30-day late remarks do not fall off the credit report for 7 years. Maybe you personally can only see a 2 year history or whatever, but lenders who pull your report will see them for 7 years.
To get late remarks removed, you have to write a letter. You can almost never get them to remove them via phone. It must be in writing.
Write formal letters to the companies reporting the late payments. Explain that you have long-standing accounts with them and love their service (if the accounts are still open). Be honest and say you are working toward repairing your credit to possible purchase a home. Point out your recent good history (and past if available) and ask them if they will consider forgiving them late payment remarks. Thank them for their consideration, and make sure you are ASKING not TELLING them.
After sending the letters, dispute all the remarks with each of the three credit bureau. When they investigate, they will contact the lenders. If you have been forgiven, the remarks will be removed from the credit report.
It is also possible the some or all of the lenders will not respond in time or with the appropriate paperwork to validate the remarks, and they will also be removed. It's worth a try. I've seen plenty of 100% true, valid bad remarks removed because of the lazyness or indifference of creditors.
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