Best Credit Repair Companies

We compared 15 companies and chose the top credit repair companies

  • Credit Saint
    4.9(449)
  • Sky Blue Credit Repair
    4.9(236)
  • The Credit People
    3.7(28)

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    Having a credit score under 600 can hinder your financial goals, such as buying a new home or financing a car. Improving your credit score isn’t something that happens overnight, but with the help of credit repair companies, you can save time. Our guide to the best credit repair companies includes five picks that work with all three credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion – to remove negative and inaccurate items from your credit report.

    The best credit repair companies are transparent about their fees, have a variety of plan options and work with all credit bureaus.

    To make our top picks, the ConsumerAffairs Research Team vetted 15 credit repair companies reviewed by more than 2,000 ConsumerAffairs readers. Features compared included fees, types of plans available, money-back guarantees and more. You can read our full methodology to learn more about how we compared different lenders and chose our top picks.

    Our picks may be Authorized Partners who compensate us. This does not affect our recommendations or evaluations but may impact the order in which companies appear.

    Why trust ConsumerAffairs?
    • Our recommendations are based on what reviewers say.
    • 4,412,346 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
    • We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
    • We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
    • Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.

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    All information accurate as of time of publication.

    More details about our top picks

    Hiring an expert to dispute all your credit report errors is quicker and more convenient than doing it yourself. Credit restoration specialists have the experience and expertise to navigate some of the most complicated credit situations.

    Best customer service

    Credit Saint

    First work fee
    Varies
    Monthly fee
    Varies
    Money-back guarantee
    Yes

    Credit Saint offers customer assistance 24/7 by email and online chat through its member portal. It offers three packages to challenge credit bureaus in your favor. Unlike other credit repair companies, Credit Saint focuses its efforts on the three credit bureaus rather than individual creditors. Each package varies in its level of aggressiveness and includes score analysis, creditor interventions and score tracking.

    Prices start at the time of publishing at $79.99 per month, with a $99 initial work fee for the lowest tier of credit restoration. Its free credit repair consultation helps you know which level is best for your financial situation. Plus, you can receive a full refund after 90 days if you don’t see negative items removed from your credit.

    • No initial work fee for an added family member
    • Free credit consultation
    • 90-day money-back guarantee
    • Not currently available in all states
    • Doesn’t dispute with creditors
    • High fees

    Reviews on ConsumerAffairs say Credit Saint takes the time to explain credit repair thoroughly and honestly. “I honestly can't believe the honesty and integrity I experienced in dealing with Credit Saint. …Great communication online, on the phone and in documenting all our interactions on my private portal,” said one California reviewer.

    Other reviewers noted that Credit Saint did not have the nicest or tech-savviest member portal, though.

    Best for knowledgeable staff
    First work fee
    $79
    Monthly fee
    $79
    Money-back guarantee
    Yes

    Sky Blue Credit coaches are on call to assist you with questions you have about the credit and credit repair process. Its education center is full of helpful resources and tutorials to help you know your credit better. It has a special mortgage preparation service for customers who want to focus their credit repair efforts on applying for a mortgage.

    Sky Blue Credit charges $79 upfront and $79 per month at the time of publishing. Couples (marriage not required) can sign up together for only $40 more for setup and per month. It uses a 35-day dispute cycle, which is 10 days faster than many other credit repair companies.

    • Option to skip a month
    • Couples discount
    • 90-day money-back guarantee
    • No credit monitoring service
    • No mobile app
    • Not as many dispute letter types available

    “They have a very polite and efficient staff that explains everything about their process and answers all questions. I never have to wonder what they're up to. The service is definitely worth the investment,” said one Maryland reviewer. Several other customers agreed that Sky Blue Credit was knowledgeable in credit repair and answered all questions clearly.

    However, a few customers complained that the credit repair services did not work fast enough.

    Best flexible payment options
    First work fee
    $19
    Monthly fee
    Varies
    Money-back guarantee
    No

    With The Credit People you can choose between a monthly package, which costs $19 to set up and $79 per month, or you can opt for the flat-rate plan, which includes six months of service for $419 and no setup fees ($74 savings) at the time of publishing. The flat-fee pricing comes with a full six-month satisfaction guarantee.

    As soon as you sign up, The Credit People send you your credit report. Within the first 60 days, you will see which actions have been taken to improve your credit. Many customers see a credit score improvement of 50 to 100 points.

    • Couples discount
    • Credit score monitoring
    • Unlimited disputes
    • Flat-rate not for everyone
    • No 24/7 customer support
    • No add-on services, like dispute letters

    “This actually does work. I had 13 items in collections, and was unable to pull my VA home loan,” said a reviewer from Iowa. “Only took them three months to repair, and I was able to purchase my home with the VA home loan.” Many reviewers had a similar experience, saying that The Credit People was able to remove many negative items from their credit reports.

    Individuals who did not see progress with their credit scores complained that The Credit People did not show proof of what they did.

    Best comprehensive services

    The Credit Pros

    First work fee
    $119 - $149
    Monthly fee
    Varies
    Money-back guarantee
    No

    The Credit Pros offers more services to its customers than the other companies we reviewed. Some packages come with ID theft restoration and insurance, along with unlimited dispute letters and goodwill letters. You will have someone working on your case three to five business days after you sign up.

    At the time of publishing, plans start at $69 per month with a $119 first work fee. However, this price is for its Money Management package, which does not include any credit bureau disputes. If you are looking for a company to work on your behalf to repair your credit, you will need the Prosperity or Success Plus plan, which cost $119 and $149 a month, respectively.

    • Team of FICO experts
    • Credit monitoring
    • Unlimited dispute letters
    • High first work fees
    • Low-tier package only for money management
    • Not available in all states

    “The reviews for The Credit Pros are mixed, with many rating the company 5 stars, like a reviewer from New Jersey. who wrote, “The Credit Pros went in and repaired so much that at the end of the year I was able to … refinance my home.”

    Note that a handful of negative reviewers felt that the company did nothing to improve their credit after 60 to 90 days.

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      What is credit repair?

      Credit repair is the process of disputing negative marks or inaccurate information on credit reports to get them removed. Sometimes called credit restoration, it involves challenging negative claims on your credit reports with the credit reporting bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax).

      Doing credit repair yourself is a lot of legwork, especially if you’re struggling with identity theft or have multiple marks to dispute. We suggest hiring a credit repair company if you have multiple and varied disputes.

      The most common derogatory marks targeted during credit repair include:

      • Fraudulent accounts
      • Delinquent accounts
      • Accounts in collections
      • Missing accounts
      • Data management errors
      • Incorrect personal information
      • Judgments
      • Expired debts
      • Unverified or invalidated debts
      • Foreclosure
      • Repossessions
      • Late payments
      • Hard inquiries
      • Charge-offs
      • Bankruptcy

      For many people, credit repair is essential to access financial services such as loans and credit cards. With an improved score, you increase your chances of qualifying for loans — and for better interest rates.

      How to choose the best credit repair company

      A credit repair company can help your credit score, but not all companies are the same. It is essential to work with legitimate companies that improve your credit each month.

      Consider these steps to find the best credit repair company for you:

      1. Read review
      As you compare reviews, keep an eye out for common issues such as unexpected fees, confusing or misleading advertising and suspected scams. Reading reviews from past clients can help you look for red flags.
      2. Ask questions
      Don’t hire a company that can’t answer specific questions about its credit repair services and prices. The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) makes it illegal for credit repair and credit restoration companies to lie about their results to consumers. Per CROA, credit repair companies must provide a contract in writing, and you can cancel the contract within three days if you change your mind for any reason.

      Make sure to ask direct questions about the company, including:

      • What is your cancellation policy?
      • Do you monitor all three credit reporting bureaus?
      • Do you have any certifications or accreditations?
      • Do you customize each dispute letter or use a blanket template?
      • How do you protect your clients’ privacy?
      3. Look for red flags
      Be wary of credit repair companies that make promises before your consultation — no company can guarantee how successful it’ll be before starting. Another concern is a company asking you to dispute accurate credit marks. Companies that demand large upfront payments before rendering services are usually operating credit repair scams.
      4. Set realistic expectations
      Review your credit report and have an idea of why you want to hire a credit repair expert before you request a free consultation. You must have realistic expectations about your credit repair situation, including cost and time frame. During your consultation, ask about the company’s previous cases and success rates.

      How does credit repair work?

      Many credit repair companies work with you to remove or appeal questionable and problematic items on your credit history. Sometimes inaccurate marks on your credit report are from credit bureau errors or faulty creditor reports. Common errors that a credit repair company looks for include incorrect inquiries and duplicate, inaccurate or missing accounts.

      Removing just a single negative item on your credit report can increase your credit score by more than 100 points. Note, though, that it can take anywhere from 30 days to one year to repair your credit and see your score increase.

      Credit repair strategies include sending goodwill adjustments to your creditor for late payments and cease-and-desist letters to debt collectors. In general, credit repair companies will follow this process:

      1. Pull your credit reports from all three credit reporting bureaus
      2. Analyze your credit reports for possible errors or mistakes
      3. Dispute errors on your behalf
      4. Confirm removal of negative marks if the credit reporting company finds the report is inaccurate

      Credit bureaus must send a notice of any corrections made to your report. Sometimes, a deleted dispute can reappear on your credit reports if the lender proves its claim is valid. If you find a derogatory mark reinserted on your credit reports, you can dispute it again.

      Note that you can repair your own credit by disputing errors, but many people like having a team of professionals work with them to fix their credit.

      Federal regulation for credit repair

      Federal laws make it illegal for credit repair companies to make false claims. The credit repair industry is also regulated by state governments. Most states require credit repair agencies to be bonded and insured. Some states also require them to have a licensed attorney on staff.

      If you believe a credit reporting agency or one of your creditors has violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you should submit a consumer report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

      FAQ section

      How much does credit repair cost?

      Credit repair costs vary by company, but expect to pay $70 to $200 for your setup fee and $70 to $149 per month of service. Some companies offer discounted flat rates or the option to pause your service when you need a break. You might also be eligible for discounts to reduce the cost.

      How long does it take to repair credit?

      It takes most people between six months and a year to repair their credit by themselves. If you hire a professional, the credit repair process typically takes between three and six months. However, even the best credit repair company cannot guarantee success within a specific amount of time.

      Is credit repair illegal?

      Credit repair isn’t illegal. The Fair Credit Billing Act, the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act give everyone the legal right to dispute inaccurate items on their credit reports with the credit bureaus and individual creditors.

      Does credit repair hurt your credit score?

      If a credit repair company is able to remove a legitimate inaccuracy from your credit report, you will see an improvement in your credit score.

      Is credit repair worth it?

      A credit repair company doesn’t technically do anything you can’t do yourself, but the service is worth it for many people who find the do-it-yourself credit repair process time-consuming and confusing. The best credit repair service combines financial education with proven techniques to remove negative items from your credit history. If your poor credit resulted from a complicated situation out of your control, such as identity theft, professional credit repair services save you time and effort.

      Methodology

      The ConsumerAffairs Research Team vetted 15 credit repair companies rated by more than 2,465 customers. To narrow it down, we considered only companies that dispute claims from all three credit reporting bureaus. We also excluded agencies that don’t offer free consultations for new clients.

      We then used a proprietary algorithm that takes into account the recency and length of reviews, among other information, to rank the top credit repair companies this year. To narrow it down again, we excluded companies with an overall satisfaction rating below 3.5.

      Our research team also analyzed 5-star review data from top-rated companies to find the best qualities of each.

      Not sure how to choose?

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