LATE PAYMENTS
How to dispute an incorrect late payment
Dispute a late-payment notation when the reporting is inaccurate—not simply because the accurate history is hurting your score.
Verify the reported month
Compare the report with the statement due date, payment date, amount due, account status, and any written payment arrangement.
Collect focused evidence
Useful records may include bank confirmations, card statements, payment receipts, correspondence, or a letter acknowledging a servicing error.
Describe the exact error
Identify the account and month, state what the report says, explain what your records show, and ask for the specific payment status to be corrected.
If the late payment is accurate
An accurate late payment generally cannot be removed through a credit-report dispute. Focus instead on preventing new late payments and building consistent positive history.
Primary references: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau credit report resources and Federal Trade Commission consumer credit guidance.
CFPB credit resources ↗ · FTC consumer protection ↗ · IdentityTheft.gov ↗