Pay Off

A pay-for-delete letter is a request you can send to a collection agency or debt collector, offering to pay the debt (in full or in part) in exchange for them removing the negative item from your credit report.

⚠️ Things to know:

• Not all collectors agree to this, and credit bureaus discourage the practice.

• If a collector agrees but doesn’t follow through, you may not have a way to enforce it.

• Always get the agreement in writing before making a payment.

Even if the account ends up marked as “paid” instead of removed, settling it can still help reduce the negative impact over time.

Let’s Summarize…

Goodwill letters describe what life circumstances kept you from making a payment on time or caused you to miss a payment. They include a kind request to the creditor or collection agency to remove the resulting negative mark on your credit report. Though these letters rarely work, they’re still worth a try. But it’s best to keep your expectations low.