How to Remove Late Payments Incurred During Covid-19 Pandemic- (2024 updated)

The Covid-19 pandemic ruined the credit reports of millions of people, as many were treated unfairly by creditors and were struggling to figure out  how to remove late payments during Covid-19 from their credit reports. 

During the pandemic, as a credit repair advocate, I was entrusted with advocating on behalf of hundreds of clients to remove 30 day, 60 day and 90 day lates . Through trial and error, I developed a  4 step program called the I.E.R.L Process on how to remove missed payments due to the pandemic

I dealt with hundreds of  scenarios with every major credit card company, mortgage company   including American Express , Community Bank,  American Honda, Freedom Mortgage, Newrez Shellpoint Mortgage, American Honda, Kia, Mercedes, Credit One, First Premier and many more.

I’ve written this article for those who can’t afford my company’s paid services, but have a  good amount of time available to learn and execute this process themselves

NOTE: if your late  payments didn’t happen during the Covid era, then refer to this 30 day late payment removal article instead.

So without further ado, here is what the The I.E.R.L Process to remove Covid related lates entails:

Step 1. Inquire:: Make an inquiry about the facts and then ask for a courtesy removal

Step 2. Executive Engagement:: Correspond with the creditor’s executive level, including the CEO.

Step 3: Regulate: File regulatory complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Step4: Litigate: Take legal action against the creditor,  small claims or arbitration.

 

Can a 30-60 day late payment be deleted that was incurred during the pandemic?

The answer is yes. especially if it was incurred during the pandemic’s declared emergency between March 2020 and May 11th 2023., However, If your lates happened before after or before March 2020 or after May 11th 2023  then refer to  this article to remove missed payments from your credit file. 

The truth is congress and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in drafting the CARES ACT, left it to creditors and lenders to decide whether they were going to be protecting your credit or not. In addition, if you didn’t make an agreement for payment relief BEFORE you fell behind with the  a creditor,  then were allowed to mark you 30-60 days late on your credit.

 If you suffered a hit to your credit score as a result of the pandemic, there are options for how to remove late payments during Covid19, as well as 

NOTE: The process to remove  charge offs is different. 

 

USING THE I.E.R.L Process to Remove late payments incurred  during Covid-19

 

STEP 1: INQUIRE: Call the Creditor fact find  first and only then ask to remove the missed payment

Call the lender and first find out what notes they have in the system regarding the late payments.

Questions to ask the lender:

-:What notes do you have in your system pertaining to what made the account fell behind

-What led to the late pay , was it a missed payment, or a bounced payment?

-Was I given a deferment at the time,  if not are you showing I was eligible for a deferment at the time?

Use the sample script below after adjusting it  according to the facts of your situation at the time :

Template Phone Script to remove covid related late payments

So as you are were the late payment occurred dee to coronavirus outbreak emergency declaration. My city/state city had a ‘shelter in place,’ at the time of the missed payment. I was quarantining due to  Covid-19 and was unable to call you due to my severe symptoms which kept me from functioning. 

I understand all I had to do is call to get  approved for a deferment, but in addition to my poor health, I didn’t even know that I had to call before I was marked late.  Due to this, I am requesting the  “late payment be removed” from my credit report.  Also I’m not calling to get my late payment fee refunded, I’m specifically interested in getting the late payment removed from mc credit report. 

 

STEP 2: ENGAGE the creditor’s  ‘Office of the CEO’, by mail or by Linkedin

I’ve gotten responses back about 90% of the  time I’ve used this tactic.  May it be auto lenders like American Honda Finance, or card companies like Macys or mortgage lenders like Caliber home loans all have executive resolution departments that handle correspondences sent to the Office of the CEO. .

Find the creditor’s headquarter address and send an overnight letter out, addressed to the CEO, with signature required . . Chances are very high that you’ll get a response back. Sometimes, I’ve also found a CEO on LinkedIn and gotten a reply to my message.  Below is  a sample letter I’ve sent to CEOs that successfully  got covid related lates off. 

 

      SAMPLE LETTER TO CEO TO DELETE COVID RELATED LATE PAYMENTS

Name:

Mailing Address:

Date:

Company Name
Address:

ac# ______________

Re: Covid late payment removal

Dear CEO________

I am writing to you regarding me __________ {mention type of account} with your company. I’ve had this account open since _____, with no late payments

I was marked ____ days late on my credit report during the Covid natural emergency.

I understand other consumers were given deferments so that they did not have to make payments under the CARES Act.

What led to the missed payment was _________________________ {Explain and expand your story here in as much detail as possible, included whether if you called to get a deferment or not , and if so when}

 I am requesting that the late payments be removed from my  credit report.

If you need to contact me, I can be reached at ph# __________ or email ___________. 

Sincerely, 

Your name

 

STEP 3: REGULATE File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) dispute portal  forwards your complaint to the creditor and forward you any responses the CFPB gets back from them.  The CFPB complaints generally gets someone with executive authority  to respond back . Here’s are the steps to file a CFPB complaint against the mortgage company:

1: Go to the CFPB’s complaint portal 

2: You will be prompted to put in you personal  information.

3: You will be asked to verify your email

4: You will be asked to identify the type of account  you are complaining for.  Pick “mortgage” or “credit card” etc,

5: You will be asked “what type of problem you have,”  simply pick “problem with credit report or credit score,” and answer the additional question.

6:  You’ll be asked to fill  out your complaint details,  use the CFPB complaint template below .  After submission, you’ll get a response in 15-60 days.

STEP 4: LITIGATE: File a small claims suit or arbitration or HIRE A PROFESSIONAL to do so.

This is the final option, if all else fails.

Most creditors have an arbitration clause and for companies that don’t you’d be able to file a civil suit.

Unless you’re well versed in the law, this process can be cumbersome to navigate.

The key is to find a professional  who will only charge you AFTER success and not charge any upfront fees.

Over the last 20 years, I have helped my hundreds of clients remove late payments, evidence by yelp reviews

Reach out for a FREE CONSULTATION if you’d like to see if I can help you too !

Click the link below for a consult OR  for questions email me at [email protected]