How to Write a Goodwill Letter to Credit Acceptance
A goodwill letter is a polite, written request asking Credit Acceptance to remove a late payment from your credit reports as a one-time courtesy. It is not a dispute — it is a humble appeal that works best when the late payment was an isolated mistake and the account has since been brought current. Many Credit Acceptance customers have successfully had isolated lates removed this way, especially when the letter is professional, brief, and free of legal threats.
About requesting a goodwill adjustment from Credit Acceptance
Credit Acceptance Corporation is a subprime auto finance company that works through dealer networks to finance buyers with damaged or limited credit. Its loans are structured through dealer arrangements, and the company has been the subject of state enforcement actions regarding its lending and collection practices.
How Credit Acceptance accounts report to the bureaus
- Subprime auto installment loan tradelines
- Repossession and deficiency balances following a vehicle sale
What actually matters when you dispute with Credit Acceptance
- If a repossession occurred, request the notice of intent to sell, the sale price, and the full deficiency calculation — state law requires those notices and defects are common.
- Verify payment posting dates against your records; misapplied payments are a frequent cause of disputed late marks on subprime auto loans.
- Confirm the loan terms on the tradeline match your retail installment contract, including the original amount financed.
What a response from Credit Acceptance usually looks like
Expect 30 to 60 days for a written response. Repossession-related disputes typically take the full window because dealer and auction records must be retrieved.
Where to send this letter
Credit Acceptance Corporation25505 West Twelve Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48034-8339
Credit Acceptance auto loan billing-error and FCRA correspondence.
Step-by-step: sending a Goodwill Letter to Credit Acceptance
- Confirm the account is current and the late payment was an isolated event.
- Generate your personalized goodwill letter using the form below.
- Mail the letter via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt.
- Wait 30–45 days for a response, then check your credit reports.
What to expect
No guaranteed response — typical replies in 30–60 days, often none at all.
Goodwill adjustments are voluntary. Creditors are not required to respond, and many won't. Plan to send follow-ups (sometimes escalated to executive customer service) and treat each attempt as one shot among several.
Frequently asked questions
Do goodwill letters actually work?
Yes — for isolated late payments on accounts in good standing, success rates are reasonable. They almost never work on charge-offs or repeat lates.
How many goodwill letters can I send?
There is no legal limit. Many people see results only after the second or third attempt, sometimes escalated to executive customer service.
Should I admit fault in a goodwill letter?
Briefly, yes. A short, honest explanation of the hardship works better than excuses or legal threats. The tone is a humble request, not a dispute.
Can I fax a goodwill letter instead of mailing it?
Sometimes. Most creditors don't publish a dedicated fax line for goodwill or dispute correspondence, so mailing is the reliable route. If your statement or the creditor's website lists a billing-inquiries fax number, faxing can be faster — but certified mail gives you a dated return receipt proving the creditor received it. Keep a copy of whatever you send.