A goodwill letter, also known as a goodwill adjustment letter, is a written request to a creditor or lender asking them to remove or forgive a negative item on your credit report. This letter is typically used when you have a late payment, missed payment, or other derogatory mark that you believe should be removed due to extenuating circumstances. Goodwill letters are best used when: You have a solid payment history: If you've generally been responsible with your payments and the negative item is an isolated incident, a goodwill letter is more likely to be effective. You've faced extenuating circumstances: If you can explain that the late or missed payment was due to unforeseen events beyond your control, such as job loss, illness, or a natural disaster, creditors may be more understanding. You've already paid the past-due amount: If you've resolved the delinquency and are up-to-date on your payments, your request to remove the negative mark may be better received. You're willing to negotiate: In some cases, you can offer to pay off an outstanding balance or sign up for automatic payments in exchange for the removal of the negative item.