How late payments affect your score
Lenders typically report a payment as late once it's 30 or more days past due, then at 60, 90, and 120 days. A late payment can stay on your report for up to 7 years, but its impact fades over time, especially as you add new on-time payments.
Late payment errors we look for
- Payments reported late that were made on time, or during an approved forbearance, deferment, or hardship plan
- Wrong month or wrong severity (for example, reported as 60 days late when it was 30)
- Lates reported differently across Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- Late payments on accounts that aren't yours
- Lates reported after an account was closed, transferred, or included in bankruptcy
Our approach
Documented disputes
We gather your payment confirmations, bank statements, and any hardship agreements, dispute inaccurate lates with the bureaus, and help you send your own written dispute to the lender.
Goodwill adjustment requests
If a late payment is accurate but was a one-time slip with an otherwise strong history, we help you request a goodwill adjustment from the lender. It's at the lender's discretion, but it's a legitimate option.
Protecting future history
We help you set up autopay and alerts, and track due dates in your plan, so one mistake doesn't become a pattern.
Frequently asked questions
Can an accurate late payment be removed?
Accurate late payments can't be removed through disputes, but some lenders will grant a goodwill adjustment at their discretion. Otherwise, the impact shrinks over time with on-time payments.
How many points does a late payment cost?
It varies by score model and your overall profile. People with higher scores and thin files often see larger drops from a single late payment.
How long does a late payment stay on my report?
Up to 7 years from the date of the delinquency.
Sources
Last updated October 22, 2026. Educational information only, not legal advice.