Quick answer. Contact the creditor before you fall further behind, say what happened and what you can pay, ask for one specific arrangement (a payment plan, a deferral or a temporary lower payment), and get the terms in writing. Build a free sample letter below. No letter can guarantee a yes.
What to say
- What happened, in one or two sentences. Job loss, cut hours, a medical bill, a change at home, and the date it started.
- What you can pay. A monthly amount you can keep paying, not one that only sounds good on the call.
- When things may change. If you expect income to return by a certain month, say so. If you don't know, say that.
- What you're asking for. One clear request. The CFPB says to explain why you can't pay the minimum, how much you can pay and when you expect to resume normal payments (CFPB).
What to ask for
| Ask for | What it means |
|---|---|
| Payment plan | The past-due amount is paid in installments until the account is current. |
| Deferral | One or more payments move to later, often to the end of the loan. |
| Temporary reduction | A lower payment for a set number of months. |
| Forbearance (mortgages) | Payments are paused or reduced for a time; the paused amounts still have to be repaid. Afterward, the CFPB describes a repayment plan, a payment deferral, a loan modification or paying it all at once (CFPB). |
Before you agree, ask whether interest or fees keep adding up, what the payment will be when the arrangement ends, and how the account will be reported to the credit bureaus.
Build a free sample letter
Fill in what you know; anything left blank stays as a [bracket] to finish by hand. Read it over and change anything that isn't true for you.
What to keep in writing
- A copy of every letter, the date you sent it and proof of sending (certified mail receipt, upload confirmation or saved email).
- For every call: the date and time, the person's name or ID, what they offered and any confirmation number. The FTC says to keep records of each conversation and get any agreement in writing (FTC).
- The written terms: the amount, start and end dates, what happens when it ends, fees and interest, and credit reporting.
- Proof of each payment you make under the arrangement.
If it's your mortgage
From the CFPB: make sure the servicer receives your complete application for help more than 37 days before any scheduled foreclosure sale; you should hear back in writing within 30 days; if a complete application arrived at least 90 days before a sale and a modification was denied, you may be able to appeal; and except in rare cases foreclosure can't start until you're at least 120 days behind. Free HUD-approved housing counselors: the CFPB's Find a Counselor tool or the HOPE Hotline at (888) 995-4673 (CFPB). The CFPB warns that anyone asking for payment in advance or promising to stop a foreclosure is not legitimate (CFPB).
Other things the FTC warns about
A car lender can repossess after a default without notice. Debt settlement companies can't collect fees before they settle a debt, and forgiven amounts may be taxable. A nonprofit credit counselor isn't automatically free; ask what it charges (FTC).
Sources
- CFPB: What should I do if I can't pay my credit card bills?
- CFPB: What happens after I complete an application to determine my options to avoid foreclosure?
- CFPB: Exit your forbearance carefully
- CFPB: How do I find a HUD-approved housing counselor?
- CFPB: Mortgage help
- FTC: How To Get Out of Debt
General information checked November 2026 against the CFPB and FTC pages above. Not legal, credit or financial advice, and not affiliated with any agency, creditor or credit bureau. The tool runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent or saved.
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Common questions
What should a hardship letter say?
Briefly what happened and when, what you can pay each month, the specific arrangement you're asking for, and a request for the terms in writing. The CFPB suggests telling a card company why you can't pay the minimum, how much you can pay, and when you expect to resume normal payments.
Should I call or write first?
Many people call first and then confirm in writing. The FTC says that if you're behind on bills, call your creditors and don't wait, keep records of each conversation and get any agreement in writing.
Will a creditor accept my hardship request?
No one can promise that. Each creditor sets its own terms. The CFPB notes that many card companies are willing to work with people facing a financial emergency.
What should I ask before agreeing to a plan?
The payment and dates, whether interest or fees keep adding up, what the payment will be when the plan ends, how the account will be reported to the credit bureaus, and whether you'll get the terms in writing.
Is there free help if I can't pay my mortgage?
Yes. The CFPB says HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provide foreclosure prevention counseling free of charge. It also warns that anyone who asks for payment in advance or promises to stop a foreclosure is not legitimate.