Goodwill deletion letter: creditor rejected via sending a letter, but then updated by removing the late marks anyway?
TLDR; Sent goodwill letter. Creditor sent a letter back saying my request was denied. A few days later my credit report updated with the late marks removed for exactly when I was asking for.
Hi there,
Quick question…
I had a secured card with Synovus/First Progress (or Pinnacle/First Progress…it reports differently on different reports). It was a small $200 secured credit card that I had for quite a long time during my rebuilding journey.
Towards the end of last year, I had ended up accidentally autofilling that card, which I never typically used anymore, and had a recurring subscription billing to it. I noticed it late, and the first month it had reported as 30-day late in November. I then paid it off again. But I forgot to change the auto pay and it happened again in December. I paid it in February. It reported another 30-day for December. First progress waived both of these late fees for me.
Long story short, I accumulated 2 late payments (both only 30-day) for November and December. After the December incident, I closed my account and had my $200 security deposit refunded in Feb.
About a month ago, I decided to try to send them a Goodwill Deletion Request with the help of chatGPT to craft a good argument for the removal of the late marks on that account. First progress has a mailing address and an email address. I sent it via email.
I received TWO letters back last week (I only sent one email). Both mailed letters stated “we are unable to change accurate credit reporting information as the fair credit reporting act requires us to report accurate information. Your request for a goodwill adjustment has been denied.”
I wake up this morning to Credit Karma and myFICO (equifax) reporting that a lender updated my credit report. My vantage on CC went up 75 points and myFICO went up 96 points. The adjustment on Credit Karma was only on Equifax thus far. Though I anticipate if it’s been updated on one, it may be updated on other bureaus soon.
So basically, I’m just posting for the following reasons/questions:
- To brag that Goodwill Deletions definitely work and you should try it.
- To ask…why would they mail me a letter denying my request only to end up doing the very same thing I was asking of them? Did someone just hit the wrong button somewhere?
And to note: I did not do a dispute or anything through the credit bureaus to resolve this, so whatever change happened was due to the creditor and my letter. That I’m sure of.