How to Go About Removing Repo from CR?

[Anonymous]

I have an 18-month-old repossession on my credit report from Volvo Car Financing. I do have lates from 2010 and prior as well. The repo and outstanding balances were paid immediately back then. Since the repo, every payment has been on time.

My lease is ending this week and is fully paid/satisfied.

Looking for your advice on my next steps. I'd like to at least attempt to get the repo removed. What could you recommend? GW or PFD? How would I word such?

Is now a good time to do this, now that Volvo has all monies from me? I'd prefer to start working on this now rather than waiting.

Related to this, my ex and I are in different households now, and this same entry has dinged us both (we are both on the lease; he is primary). Should we attack this from each side individually (letters sent from him + letters sent from me)? Or should we team up on our efforts (always joint letters)? Want to keep things clear but (hopefully) impactful for the lessor.

I appreciate your feedback.

[llecs]

If paid already, your only option is a GW. Send a GW asking for specifically what you'd like done (e.g. a deletion). There are quite a few examples on here. If you paid on time from that point until now, then be sure to mention that too. IMO, the good elements of a GW is that you admit to a mistake (or at least humble yourself to it) through an event (e.g. marriage issues, job loss, illness), that you fixed it, that you learned from it, and that it'll never happen again (hence mentioning the good payment history since). Be sure to say "thanks" more than once. Include your name, address, phone, e-mail, and account number. Make it easy for them to find you in their system and to contact you if needed. I've seen a few successes where the GW-sender received a "yes" to the GW request via a callback. For the GW, mail with a stamp. Also, be clear as to what you'd like done like a deletion or maybe just the lates removal, comments, etc.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the detailed reply. A couple of additional questions:

Do you think it'd make any difference if my ex and I approached this together or individually?

<<be clear as to what you'd like done like a deletion or maybe just the lates removal, comments, etc.>> I want the repo removed. Should I focus the letter just on that or shoot for both the removal of the repos AND the lates? The latter seems like it's too ambitious, but open to your thoughts.

[llecs]

I don't think it matters who approaches it because both of you are seen equally via the lender. I think that any changes for one would impact the other as well.

Either/or. Either ask for deletion or ask for the removal of the repo comment & the lates. I have a hunch it will take quite a few tries and you can mix it up with each request. Personally, I would look at my AAoA for that report and compare the AAoA to the age of that account and weigh wither or not I wanted it deleted based on that. If the account was older than my AAoA, I wouldn't be that eager to have it deleted. I'd also weigh the age of the baddies. If approaching 7 years, as an example, and knowing that the item would be removed at 7 yrs anyway, then I'd probably postpone the deletion request.