| How to Remove Late Payments from Your Credit Report Posted: 04 Dec 2020 04:00 PM PST Any late payments listed on your credit report will lower your credit score, which can make it harder for you to get a loan, mortgage, insurance, and even a job. Luckily, there are steps you can take to remove the late payment from your history and repair your credit. First, check your records to find out if the charge is a mistake or legitimate. If you really did miss a payment, then you can appeal to your creditors to remove the payment. If you discover that you paid the bill, then you can dispute the charge with the credit agencies. In either case, you'll be on your way to fixing your credit report soon. [Edit]Investigation and Evidence - Get a copy of your credit report by contacting the 3 reporting agencies. If your credit score drops or you suspect that a late payment is being recorded on your score, then start by obtaining your full credit report. Request a report from all three credit reporting agencies: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. You can do this by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by visiting their website at annualcreditreport.com. You will need to provide your name, Social Security number, address, and date of birth.[1]
- You are allowed a free copy of your credit report every 12 months. You are also allowed a copy if you've been denied a loan or credit, are unemployed and looking for a job, or were the victim of fraud or identity theft.
- Identify the late payments on each credit report. Once you get your reports, go through each one very carefully. Check for any errors or potential problems that might be hurting your credit score. If you find any, write down the date, charge amount, and creditor to start your appeal process. Some things to look out for include:[2]
- Payments marked late that you know you paid, bills listed twice, bills more than 7 years old, open credit lines or accounts that you think you closed, and inaccurate credit limits.
- The 3 credit reports might not be exactly the same. It's normal for some agencies to report more than others.
- Check your bank statements for evidence if you paid the bill. If there is a late payment marked on your credit report, then check your bank records to see if you paid it. Your statement should show a date that you made the payment. If you can find the payment on your statement, then you have a good case to dispute the charge with the credit agency.[3]
- It's easy to check your bank statements with online banking. If you don't have online access, call your bank to get a full account and payment history.
- It's also possible that you'll find out you really did miss a payment. In this case, submitting a goodwill letter to your creditor is a good option to try and get that removed.
- Report fraud or identity theft to the bank and FTC to eliminate the charge. It's unfortunately always a possibility that late payments are because of fraud. If you can't verify payments on your report, then you may have been the victim of identity theft.[4] Report the fraud to the credit agency, your bank, and the Federal Trade Commission right away to prevent further damage to your credit. If this was indeed a fraudulent charge, then it'll be removed from your credit record.[5]
- If you know who stole your identity, you can also report the fraud to the police.
- Some fraud red flags to look out for include addresses or names on your credit report that you don't recognize, accounts that you don't own, payments to companies you don't recognize, or payments that you can't verify.
[Edit]Goodwill Letters for Creditors - Thank the creditor and detail the reason for the letter. If you have a good history with your creditor, then they might be willing to work with you and get rid of the charge. Start by thanking your creditor for their service and stating that you've been a good customer for some time. Additionally, make sure to state that your letter is a goodwill letter and not a dispute letter so they understand what's going on.[6]
- For example, "To whom it may concern, I have been a loyal customer for over five years, and I would like to first thank you for your services throughout the years. I am writing to ask that a goodwill adjustment be made to my account. This is not a dispute of accuracy of credit reporting."
- You can also write an email instead of a letter if you have the creditor's contact information. Follow the same steps for a goodwill letter.
- If you don't have a good history with the creditor, then a goodwill letter will probably not work. In this case, you'll have to call and negotiate a removal.
- Explain the reasons for the late payment. Acknowledge that the late payment is your fault, but that certain circumstances prevented you from paying on time. Explain what happened so the company can sympathize with you. Avoid using the excuse, "I forgot."[7]
- For example, "During the time that the late payment occurred, I became hospitalized due to an illness. Unfortunately, this caused me to lose my job and I wasn't able to make my payments on time."
- Include the reason that you want the late payment removed. If you need to improve your credit score to qualify for a car or mortgage loan, include this in the letter. If you have an existing loan with a high interest rate, then wanting to refinance your loan is also a legitimate reason for wanting to improve your credit score.[8]
- For example, "I am about to begin the process of purchasing a new car. When reviewing my loan options, the loan officer notified me that the late payment was preventing me from taking advantage of low interest rates."
- Remind the creditor that you were making consistent payments. Pointing out that you were making consistent payments before the late payment occurred may help sway the creditor's opinion in your favor. Additionally, if you have been making consistent payments since the late payment occurred, point this out too.[9]
- For example, "Once I overcame my illness, I was able to find a new job. I have been making consistent payments since then. I would also like to note that I had been making consistent payments before my illness. Since I have a pretty consistent record, I am asking that you please give me a second chance, and remove the late payment from my account."
- Conclude the letter by thanking them for their time again. Maintain a friendly tone, even if you think there was some kind of error. Also offer to answer any questions that they might have, or provide any supporting documents that may help them decide.[10]
- For example, "Thank you for your time and consideration. I really appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me for any additional documentation that would assist you in reaching a positive outcome."
- Send the letter to the company's customer service address. Whether your creditor is a bank or private lender, send the letter to the recommended customer service address. This way, you'll know that your request will end up in the right hands.[11]
- Make sure to request a "return receipt request" service. This way you can keep track of what the creditor received for your records.
- You can also send this as an email to the lender's email address.
- Follow-up if you don't hear back within a few weeks. Persistence might help your case. If a few weeks go by and you haven't heard anything from the lender, try calling or emailing to see if they received your letter. This might remind them to have a look at your case.[12]
- Be prepared to plead your case again when you contact the lender. Remind them that you've been a great customer and made an honest mistake during a hard time. This might sway them.
[Edit]Phone Negotiation - Contact your creditor's customer service. Visit the website of the creditor you are in debt to. Call the customer service number provided. Explain to the representative that you would like to talk to someone about a late payment on your account. They will either transfer your call, or give you the account manager's information.[13]
- A customer service number is typically located at the bottom of the webpage.
- The first person you talk to is probably just a customer service rep who won't be able to make any change to your credit history. You'll have to specifically ask for a manager or someone with the authority to make the change.
- It's very important to stay polite and courteous with everyone you speak to. Representatives are much more willing to work with polite people instead of rude people. It's definitely understandable to feel stressed, but don't take it out on the people you're speaking with.
- Tell the creditor about any hardships that caused your late payments. Emergencies happen, and some creditors are willing to work with you in these cases. Be sure to mention any problems you encountered, like an illness, natural disaster, job loss, or other financial hardship. The creditor might be more willing to make an exception for you and remove the late payment.[14]
- Some creditors have hardship plans for people who have experienced these problems. You can negotiate a lower rate or lump sum payment to satisfy your debt with these plans.
- In the future, it's always best to contact your creditor right away if you experience a hardship. This way, they can work with you right off the bat instead of waiting until you've fallen behind.
- Sign up for automatic payments. Many creditors will agree to remove a late payment if you sign up for automatic payments in exchange for the removal. Let the creditor know that you have the funds, like a stable job, to qualify for automatic payments.[15]
- This method works well if you only have 1 or 2 late payments on your account.
- Offer to pay off the balance. Tell the creditor that you are willing to pay off all or part of the debt in exchange for deletion of the late payments. If the creditor agrees, make sure to request the agreement in writing.[16]
- If you have a payment that is more than 120 days late, then this method may not work.
- State that you'll close your account if the creditor can't work with you. Ultimately, creditors want your business, so the risk of losing a customer might make them more willing to work with you. As a last resort, you could always threaten to cancel your account with this creditor and find another one. This could give them a push to make some exceptions to keep you as a customer.[17]
- Continue to be friendly and courteous if you take this route. Say something like, "Unfortunately, if you can't do anything to help me, I'll have to find another creditor to work with." Stay calm and don't yell.
- Note that this might only work if you were a good customer. If you have a poor credit history with this creditor, they might not be sad to see you leave.
[Edit]Online Disputes for Inaccurate Charges - Go to the dispute page for each of the major credit agencies. The 3 major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian, all have dispute tabs on their websites. If you have evidence that the late payment is a mistake or fraudulent, then go to these pages and file a dispute with each of the reporting agencies to have it removed.
- Create an account with the reporting agency if you don't have one. In order to submit a dispute, you have to make an account with each reporting agency. Click the option to make an account and fill in the required information like your name and contact information. Make a password and then your account is complete.[18]
- If you already have an account, you can just sign in normally.
- Select the charge that you want to dispute. Once you're in your account, select the option to open a dispute. A list of the late payments on your record should pop up. Select the charge that you want to dispute.[19]
- If you want to dispute multiple late payments, then you'll probably have to select each one separately.
- The particular process for selecting and submitting disputes might be different for each agency. Follow the directions for each one and contact customer service if you have any problems.
- Explain the reason for the dispute. When you make your selections, you'll probably be asked to provide details about the dispute. Explain why you think the charge is a mistake and should be removed. Mention relevant evidence you have, like proof that you paid the bill or identity theft.[20]
- There might also be a dropdown menu to further categorize your dispute. Select the option that matches your dispute the closest.
- Upload any evidence you have proving the error. Some reporting agencies give you a section to upload supporting documents. This helps you prove your case, so scan in any evidence you have and upload it with your dispute.[21]
- Relevant documents are bank statements showing that you paid the bill, letters from your creditor saying that the bill was paid, or any other documents that prove the payment should be removed.
- Circle parts of the documents that prove your claim. For example, the date of a payment is relevant to your case.
- Submit the dispute and let the agency process it. Once you've filled everything out, review it all carefully. When you're satisfied that you've provided as much information as you can, hit "Submit." Now it's up to the agencies to process your dispute and respond.[22]
- Wait about 30 days for the agencies to respond. In most cases, the credit agencies will take about 2-4 weeks to process and review your claim. During that time, they'll reach out to the lenders and see if the late payment is accurate or not. If they find out the report was a mistake, they will correct it. When they're done, they'll respond to you with the verdict.[23]
- By law, the agencies have to send a notice of credit correction to anyone that you ask them to. If you were trying to get a loan or rent an apartment, for example, you can ask them to send a report to the lender and landlord to prove that the charge was a mistake.
- If the agency finds that the charge was legitimate but you still don't agree, you can request that a dispute notice be added to your report. That way, people who view the report will see that you're in the process of challenging the charge.
- Complain to the CFPB if the agencies aren't cooperating. If for any reason you feel that the credit agencies aren't handling your request or siding with you despite your evidence, can you officially complain to the US government's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They can review the dispute and see if you're being treated unfairly. If they agree with your claim, then they can order the agencies to remove the charge.[24]
[Edit]Mail-In Disputes - Write a dispute letter for late payments you think are a mistake. At the top of the letter, write your complete name and current address. Write a letter that is simple and to the point. Identify each disputed item on the report and the reasons for why you are disputing the information. Then request that the disputed item be removed or corrected. Before sending the letter, make a copy of it for your records.[25]
- For example, "To whom it may concern, I am writing you to dispute the information on my report. The late Amazon payment is an error because I paid it on time. I am asking that the item be deleted from my account. Enclosed is my report with the disputed items circled, as well as my bank statement supporting my position. Please review the information and correct the error as soon as possible."
- Include copies of supporting materials to prove your case. Include a copy of your credit report with the disputed item circled in red. Include copies of payment records from your bank, court documents, and any other materials that support your case.
- Make sure to include copies of the original documents instead of the original ones.
- Send the letter and documents through certified mail. Send your letter and supporting documents to each reporting agency. Make sure to request a "return receipt requested" service. This way you can keep track of what the credit reporting agency received. The following are the addresses for each agency:[26]
- Experian, P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013
- TransUnion, Baldwin Place, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022
- Equifax Information Services, LLC, P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374
- Wait about 30 days for a response. Credit reporting agencies must investigate your case within 30 days. If verification shows that the error on your report was valid, then they must remove it and update your information. The agency will send you a letter in writing with the results, and free copy of an updated report if changes were made to it.[27]
- If the agency cannot verify the information's accuracy on your report, then they will remove it.
- Whenever you get an agreement from a creditor or a reporting agency, get it in writing. You might need this if the dispute isn't resolved.
- Creditors or credit agencies are more likely to side with your if you stay on top of your payments normally. They're much more willing to see the late payment as an honest mistake in this case. This is a good reason to keep your credit in as good of shape as possible.
- If you need help, you can always hire a credit adviser to negotiate with the creditors for you. These are professionals who know the right things to say, so they might be more successful than you if you aren't sure what to do.[28]
[Edit]References |
| How to Celebrate Your Birthday in Quarantine Posted: 04 Dec 2020 08:00 AM PST Birthdays are all about fun and celebration, which can be pretty hard to come by during the COVID-19 pandemic. Don't worry—there are plenty of ways you can enjoy your special day, even if your options are a little more limited than they usually are. Pick and choose from this birthday list and see what options work best for you! [Edit]Host a virtual birthday party. - Invite your friends and family members to "stop by" at a certain time. Host a call over a video-sharing platform, like Zoom or Skype, and let your loved ones know when they can join the fun. Digital birthday parties are great for people of all ages, and a fun and safe way to stay connected on your special day.[1]
- A virtual happy hour might also be up your alley.
[Edit]Play virtual games with friends. - Create a custom trivia game with your loved ones. Ask your friends and relatives to come up with special questions about you, which will serve as the "trivia." Host a video call on your special day, then go around in a circle and quiz each other with the different trivia questions, and see who comes out the victor.[2]
- Charades are another fun game to play with friends—plus, they're great for birthday parties of all ages!
- Online games are another fun way to bring everyone together! Jackbox Games, Heads Up!, and Minecraft are some great ways to stay connected on your special day.
[Edit]Schedule a drive-by birthday celebration. - Pick a time and empty parking lot where people can meet. Encourage people to park at the lot and line up their cars in a circle, while practicing social distancing. After you arrive, everyone can crank up the car speakers and play "Happy Birthday" for you![3]
- You can also have a line of cars drive by your home on your special day, like a parade.
[Edit]Hold a digital movie night. - Invite your loved ones to marathon some of your favorite movies. Apps like "Netflix Party" let you host and watch movies together, even if everyone's stuck at home. Pick out a fun movie that you can watch while relaxing and kicking back with your friends.[4]
- Unfortunately, "Netflix Party" is limited to movies on Netflix. Amazon Watch Party, Metastream, and Scener are also great options.[5]
[Edit]Get takeout. - Browse a delivery app to see what restaurants are in your area. Pick out whatever food you're craving, and order it to be delivered straight to your door. Order this food around lunch or dinner, so you can enjoy your favorite food as a special birthday meal![6]
[Edit]Decorate your home. - Hang up decorations all over your home so you feel festive. Blow up some balloons and dangle some streamers—use whatever you have lying around, or drop by a party store to pick up some new supplies. If your home looks really festive, you're sure to feel really festive, too.[7]
- If you'd really like to get in the spirit of quarantine, use toilet paper as streamers instead.
- You can also put up a birthday yard sign, so your neighbors know that it's your special day.[8]
[Edit]Get a birthday cake delivered. - Browse online for your dream birthday cake. Look through local bakeries and sweet shops and see what they have available. Schedule for the cake to arrive on your special day, so you don't have to worry about baking a cake from scratch at home.[9]
- You can also whip up your own cake from scratch!
[Edit]Create an online wishlist. - Organize everything you'd like on a wishlist. Use a digital platform like Amazon to collect all of your gift ideas in 1 place. Pick out some gift ideas that are great for being stuck at home, like noise-cancelling headphones, a cozy throw blanket, gift cards, special candles, and more. Send this link to your friends and loved ones, so they all know what you want for your birthday![10]
[Edit]Invite your friends to stop by your home. - Say hi to your friends at a distance. Invite your pals to stop by your home and wave from your front yard or porch. This is a great way to see your loved ones on your special day while still keeping a safe distance![11]
- As a special touch, your friends can drop off gifts and treats on your front porch.[12]
[Edit]Give yourself a homemade spa day. - Relax and unwind with a delightful bath. Browse online for some spa essentials, like bath salts, scented candles, face masks, and good reading material. Draw yourself a warm bath, and give yourself as much time as you need to chill out in the tub.[13]
[Edit]Dress up for your special day. - Wear your favorite outfit even if you aren't going out. Go through your wardrobe and search for your favorite clothes—this might be a special dress, a nice suit, or anything that makes you look and feel your very best. If you're interested, freshen up with a bit of makeup. It's your special day, and you deserve to look the part![14]
[Edit]Dance around your home. - Create a special party playlist you can jam out to. Broadcast the music on your phone or some portable speakers and rock out to the music! You don't need to have an official party to bust out some killer dance moves. If you live with other people, invite them to get in on your dance party, too.[15]
- Go all out for your impromptu dance party by shifting the furniture around.
[Edit]Go to a virtual concert with your friends. - Check online to see what bands are hosting a livestream online. Give your friends a time to log on, and enjoy lots of live music together! There are a lot of different options you can choose from, depending on your interests.[16]
- For instance, groups like the Metropolitan Opera and Royal Albert Hall host several livestream events.
[Edit]Host a video game birthday party. - Invite your gaming friends over for an in-game celebration. Host a party in an open-world game that a lot of your friends play. Invite them over to your "realm" on your special day, so all your avatars can digitally celebrate together![17]
- Games from the Animal Crossing franchise make a big deal out of your birthday. You can even send out party invites using the in-game post office.
- To get in the spirit of things, ask your friends and relatives to send over quarantine-themed birthday cards to your home.[18]
- Treat yourself with a special food basket or gift box! Schedule it so that it arrives at your home on your big day.[19]
[Edit]References |
| How to Clean Skateboard Wheels Posted: 04 Dec 2020 12:00 AM PST If your skateboard is feeling kind of sticky as you ride it, it might be time to give your wheels a clean. Your wheels and bearings can get blocked up with dirt and rocks, which can lead to a not-so-smooth feel. Luckily, cleaning your wheels and bearings is relatively easy, and only requires some disassembling and a little bit of cleaning solution. Once your bearings and wheels are ridden from built up dirt, you'll be cruising around in no time. - Remove the wheels from the axle using a wrench. Turn the skateboard over so it is resting on the deck, with the wheels facing up. Use a socket wrench to twist and remove the axle nuts on the outer sides of the skateboard wheels, then set them aside.[1]
- Keep all wheel materials (nuts, washers, etc.) together in one place so you can easily find and attach them later. You'll need every piece you take off, so don't lose them!
- Pry the bearings out of the wheels with the truck axle. Grab one wheel and place the center against the metal rod that it was attached to (this is called the truck axle). Use the rod to pop the bearing out of the wheel, kind of like you'd use a bottle opener on a bottle top. Use the same prying technique for all 4 of your wheels, and keep the bearings in one spot so you don't lose track of them.[2]
- Keep the wheel bearings and the wheels separate from each other so they're easier to clean.
- If you can't manage to remove the bearings in this way, try using a screwdriver to pry out the bearings. Simply hold on to the sides of the wheel out in front of you, insert the tip of the screwdriver in the front of the wheel, and pull the screwdriver to the side to release the bearing.
- When you remove the bearings from the wheels, a bearing spacer will fall out from the center of the wheel. Keep this in a safe place so you can reassemble the wheel and bearings later.
- Wipe off the surface of your wheels with a rag to clean off dirt and rocks. Use your fingers to loosen any rocks or gravel, then use your rag to really scrub hard. If there's any super dirty areas that need a lot of scrubbing, grab a toothbrush and use that instead.[3]
- Don't worry if you can't get your wheels sparkly clean just yet—this is just the first step!
- Soak the wheels in soapy water for 10 minutes. Fill a bucket or your sink with about of warm water and of dish soap. Stir the mixture up until it's sudsy, then submerge your wheels and let them sit for about 10 minutes.[4]
- Just soak the wheels, not the bearings! Soaking your bearings in water can make them rust.
- The warm water will help to loosen any stuck-on dirt and grime.
- Wipe down the wheels with a rag or a toothbrush. Take your wheels out of the soapy water and give them a good scrub down. Here's where you can work super hard to make sure they look sparkly and clean.[5]
- Make sure you're wiping down the inside of the wheels as well as the outside. Small rocks and dirt can get trapped in any nook and cranny.
- Dry the wheels off with a clean rag. Grab a separate rag and wipe your wheels off until they're mostly dry. You can set them aside to air dry the rest of the way while you work on your bearings.[6]
- Make sure your wheels are super dry before you reassemble your skateboard so you don't slip and fall while riding.
[Edit]Bearings - Pop the bearing shields off with a razor blade. Position your razor blade in between the bearing shield and the edge of the bearing. Gently push the blade down to pop the shield off the bearing and separate the 2 pieces.[7]
- If a razor blade doesn't work, try a safety pin or a screwdriver instead.
- Be very gentle as you take the shield off! You can damage the thin material if you're too rough.
- Some bearings only have one shield, while others have shields on both sides.
- Pour of solvent into a bowl. To clean your bearings, you can use a cleaning solvent, like rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits. If you'd like something a little less harsh, you can use a liquid citrus cleaner. Pour your solvent of choice into a bowl or plastic container to get it ready for your bearings.[8]
- You can find bearing cleaning kits at most skateboard shops, but they're often more expensive than just buying the solvent yourself.
- If you are using a harsh solvent, put on gloves to protect your skin before you start.
- Soak the bearings in the solution for 5 minutes. Carefully drop all of your bearings into your solution, making sure they're fully submerged. Swirl them around in your container a little bit so all the sides get fully covered, then leave them to soak for about 5 minutes.[9]
- Leaving your bearings to soak for too long can damage them, so make sure you take them out right away.
- Tap each bearing onto a paper towel to get the solvent off. Put on your gloves again and carefully grab all your bearings out of the cleaning solution. One by one, tap the bearings onto a clean paper towel with the exposed side down to get the excess solvent out and dry the bearings off.[10]
- If there's still solvent in the bearings, use a toothbrush to scrub the insides.
- Don't spin the bearings to get the solvent out—this could splash harsh chemicals into your eyes or face.
- Drop 1 to 2 drops of oil into the bearings. You can use skateboard oils, sewing machine oils, or electronic oils. Add 2 to 3 drops to the exposed side of each bearing, then spin it to make sure all the bearing balls are evenly coated. Wipe off any excess with a paper towel to clean up.[11]
- Too much lubricant can clog up the bearing rather than making it move smoothly. When in doubt, the less lubricant the better.
- Do not use thick oils as a lubricant on your bearings. Avoid lubricants like olive oil, vegetable oil, or motor oil, as they can clog up your board.
- Something like WD-40 will lubricate your wheels for a minute or two, but the bearings will quickly dry out.[12]
[Edit]Reassembly - Snap the bearing shields back into place. Grab your bearing shield (remember those thin pieces of rubber?) and use your thumbs to snap it onto the exposed side of your bearing. This shouldn't take much effort, so you can assemble your bearings fairly quickly.[13]
- The shields help trap the lubricant on the inside of the bearing to keep them smooth.
- Insert the bearings back into the wheels. Push one bearing into a wheel, then use your fingers to snap it into place. Turn the wheel over and insert the bearing divider, then snap the other bearing into place.[14]
- This is why it's important to keep all the hardware in one spot!
- Attach the wheels to your truck axle with the axle nut. Slide each wheel onto the truck axle that's attached to your skateboard, then put the axle nut back on the outside of each wheel. Use your socket wrench to tighten the nut in place, then give your wheels a spin![15]
- Be careful not to overtighten the nut. If you can't spin your wheels, loosen it up again with your wrench.
- Your wheels should feel smoother without any sticky grinding as you ride.
- Use a cup to hold all your bolts and small objects in one place.
[Edit]Warnings - Never use bleach on your wheels, as it can dry out the rubber in the wheels and cause them to weaken.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Socket wrench or skate tool
- Clean rags
- Paper towels
- Solvent
- Bowl
- Dish soap
- Thin lubricant
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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