Calling and asking nicely worked for me once. I had a 30 day late from a store card and the rep agreed to remove it after I explained it was a one time slip and I had been on time ever since. Worth a shot before you just wait it out until 2026.

Did you always see it that way or did a bad emailer change your mind?

Ha, that finisher basically gave you the concrete version of "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down." Cut it late and the slab picks its own spot to crack, usually right where you don't want it. I've had good luck going by feel more than the clock, like when you can walk on it and the blade doesn't throw a bunch of paste, that's your window. But man, timing that on a hot Tucson day is rough because the top sets fast while the middle is still soft. Ask ten finishers and you'll get ten answers, but the guy who watches the slab instead of his watch is usually right.