How to Write a Pay-for-Delete Letter to Citi
A pay-for-delete letter is a written settlement offer to Citi in exchange for complete removal of the account from your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports. Collectors are not legally required to agree, but many will — particularly on older debts they bought for pennies on the dollar. The key is to get the deletion agreement in writing before sending any payment.
About negotiating pay-for-delete with Citi
Citibank is a major global bank and one of the largest U.S. card issuers, running a large co-branded portfolio for retail and travel partners in addition to its own Citi-branded cards. Retail partner cards are issued by Citi Retail Services and may report under that name.
How Citi accounts report to the bureaus
- Revolving Citi-branded card tradelines
- Co-branded retail and travel partner cards reported through Citi Retail Services
- Personal loan and line-of-credit accounts
What actually matters when you dispute with Citi
- Check whether your account reports as Citibank or Citi Retail Services — sending the letter to the wrong division is the most common reason a request goes unanswered.
- Citi sells charged-off balances, so an old account may show both a Citi charge-off and a separate debt-buyer collection tradeline.
- Include the full account number as it appears on your credit report; partner-card numbers often differ from the number on the plastic.
What a response from Citi usually looks like
Expect 30 to 60 days for a written response, with changes often appearing at the next monthly reporting cycle.
Where to send this letter
Citibank, N.A.Customer Service
P.O. Box 6500
Sioux Falls, SD 57117
Citi-branded credit card billing disputes.
Step-by-step: sending a Pay-for-Delete Letter to Citi
- Verify the debt is still within your state's statute of limitations.
- Generate your pay-for-delete offer (typically 40% of the balance).
- Mail the letter Certified — never call or pay over the phone.
- Only send payment after you receive a written deletion agreement.
What to expect
14–30 days when the collector engages; some go silent and require a follow-up.
Third-party collectors are free to negotiate deletion as part of a settlement, and many will respond within a few weeks. Never pay until you have the deletion agreement in writing on company letterhead.
Frequently asked questions
Is pay-for-delete legal?
Yes. Collectors are free to negotiate the terms of payment, including deletion. The original creditor's contract with the bureaus discourages it, but third-party collectors routinely agree.
What percentage should I offer?
Most negotiations settle between 30% and 50% of the original balance. Our generator suggests 40% as a starting point.
Will paying restart the statute of limitations?
In many states, a payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock on the debt. Confirm your state's rules before sending payment, especially on older accounts.
Can I fax a pay-for-delete letter?
You can if the collector publishes a fax number, but always get the deletion agreement in writing first and send your offer by certified mail so you have a dated record. Never negotiate deletion over the phone.