Here's a history lesson for those who are interested. (Ok, the person that yawned can close the thread NOW, lol.) marci, way back last year on 05.29.2001 @ 11:20, lol, posted what she called her "sample letter paid CO." Her original letter began "I am writing a letter about my experience with Citibank NA that is a mixture of a grateful 'thank-you' and a pressing request" and then asked them to "give me a second chance at a positive credit rating." I think the letter may well have been the first time I ever saw anybody here take the nice approach so effectively. Here's the link to that post (well worth reading -- I hope marci will forgive my effusive compliments, but this is one of the all-time great posts): http://consumers.creditnet.com/straighttalk/board/showthread.php?s=&postid=59322#post59322 At the point she wrote that letter (May 2001), the conventional wisdom here was that you probably shouldn't bother worrying about a paid account because -- the logic went -- IF IT'S PAID, YOU'VE LOST YOUR LEVERAGE. Of course, what marci suspected at the time (i.e., if it's paid, you STILL haven't lost your leverage) was foreign to most of us who lurked the credit boards. Keep in mind that this letter predated my nutcase letter (which I devised based upon stuff learned as a grasshopper student of Bill Bauer's and an avid reader of John Gliha's approaches at DueProcess.org) by many months. Then, later, Bill Bauer came up with his own approach to paid collections (previously he had dealt only with unpaid accounts). And recently, DanceRat came up with a TERRIFIC approach toward paid accounts with bad tradelines that emphasizes legal soundness, described elsewhere on this board. But it goes without saying that marci's letter was really the progenitor of the "goodwill adjustment" letter and the nutcase letter. It wasn't until many months later that I stole (borrowed, lifted, LOL) key aspects (ok, the "key"-est aspects) of marci's "sample letter paid CO" and modified it for the express purpose of dealing with fully-paid accounts which had always been in good standing but had suffered small dings. It was a Sears rep who told me at the time, "Oh, sure, we call those 'goodwill adjustments' or 'courtesy adjustments' and we consider those requests from time to time." The very idea that I might be able to clear minor 30 and 60 day late pay history without having to dispute the notations with the CRAs was a revelation to me. (Hell, they never said anything about it in Michael Kielsky's "Electronic Credit Repair Kit" -- lol.) So, true to marci's approach, the letter began, "I am writing a letter about my experience with Sears that is a mixture of a grateful 'thank-you' and a pressing request" and included the "wake-up call," but then I went on to beg for "redemption at Sears" and even included the word "beg" LOL among other base grovels. I wondered if marci would object to even being associated with such unapologetic grovelling, but luckily she approved (I think, lol). In January 2002, I posted the resultant "goodwill letter" here: http://consumers.creditnet.com/straighttalk/board/showthread.php?s=&postid=125035#post125035 In May, marci posted something she called her "Get Rid of Clutter Letter" which used entirely new language (no "pressing request" lol) but was an effective twist on the theme -- aimed specifically at deleting relatively new but deleted tradelines (the result of Citibank BDDs, for example). This letter hasn't received the play it deserves -- it should be referenced in the FAQ, I think. For anyone who missed it, here's the link: http://consumers.creditnet.com/straighttalk/board/showthread.php?s=&postid=172882#post172882 Next, schweb posted his version of the goodwill letter using completely different language, something that is extremely important in order to keep the same letter from becoming "recognized" by creditors. Here's that link: http://consumers.creditnet.com/straighttalk/board/showthread.php?s=&pgnum=1&postid=177722 Finally, last week, helpwanted posted a well-revised goodwill letter (you can see marci's "pressing request" linguistics weaving right through from her original "sample letter paid CO" to the present, lol) but specifically aimed at student loan providers: http://consumers.creditnet.com/straighttalk/board/showthread.php?s=&pgnum=2&postid=191003 I'm an advocate for both "honey" and "vinegar" -- whichever works. On the other hand, if you browse messages on this board which predate marci's "sample letter paid CO" you'll be hard-pressed to find much "honey." (Grandma always said you can attract flies with honey much better, ahem.) Anyway, now that tone of voice has evolved into several excellent, targeted credit repair tools in our collective arsenal here. Who knows what mysterious personality shard led marci to try being nice to the creditor creeps (perhaps she'll consent to a longitudinal personality study, lol), but it worked and has continued to work for so many of us in several different ways. (So, this posting is "a mixure of a grateful 'thank you' and..." er... sometimes it's important to know when to stop. I clearly haven't learned that lesson, ahem. I'll stop now, lol.) Doc P.S. Surely this interested someone out there, cough, cough. If not, maybe the links will introduce a newbie to something new anyway.
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution Thanks for breaking it down. I am not a newbie, but am still trying to get a grasp of all the techniques and methods that have worked for others. BTW, did I say thanks?
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution I sent 2 "unclutter" letters CRR. I thought the letter was brilliant and would work. Unfortunately, neither creditor has even bothered to respond, so I am wondering if they figuratively (or literally???) threw them in the trash. It might seem frivolous to them, but those old accounts are just clutter. One of my letters regarded an account that was upgraded. My other creditors typically replace the old account, and only report the new one. But Chase reports both. I was hoping they would get rid of the duplicate. I'm still hoping, but it has been a month or so since I sent the letter soooooo.
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution Thank you, Doc! I'm not yawning, I'm a big fan of the history lessons with links -- what a great reference. BTW, waiting for your nutcase history and overview like you posted on that OTHER board; it should be linked here. Sassy
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution LOL, Sassy! Actually, I already did that. I'll hunt up the url. I see you get around the various credit-related discussion boards yourself, huh. That's ok -- I myself am an acknowledged credit discussion board ho. Doc
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution You did post it here too, Doc? I must have missed it -- I just post the link to the OTHER board, didn't know if that was good, bad or otherwise but pbm didn't remove it, so I took that as a good sign. I like it because you summarize the history, the rationale, and all variations. Others can understand when to use it, why and how. Nutcase: http://www.aimoo.com/forum/postview.cfm?id=332192&CategoryID=24707&startcat=1&ThreadID=152729 I like this one too, a summary of your suits with links. I do think they should be linked or placed in the FAQ section. Suits: http://www.aimoo.com/forum/postview.cfm?id=332192&CategoryID=24707&startcat=1&ThreadID=152531 And yes, I'm a regular message board slut! Sassy
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution sassy, i prefer the "message board ho" as opposed to "slut" but i too subscribe to a number of the other boards, our "doc" posts on.
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution what other boards does the infamous Doc post on? I am addicted to his banter and advice, observations, and zingers ! Thank you, Doc, and others for posting the rationale and links about this approach. I am sending out three letters this weekend, will let you know if I get a deletion as a result.
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution Randy, thank you for your kind post. With a post this generous, I would be remiss not to respond with thanks - and indeed, I am sorry that I have waited over a week to reply as it is. As far as a "mysterious personality" leading me to use "honey" with the creditors, I credit my approach with the wisdom offered in the Tanach (from which the term easier to draw flies with honey than with vinegar originates) and in the gospel of Matthew (chap. 5, v. 25). While Christianity does not condone lying to get out of a tough situation (i.e. saying "not mine" on a trade that is indeed mine), it's basic model is admitting one's own guilt in a screw up and readily accepting mercy from the penalty of that screw up (i.e. my reasoning behind the goodwill). The credit reporting game may be unfair (it is) and creditors may be unethical in business practices (they are), but if I choose to play the credit game (which I do), then I am subject to the consequences of bad financial decisions, which may include 7 years of a negative trade. I won't connive or demand my way out of bad credit that is legitimately mine, but I will take advantage of a creditor's willingness to let bygones be bygones. Hence, the formation of my goodwill letter. As it is, the "goodwill" letter or phone call has resulted in the majority of my 13 negative deletions (excepting student loans, which were taken care of by the Rehab Act). As a result, I have the benefit of nearly clean reports and a clean conscience when I sleep at night (this is far more important than a clean credit report to me). I'm sure Sigmund Freud would be alarmed at my dependence on such a "mysterious personality" as the God of Israel, and would readily submit me to a series of psychological tests for delusional beliefs if he could. However, I'll continue to believe that theism is the best set of glasses through which I will view the world and, thus, the way I deal with my credit issues. Does this answer still qualify me for a "longitudinal personality study"? Thanks again for the nice synopsis of the goodwill letter evolution...
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution Have you heard back from Chase? Would love to know what happened. Thank you.
Re: Goodwill Letter evolution upping for newbies! This should be added to the FAQ section don't you think?
