Getting Lates Taken off Auto Loan

[geeknee]

Hi, I'm brand new to this board so I apologize if this is something that has already been asked or if I can find the answer elsewhere, but I have done a few searches and can't find a situation exactly like mine.

Here's the background to my situation:

I have an auto loan that will be paid off in August. I have been making payments regularly, as of late, and only have about $1600 left to pay on the loan. Unfortunately, I was not always GREAT with making payments. I have about eight 30 day lates and two 60 day lates, so it is now being listed as unsatisfactory on my credit report. Every time I was more than 30 days late, I always called the credit union and negotiated with them to get caught back up (paying a month and a half at a time, etc.).

Here are my questions:

I would like to know if it is better to leave it this way or try to get it deleted entirely from my credit report? Is it possible to have them remove the lines that list me as late or does the whole thing have to be removed? How can I negotiate with the credit union to do this if there's really no incentive for them to remove the lates? I only have a few more months of payments left, so if I still have a chance to act on this, I would like to do it now. Would it help if I offered to pay off the whole thing now in one lump sum?

Thanks so much for your help!!

[Average Joe]

If you're still paying on the loan, I think the chances of having it deleted would be about zero.

[geeknee]

So, do you think there's anything I can do at this point to get the lates taken off?

[Average Joe]

Do you have a legititmate reason for them being late? The only time I've heard of late disputes being successful is when an error was committed on the part of the OC. If you're still making the payments, and you have been making them late, then the OC will have a record of it where it will be easily accessible for them to validate.

This is just what I've seen, however. There may be others here who have had different experiences.

[geeknee]

Well, I can't really say I have a legitimate reason for them being late... I was out of work for a little while after a lay off, had recently moved, my father had recently passed away, but other than that, it was just irresponsibility.

I've been exactly on time ever since then and am able to pay off the remaining balance, so I was wondering if any of this would be a bargaining chip. And, if so, how do I go about trying this? Is there a letter I should send and, if so, should I pay them then get a confirmation letter saying they'll take them off or should I ask them to send me something saying that payment of the remaining balance will allow them to take off the lates, THEN make the payments?

Sorry about all the questions. I'm just trying to figure out if there's anything I can do at this point to make them happy and get those lates taken off.

[Average Joe]

If this is the OC, the only thing I can suggest is you might want to call and talk to someone about it. Maybe they would be willing to come to an agreement with you. NEVER call a CA, but I don't see a problem with an OC.

[geeknee]

Thanks all very much for your suggestions!

Yeah, it's the OC, and, as I said, even when I WAS late, I was always willing to work with them and was the one getting in touch with them instead of vice versa. I just thought this was something I should do in writing instead of over the phone, so I was wondering if anyone else had gone through the same thing...