How To Get Something Off Your Credit Report

If you have negative items on your credit report, it's a good idea to try to get them removed so that you don't have to wait 7 years to have good credit. It's in your best interest to start cleaning up your credit report if you want to get a mortgage, car loan, insurance or even a new job. Here's how to get started.

How to Get Something Off Your Credit Report

According to the Federal Trade Commission, "no one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from a credit report."

But, if the item is questionable or doesn't quite tell the entire story, you have the right to file a dispute and request that an investigation into the entry is completed.

Review Your Credit Report

After you've picked up a free copy of your credit reports, you need to review to see which items are hurting your credit scores.

This step is crucial because you'll be notating errors and negatives in your report that need to be rectified and possibly removed. Pay close attention to the account information included and highlight any issues.

It's also very important to make sure the item you are disputing is actually negative. You do not want to be disputing accounts that have a positive impact on your credit score.

Submit Dispute Letters to the Credit Bureaus

Before trying anything else, we recommend a writing a dispute letter. Creditors are mandated by federal law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to report accurate information about each account.

If they can't verify their entries with the proper documentation when a dispute is filed, which is not uncommon, the negative item must be removed from your credit report.

Disputing can be done by phone, online or by mail. But snail mail is the most effective method for several reasons.

The credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate and respond to your dispute. However, you may sometimes receive a letter from the actual creditor requesting that you provide additional documentation so they can properly investigate the claim. This is a common stall tactic and you're not obligated to respond.

What to Do If the Dispute Letters Don't Work

Dispute letters should take care of the problem. But sometimes, credit bureaus and/or your creditors don't cooperate. The good news is you still have several options to have them removed.

Write a Goodwill Letter

No luck with direct contact or a written dispute? A goodwill letter is another tool in your arsenal to nix those late payments from your credit report.

These letters are ideal in situations where you got behind on payments and are now in good standing. (If the account(s) is already in collections, a pay for delete arrangement may be your best bet. More on that shortly…)

In a nutshell, a goodwill letter is a written request to the creditor asking that they remove the late payment from your credit report.

There's no guarantee that they'll actually remove the negative mark, but it's worth a shot. Plus, you can plead your case again if they reject your request the first time around.

When drafting up your letter, be honest about the reason you were delinquent. If you hit a rough patch because you became unemployed or were dealing with medical issues, put that information in there. Or maybe your account was compromised or there was a glitch in autopay, so the payment was returned or didn't go through.

Regardless of your reasoning, be as specific as possible and reiterate that the entry is not a reflection of your true character. It just resulted from a financial rough patch, and that you've worked hard to get back on track.

Request a "Pay for Delete" Arrangement

If you have unpaid charge-offs or collections, you can offer to pay the unpaid debt in exchange for deletion from your credit report. You can even negotiate with them to pay a lesser amount than what you originally owed. In fact, some collection agencies will settle for far less than what's owed.

But before moving forward, you want to make sure that you're negotiating with the right collection agency. If the debt has bounced from place to place, you may have a better shot at having the item deleted by filing a dispute. This forces the collection agency to prove that the debt actually belongs to you.

Otherwise, make your offer in writing to the collection agency and await on an approval before remitting payment. (And don't give them your banking information. Submit a paper check, instead.)

They may counteroffer with a higher amount, but you have the option to keep negotiating until you reach the sweet spot. Once both parties agree on an acceptable number, the item will be removed once the balance is paid in full.

Quick note: it's imperative that this is done in writing so you'll have proof that they agreed to the arrangement in the event the negative item is not removed once you've satisfied your end of the agreement.

Still no luck?

Be Persistent

Credit is often easy to access but can be your worst nightmare when the debt starts piling up and you can't find a way out.

If you've spent years in the trenches, don't expect a miracle overnight. Instead, be prepared to do the legwork to improve your credit and most importantly, don't throw in the towel the moment you don't get the results you want.

Consider Hiring a Professional

If you've exhausted all your options and still haven't had much luck, it may be worthwhile to hire professional help. (This is also a viable option if you simply don't have time to correspond back and forth with the creditors or credit bureaus).

Of course, you'll want to go with a trusted credit repair company that has a proven track record and wealth of experience in the field.

Bottom Line

It's possible to have negative items removed from your credit history. But you must be patient and open to pursuing all the methods available to you.

Allison Martin

Meet the author

Allison Martin is a syndicated financial writer, author, and Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI). She has written about personal finance for almost ten years and holds a master's degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida.