@Anonymous wrote:
Hi James:
Thank you for your links to your past experiences. I appreciate them sincerely! This is an ongoing process that's for sure. Would you be willing to read my drafted letter and tell me your thoughts? You seem to be one of the only people with WF success. I tried to modify it according to your suggestions and those on this forum.
I am writing a letter about my experience with Wells Fargo Auto that is a mixture of a grateful "thank-you" and a humble request to have my account information amended with regards to a late payment that originally occurred in September of 2019. It was thereafter in October, and November of 2019 that was additionally reported each 30 days late.
I purchased my car with the loan from Wells Fargo in May of 2018. It was when my husband was in inpatient rehab in August of 2019 that I was unable to make payments on time. It was also in September of 2019 that Jacksonville, FL was affected by Hurricane Dorian. I was left home alone with my infant daughter for over 2 months, with only one source of income. In September of 2019 I became late on my payments. I communicated this extenuating hardship at the time to Wells Fargo Auto in hopes of working with them on a payment plan. I made phone calls to Wells Fargo Auto several times, and was given partial payment timeline which I worked diligently at staying committed to. I fully recognize my responsibility with respect to payable accounts and have worked diligently to rehabilitate my relationship with Wells Fargo since that time.
I made a mistake in falling behind, but now, my husband is home and able to contribute to our household expenses. I’ve been committed to paying my payments on time since then. Thankfully, responsible credit management is now reflected in my credit records which -- excluding the Wells Fargo Auto late payments -- are excellent. I wish to thank you for renewing your confidence in me and for giving me a second chance at a relationship with you, one that I am determined to keep spotless.
We are planning on applying for a mortgage in efforts to purchase our first home. It has come to my attention that the late notations from Wells Fargo may inhibit me from getting approved. Since those notations do not reflect my current status with Wells Fargo, I am requesting that you give me a second chance at a positive credit rating by removing the late payments with the 3 credit bureaus. I understand this is not something that is typical of Wells Fargo, however I am asking for you to please consider strongly in providing me with a goodwill adjustment. Please let me know if any additional documentation would assist in reaching a positive outcome, and I thank you again for the time you have spent reading this letter.
I'm NOT saying your letter as writtne will not succeed getting you a GW removal -- especially if you follow the Saturation Technique -- but, frankly, I didn't find it to meet the standard I described in one of the linked posts:
"... you consider the need to overcome these two obstacles: 1) they don't want to help you; 2) they will argue "our hands are tied."
So your task is two-fold: 1) Untie their hands; 2) Make them want to help you."
Hurrican Dorian is a thing that happened but a perfunctory Google search reveals it mostly had little impact in Jacksonville, at least according to the newspaper. If this is not YOUR experience, then show specifics. Example: "The winds gusted to 80 MPH in our neighborhood, caved our carport onto my 2012 Ford Focus (our sole means of transportation!), knocked down the powerline onto my neighbor's front yard. Me and my 5-year old were without electricity for a week. It felt longer. She was terrified ..."
It sounds like you've had a couple of tough breaks. I sympathize. Truly. But what you've described does not merit exception. Remeber, what you are up against is:
* the typical lender default answer is NO;
* they DO have to report accurate info to the CRA, and they will use this as the reason they can not help you;
So your task, as I mentioned in those links, and quoted above -- compel them. Make them want to help you.
This involves accepting they have constraints -- they don't want to help you & they are required to report accurate info. "They" being the guidelines the people who read your letter are tasked with abiding.
Fiction writers have a thing they say: Show don't tell.
It mostly means don't tell me a thing happned. Show me the thing happening. Bring me to that place/time, let me feel what happened.
The lender's rules say "Don't help this GW letter writer. Say NO." But the rules don't read our letters -- real people do. Get that person's attention. Move him. Make her want to help you. That's your task. Good luck.
