Goodwill Letter

A friendly, well-structured request asking a creditor to remove an isolated late payment from an otherwise good account as a goodwill gesture.

Sometimes you just have to ask — the right way

A goodwill letter appeals to a creditor to remove a late-payment mark for a customer with an otherwise solid history. It's a request, not a right — approval is entirely at the creditor's discretion — but a well-written one, at the right time, can work.

When to use it

• You have one or a few late marks but are generally in good standing
• The late was due to a one-time hardship you've since resolved
• The account is current now

What you get

• A proven goodwill letter template with the right tone
• Tips on who to address it to and what to emphasize
• Reusable for multiple creditors