Can Mortgage Lenders Make Goodwill Adjustments?

Why We Can't Change Accurate Payment Information

Homeowners sometimes ask us to remove late payments, missed payments, or other negative marks from the information we provide to credit reporting agencies through a goodwill adjustment.

Unfortunately, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) does not allow us to make goodwill adjustments. The law requires Freedom Mortgage and other lenders to provide accurate payment and financial information to credit reporting agencies like TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax.

What we can do is correct errors in the information we’ve provided to credit agencies. To request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information, please contact us at 855-690-5900 to get started.

We will most likely ask you to provide details about the correction in writing to help us review your request.

What Is a Goodwill Adjustment?

A goodwill adjustment is the idea that homeowners can request mortgage lenders to remove accurate information about late payments, missed payments, or other negative financial events from the information they provide to credit agencies. Goodwill adjustments can also be called “courtesy corrections.” The purpose of this request is to improve homeowners’ credit scores, which may have been affected by late or missed payments.

Goodwill adjustments are often promoted by people who claim they have financial expertise, provide advice on how to write a goodwill adjustment letter, and share stories about homeowners who have made a successful request.

Why Freedom Mortgage Can’t Make Goodwill Adjustments to Your Credit Information

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) prohibits us from making goodwill adjustments. We are required by law to provide accurate payment and financial information to credit reporting agencies.

The FCRA promotes the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of information that consumer reporting agencies use. To learn more about the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can read this PDF from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB).

How to Correct Inaccurate or Incomplete Information in Your Credit File

The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information that appears in your credit file. To get started, please contact our Customer Service Department at 855-690-5900. We’ll most likely ask you to provide details about your request in writing.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends that you also contact credit reporting agencies to dispute errors on your credit report. To learn more about the CFPB’s recommendations, visit their credit report error dispute page.

Last reviewed and updated May 2025 by Freedom Mortgage.