The Covid-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on all aspects of life, and the one area that’s been especially hard hit is credit. If you’re looking for how to remove late payments during Covid-19 then I have just what might be the perfect solution: proven strategies with guaranteed success to improve your credit score!
Prior to when we realized there would even be an outbreak in 2020 many people were fortunate enough not only to live through their financial constraints but also maintain excellent credit scores due to both patience and discipline – meaning they could easily qualify again once things settle down from establishing themselves financially post-crisis (or prepping now if one plans ahead).
That said, there is hope on the horizon for those who have been impacted. Read on to see how to remove late payments during Covid-19.
Can a 30-60 day late payment be deleted that was incurred during the pandemic?
The answer is yes. A late payment can be deleted if it was incurred during the pandemic. Although there are multiple avenues to pursue in this situation, Congress has not helped by leaving it up to lenders to decide on who gets a late charge and who doesn’t – especially since those with older unpaid debts will have been dealt with before now by other means such as collections agencies or bankruptcies filed without their knowledge (which is known these days). 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 charge offs, or reposessions.
READ MORE: Increase Credit Scores – 4 Simple Hacks
Removing late payments during Covid-19 if you’re able to make all the past due payments?
If you’re currently able to make all payments and are financially stable, but just had a missed payment or two, then here’s what you need to do:
STEP 1: Call and Speak to the Creditor and ask to remove late payments during Covid-19
Call the lender, request that they remove the late payment due to Covid-19 from your credit report. State it was incurred due to the coronavirus outbreak and you’re able to make the past payment today.
Stress if your state or city had a ‘shelter in place,’ at the time of the missed payment. Mention if you were quarantining yourself due to Covid-19 symptoms. Also provide proof if you were traveling and stuck abroad due to border closures, or incurred loss of income due to health issues resulting from Covid-19.
Be sure that the phone representative is clear about you wanting the “late payment removed,’ which should not be confused with “getting the late payment fee reversed.” Now you can also suggest they backdate a payment deferment for you so that there was no payment due the prior month.
If they don’t agree to remove the late payment or give you a back-dated deferment to remove the late payment then make your payment. This will at least keep more lates from coming on and move to the next step.
STEP 2: Engage the creditor’s ‘executive resolutions’ or ‘office of the CEO’
Most lenders have such a high-level customer resolutions department, which goes by different names, depending on the lender. Capital One has an executive resolutions department and so does Chase, Bank of America, Amex, and virtually every major lender.
Just do a google search to either find the phone # for this department or Google for the email address.
If all else fails, simply find out the headquarters address of the lender. Send it overnight and with a signature required, addressed to the CEO. Include your phone # and email, and chances are very high that you’ll get a response back.
STEP 3: File a CFPB complaint against the creditor
I’ve found this to be a highly effective strategy over the years. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a government agency whose purpose is to protect consumer rights in the financial sector. Their website www.consumerfinance.gov, has an online complaint portal, where you can simply have to do two things, state what happened and what resolution you seek. Once you file this complaint, the CFPB forwards the complaint to the creditor. The creditor is required to respond back in about 15 days with a resolution.
STEP 4: Hiring a Professional to Help: how to pick the right credit repair company
Unfortunately, after running a credit repair company for over ten years I have seen that the industry is riddled with unscrupulous businesses who prey on consumers. In fact, even some of the most successful companies in this field (Lexington Law & Creditrepair.com) were sued by our government’s consumer protection agency because they charged illegal upfront fees and used devious marketing tactics which misled people into thinking their services would be free when actually it cost money upfront before providing any legitimate services.
So how do you pick the right credit repair firm? There are 3 things to look into.
The first is to check their Yelp page for reviews and read through them. Most other review sites, like Google reviews, make it easy for anyone to leave a review. Yelp, on the other hand, is very intelligent in filtering fake reviews. Back in the day, the BBB used to be a credible source. Unfortunately, businesses that pay them may be listed with higher priority.
Second, make sure they don’t charge any upfront fees and charge you only if and after your credit is repaired. Yes, that means no monthly fees or any fees until you see results produce.
Lastly, check if there are licensing and registration requirements for credit repair companies. Check to make sure the company has a license to operate in your state. For example, in California, credit repair companies are required to be registered with the California Attorney General’s Office. They must also post a bond for $100,000 with the Secretary of State.If you find a company that satisfied these 3 requirements, then you should be good to go!
Click the link below for a free consult to remove lates
or for questions email me at [email protected]
14 Comments. Leave new
Hi I have one late payment with Capital One and Bank of America because of Covid and my daughter being hospitalized. I’ve followed the steps but have come across a stone wall , what could I do with your help ?
Hi Kelly with Bank of America, we can get adjustments but it could only happen for a 30-60 day late within the last 12 months, and it has to be a credit card.
With Capital One we’ve had good success as well, both with cards and auto loans.
Just sent you an email,
Hello, i received two ever late (30 days) on my Synchrony Amazon credit card, Banana Republic Card and Citi Costco credit credit in February/March 2022 after getting hospitalized with Cellulitis on my face reaching the bones of my jaw while also being diagnosed with Covid. The infection alkost spread to my brain and the pain unbearable. I was hospitalized and on a continuous Morphine drip for a month and after being releases it took another month of home care before returning to work, and I am still not fully healed. i had told the creditors what was going on as i realized i believe the day after i received the mark…It was literally a day to at the mist a week over. Im not really sure of anything as i was also having a mental breakdown. I am still dealing with extreme hardship and applied for a personal loans and was denied bc of these marks and utilization. i spoke with the creditors and poured my heart out to them and they told me that they cannot remove it. i have disputed it online and have lost. What should I do, it seems very unfair.
Hi Alex, seems you’ve gone through a torrid time and this has really affected the credit negatively. I’d first recommend getting your document proof of hospitalization from the hospital. Then call each creditor , ask them where you can send this proof in order for them to review and make an exception to remove the late payments.
Generally Amazon and Banana Republic may grant this exception, however Citi Costco card may be tougher. In any-case, let me know how things transpire , I’ll be able to render professional help if you hit a brick wall.
Hello, I have a 60 day late payment on my loan with Bank of America credit card account. I had a 100% payment history prior to this one late payment. I did make the regular payment without the late fee they attached before the 30 days but they still reported me 30 days late. The reason I was late is because I had to pitch in to lay a family member to rest that passed away from covid. Is this something you can help with?
Hi Tiana, I’m truly saddened to hear about your family members demise. BOA should have been more understanding .
We deal with Bank of America frequently
We do get late payments removed from BOA as long as they’re on a credit card and were incurred within the last 12 months.
To get the ball rolling feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]
Hi Ali me and my wife had a lease with General Motors Financial, aka Americredit, one lease could not be returned in time due to covid, as no dealer would take our lease return in and inspect the car.
Due to this GM Financial ended up putting a 30-90 day late payment and then a charge-off on our credit.
We’ve done a CFPB complaint already and followed all your steps, and GM’s executive resolution dept has given us the cold shoulder. Is there anything else to do ?
Hello John, I can understand your frustration with GM, they’ve done this to tonnes of folks during Covid.
Do shoot me an email , I need to know what state you’re in, more than likely we should be able to help.
My email is [email protected]
Hi Mr Ali Zane, so our mortgage has been put on hold due to a late payment with Synchrony Bank Amazon Card over a $10 charge, we’ve tried everything from goodwill request for removal to disputing with the credit bureaus.
This was just an oversight, as I was attending to my husband who had covid.
I read someone else comment you helped them remove a late with Synchrony Bank
Please help.
Hi Margie, I’m sad to hear that your mortgage has been put on hold due to this issue.
Yes, I do deal with Synchrony’s legal team quite frequently, over multiple types of cards, include Amazon and PayPal cards.
Shoot me an email at [email protected] .
A Credit One late payment, is the most pressing issue in my life right now.
They charged their annual fee and totally screwed me over and destroyed my 800 credit score, now I’m sitting at a 650.
I’ve spoken to managers, wrote to the CEO , filed CFPB complaints and I’m being stonewalled.
I saw that you’ve gotten late payments and Credit One charge-offs removed.
Could you tell me what I’d need to do ?
Hey Ronnie, Credit One is perhaps the worst of the banks when it comes to mistreatment of consumers.
Their online system and customer service is awful.
I’ve got a contact at Credit One that I can call upon to get this matter resolved.
Email me any back story behind the account, my email is [email protected]
So Ali I incurred a late payment with Bank of America and they’ve failed to remove it despite me making an argument that it was Covid related, they escalated it to higher management and still turned down my request. US Bank on the other hand removed a late for me.
What could I do for BOA , I need to refinance my Capital One auto loan.
Hi Alex, sorry to hear about this. Yes some banks like Bank of America are being extremely unsympathetic. which I feel is beyond unacceptable and extremely unfair given the trying times we’re in.
I’ve had very recent success with them , to discuss how I can help do email me at [email protected]
Ali Zane