Is this even worth it?

[Anonymous]

The other day, I viewed my credit report and saw 7 negative items. However, these were last reported as far back as 2004 and some as recent as early 2006. For the past 2-3 years, I have been current on everything and raised my score from 410 to 655.

Now, is it even worth it (an attempt to raise my credit) to write a letter to each of the 7 creditors and ask that they remove the negative items due to carrying a zero balance, and last being reported a very long time ago?

I did so yesterday but I'm wondering if it was a lost cause.

[Anonymous]

Hi ta. GW'ing is hit or miss. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

Most people report no success GW'ing a creditor for the first 2 or 3 times. But done on a consistant, relentless basis, they normally achieve the results they desired.

But success varies from creditor to creditor. Unfortunately, it's not a requirement to delete a paid baddie. It's left up to them....and how you word your GW letter.

Whether it is worth it, is a judgment call that only you can make.

[Junejer]

Are these OCs, CAs or a combination of the two?

[Anonymous]

I think 5 of the 7 are credit cards. The other 2 are student loans that defaulted but then I consolidated.

In the letter I sent it said something to the effect of:

To whom it may concern:

I am formally requesting the following item be deleted from my credit report from all 3 bureaus due to a zero balance and last date reported_________.

Please make the changes within the next 14 days and I await a quick response.

Did I miss anything?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't use that letter. Please take a look at previously used(with success) goodwill letters, found elsewhere in the forum.

This was taken from the 'sticky' thread at the top of "General Credit Issues":

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/fico/board/message?board.id=generalcredit&message.id=2661

There are many examples of goodwill letters. Use the search box and type in "goodwill letter".

[Anonymous]

I did look and they look like great letters. Given that my letter has already been sent, I will send them the "better" one should I get a denial back.

I am concerned about one thing though. I understand that someone should not feel limited to the number or words used but the letters are pretty lengthy. The reason for concern is that it asks too much from the recipient to read and take in. I find that it is more effective (maybe not to creditors) to just state the point and be done with it. See, creditors get tons of mail everyday. When they get something this is long worded- it gets ignored until they have time. They would rather go thru the short ones first.

Don't quote me on this, just pure speculation.

[Anonymous]

One more thing...

A year ago, I wrote a letter to the 3 bureaus to ask that they delete _______ because it is damaging my ability to get a mortgage approval.

The letter was 2 sentences long. It worked for all 3 agencies for a total of 5-7 accounts with the exeception of 1.

[Junejer]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

One more thing...

A year ago, I wrote a letter to the 3 bureaus to ask that they delete _______ because it is damaging my ability to get a mortgage approval.

The letter was 2 sentences long. It worked for all 3 agencies for a total of 5-7 accounts with the exeception of 1.

---

Well, if you have found a formula that works for you, why not try that with the CRAs again?

The reason for the length of the GWs is that you want to appeal to the human-side of the person that is reading the letter. We all know that we can be in that same situation if a couple of things go wrong for us. GWs should generally be long and heart-wrenching, spelling out the details so that the reader will feel sympathetic towards you and DELETE the baddie.

[Anonymous]

Oh I understand what you are saying. It was just a suggestion from my experience.

If neither method work, I always say annoy them day and night with these pleas. The squeeky wheel gets the grease.

[Anonymous]

This is strange, but, I GW an account. They replied they do not change correct info. About 2 months later, all my husbands lates on the acct(joint) were deleted. Mine are all showing. I am afraid of doing anything, for fear they will put back on his. 30 2004 and 90 day in 2001. Will the 90 soon disappear? should I say anything?  Thank you