Your options for removing a late payment from your credit report depend on if it was legitimate or an error.nnRemoving Erroneous Late PaymentsnnAll consumers have the right to dispute credit report items that are incorrect. This can happen if a creditor reports a late payment that wasn't late or a credit account for someone with a similar name gets added to your report.nnEach of the three credit bureaus provides an online dispute option. You can also file the dispute by mail or fax. You'll likely need to include documentation proving why it was incorrect.nnInvestigations take about 30 days to complete. The credit bureau(s) will let you know of its decision within five days after completing the investigation. They must remove it if you prove it was an erroneous late payment.nnRemoving Valid Late PaymentsnnYou cannot request the credit bureaus to remove a legitimate late payment from your report. The bureaus are legally obligated to include all true and accurate information.nnAs mentioned, you can ask the creditor to remove the late payment report by writing a goodwill letter. Creditors might consider it if it was your only late payment. The longer your positive payment history, the more likely they'll consider it.