Want to quickly raise your credit score? Write a goodwill letter. This is a letter that asks your lenders to remove any negative marks from your history—most likely, you’d do this if you had a former track record of late payments.
Your letter doesn’t have to be long or detailed. Instead, explain in plain language if you had a particular circumstance (a hospital stay, a job loss) that made it difficult to uphold your obligations as a borrower. Acknowledge that it’s your fault you fell behind and highlight the actions you took (or are still taking) to remedy the situation.
If you don’t hear back within a few months, send a short follow-up letter highlighting your original request. Your lender may not take any action to benefit you, but it’s worth the effort to make your case in your favor.