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Being overwhelmed by debt is stressful, but a credit repair service might be able to help. These companies work on your behalf with creditors and the three major credit bureaus to help remove questionable items from your credit reports and improve your credit score.
To choose the best credit repair companies, we evaluated 17 credit repair services in the following categories: costs and fees (40.5%), services offered (34%), customer experiences (22.5%), and stability (3%). Some credit repair companies only work with one or two of the major credit bureaus, but each company on our list works with all three—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Best Credit Repair Companies of 2023
- Best Overall: The Credit Pros
- Most Aggressive Timeline: The Credit People
- Best Simple Credit Repair Options: Credit Saint
- Most Experienced: Sky Blue Credit
- Best for Dispute Services: CreditFirm.net
- Best Customer Experience: CreditRepair.com
- Best for Transparency: Lexington Law
- Best for Additional Services: Credit Assistance Network
Best Overall : The Credit Pros
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The Credit Pros
- Monthly disputes: Unlimited
- Lowest monthly fee: $129
- Lowest first work fee: $129
The Credit Pros is our choice for Best Overall thanks to its credit-builder loan and line of credit, along with being top-notch for most of the other criteria we reviewed. Prospective clients get a free credit repair consultation to help them decide which of the company's three packages is best for them.
While Credit Pros doesn’t specify which types of letters it will send to the credit bureaus or creditors on your behalf, it does get to work quickly. New customers can expect this company to start working on their credit just three to five business days after signing up, and you can track progress through the Credit Pros mobile app or online portal.
Credit builder loan available
Mobile app
Offers money-back guarantee
$5,000 line of credit with National Credit Direct available
No debt management program available
Higher cost than some competitors
The Money Management plan offered by Credit Pros (which doesn't actually include any credit repair services) costs $69 per month. The next level, Prosperity, costs $129 per month and does include credit repair. Customers who need significant assistance can also opt for its Success Plus plan for $149 per month.
To be eligible for a credit builder loan you'll need to sign up for the Success Plus plan, and then apply. Credit-builder loans are a bit like reverse loans—you make the payments first, and then you get the money. Make all your payments on time, and you'll wind up with a loan account on your credit reports in good standing, which can help improve your credit. Credit Pros' credit builder loan reports to all three major credit bureaus.
According to customer support, the $5,000 line of credit is available with the Money Management plan; this is less useful than the credit builder loan because it only reports to Experian. That means it won't show up on your TransUnion and Equifax credit reports. And this line of credit is quite limited, as it can only be used for purchases with the National Credit Direct store.
As a Credit Pros customer, you’ll get access to TransUnion credit monitoring, so if there are changes to your report you’ll be alerted quickly. All packages also come with budgeting and bill payment tools, as well as identity theft protection. And with its Success Plus plan, you’ll get unlimited credit bureau disputes, creditor interventions, access to your credit reports and scores with all three bureaus, and a credit-builder loan.
For more information, see the full Credit Pros Credit Repair review.
Most Aggressive Timeline : The Credit People
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The Credit People
- Monthly disputes: Unlimited
- Lowest monthly fee: $79
- Lowest first work fee: $19
Unlike some competitors that offer vague timelines highlighting customer results, The Credit People will begin work almost immediately, and the company indicates that some customers will see results within just 60 days. It also provides your credit scores and reports right after you sign up, so you understand your credit situation when you start. Having this starting point can be helpful for gauging your progress over time.
Money-back guarantee
Competitive pricing
Offers free credit consultation
No mobile app
Doesn’t offer a debt management program
No identity theft insurance
The Credit People offers a free credit repair consultation and one service package with three payment options. Customers can choose to pay $79 per month, $99 per month, or $499 per year. Its service package includes unlimited disputes, a credit analysis, creditor interventions, monthly score updates, and credit monitoring. However, identity theft insurance and debt management solutions aren’t offered. If you’re unhappy with its annual service, the company offers a six-month satisfaction guarantee.
Clients can reach out to Credit People customer service over email, by phone, and through live chat or support ticketing. The website offers helpful educational materials, and you can view your progress in an online portal. But there’s no mobile app available.
For more information, see the full Credit People Credit Repair review.
Best Simple Credit Repair Options : Credit Saint
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Credit Saint
- Monthly disputes: Limited
- Lowest monthly fee: $79.99
- Lowest first work fee: $99
Credit Saint offers a comprehensive package for simple credit repair needs, designed for those who may not require all the bells and whistles of the more expensive plans. The company also has a long history, a strong reputation, and an excellent 90-day money-back guarantee.
90-day money-back guarantee
Three credit repair packages
Transparent pricing
Not available in all states
Relatively high first work fee
Credit Saint has been in business since 2004. The website features rankings from various personal finance websites, and its services include a personal advisory team and ongoing credit education.
Credit Saint's three levels of credit repair provide customers with a clear-cut path to becoming more creditworthy. The basic Credit Polish package might offer everything you need, or you may have to go with a higher tier.
Credit Polish | Credit Remodel | Clean Slate |
---|---|---|
Aggressiveness: Medium | Aggressiveness: High | Aggressiveness: Very High |
$99 first work fee, $79.99 per month | $99 first work fee, $99.99 per month | $195 first work fee, $119.99 per month |
Challenges to three bureaus | Everything from Credit Polish | Everything from Credit Remodel |
Score tracker | Score analysis/tracker | Inquiry targeting |
Credit Saint offers a free consultation by phone, during which you can discuss which package is right for you. After that, you'll have online access and phone support throughout the process. Credit Saint provides credit monitoring through Credit Squad so you can make sure things are going in the right direction.
Read the full Credit Saint review.
Most Experienced : Sky Blue Credit
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Sky Blue Credit
- Monthly disputes: Unlimited
- Lowest monthly fee: $99
- Lowest first work fee: $99
Sky Blue was founded in 1989 and is one of the most well-established credit repair services available. It provides all the services you’d expect, including credit repair, credit monitoring, unlimited disputes, and a debt management program that can help you improve your financial habits.
Offers 90-day guarantee
Easy to cancel membership
Transparent pricing
Only one service plan
No mobile app
No live chat available
Sky Blue offers a single-service plan with competitive pricing. Customers pay $99 per month, plus a $99 first work fee. In addition to credit monitoring, repair, disputes, and debt management, you’ll also get extra services like cease and desist letters, goodwill letters, and an identity theft consultation at no added cost.
While Sky Blue offers a generous array of features and services, it provides fewer customer service options than some competitors. Clients can connect with customer service over the phone, via email, and by getting a support ticket. But it doesn’t offer live chat or a mobile app, which is surprising given that the company has been in business so long. Sky Blue also has some recent complaints with the CFPB, where unhappy customers mention issues with customer service and incorrect account information.
For more information, see the full Sky Blue Credit Repair review.
Best for Dispute Services : CreditFirm.net
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CreditFirm.net
- Monthly disputes: Unlimited
- Lowest monthly fee: $49.99
- Lowest first work fee: $49.99
CreditFirm.net is our top choice for dispute services among credit repair companies. Not only does it send unlimited dispute letters on your behalf, but it will dispute issues with creditors and credit bureaus in several different ways, including sending debt validation, goodwill, and cease-and-desist letters. It also conducts CFPB investigations on behalf of clients, and provides identity theft assistance.
Relatively low monthly fees
Offers free consultation
Can cancel anytime
No identity theft insurance available
Does not offer mobile app
No live chat feature
CreditFirm.net, which was founded in 1997, only offers one plan for its customers, which costs $49.99 per month. The plan includes a credit analysis, unlimited disputes, goodwill letters, inquiry challenges, and credit monitoring. Plus, you’ll get a personal credit consultant assigned to your account, which can be useful because they’ll already have insight into your case if you have any questions.
While CreditFirm.net offers customer service via phone, email, and support ticket, live chat is not available. It also does not offer a mobile app for clients. Still, the company doesn’t have any recent complaints with the CFPB.
For more information, see the full CreditFirm.net Credit Repair review.
Best Customer Experience : CreditRepair.com
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CreditRepair.com
- Monthly disputes: Limited
- Lowest monthly fee: $49.95
- Lowest first work fee: $49.95
CreditRepair.com is our top choice for the best customer experience. Not only does it offer customer-friendly pricing, but it also provides several ways to connect with customer service, including phone, email, support ticket, and live chat. Clients can also get a free credit consultation when they sign up and track their progress through the company’s mobile app.
The CFPB has proposed a settlement with a group of companies operating some of the largest credit repair brands in the country, including CreditRepair.com, requiring them to pay a fine of $2.7 billion and banning them from telemarketing credit repair services for 10 years. The companies collected illegal advance fees through telemarketing, violating federal law. More than four million consumers have been cheated, the CFPB said.
Free credit consultation available
Has mobile app
Offers accessible customer service
No money-back guarantee
Similar to several competitors, CreditRepair.com offers tiered service packages. Its Direct package costs $69.95 and comes with bureau disputes, inquiry interventions, goodwill letters, and quarterly credit score updates. With a $99.95-per-month Standard package, you get the features of the Direct plan plus FICO Score inquiry assistance, which lets you dispute items on your own. Its highest-tier Advanced package costs $119.95 per month and comes with Direct plan features, monthly credit scores, and more dispute options.
CreditRepair.com’s parent company, Progrexion Holdings, has several complaints with the CFPB, some of which mention CreditRepair.com (Lexington Law is another subsidiary of Progrexion). Dissatisfied customers complain about excessive fees and issues canceling their service. Despite these complaints, CreditRepair.com could be worth considering if you’re seeking relatively affordable services and accessible customer representatives.
For more information, see the full CreditRepair.com review.
Best for Transparency : Lexington Law
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Lexington Law Credit Repair
- Monthly disputes: 3 per 45–60 days
- Lowest monthly fee: $59.95
- Lowest first work fee: $59.95
Lexington Law is our top pick for transparency, as its website and customer representatives are very forthcoming with information. While many credit repair company websites lack details about plans and features, Lexington Law provides informative descriptions of its services and outlines the three-step process it uses to repair your credit. Plus, it offers a detailed frequently asked questions page and a free consultation for new clients where a representative can answer any questions you might have.
The CFPB has proposed a settlement with a group of companies operating some of the largest credit repair brands in the country, including Lexington Law, requiring them to pay a fine of $2.7 billion and banning them from telemarketing credit repair services for 10 years. The companies collected illegal advance fees through telemarketing, violating federal law. More than four million consumers have been cheated, the CFPB said.
Free consultation for new customers
Multiple discounts available
Identity theft insurance included
Only 3 disputes per 45–60 days
No business credit services available
Doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee
Lexington Law’s website offers three-tiered plans based on your level of need. Those seeking minor credit repair might opt for its Lexington Essentials or Concord Standard plan, which cost $59.95 per month and $95.95 per month, respectively. If you need moderate credit help, the $119.95 per month Concord Premier plan may be a good option. And those seeking significant assistance might choose the Premier plan for $139.95 per month. Each plan comes with bureau challenges and creditor interventions, and higher-tier plans offer added services like TransUnion alerts, credit score analysis, and credit monitoring.
While Lexington Law does have several complaints with the CFPB, it also offers accessible customer service. You can reach out to customer representatives via email, phone, support ticket, or live chat. You can also review your progress through the Lexington Law mobile app or online portal.
For more information, see the full Lexington Law Credit Repair review.
Best for Additional Services : Credit Assistance Network
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Credit Assistance Network
- Monthly disputes: Unlimited
- Lowest monthly fee: $49
- Lowest first work fee: Not available online
The Credit Assistance Network has been helping its customers repair their credit since 2004. While it offers many of the services you’d expect from a credit repair company, including dispute, debt validation, and goodwill letters, customers also get credit monitoring and alerts, identity theft protection, and access to personal finance tools. (Rather than providing services itself, Credit Assistance Network connects you with other companies; for credit repair, you’ll end up signing up with one of several affiliates.)
Free credit consultation available
Offers money-back guarantee
Flexible cancellation policy
No live chat support
Limited educational resources
No mobile app
Credit Assistance Network offers three service plans: Money Management ($49 per month), Prosperity Package ($119 per month), and Success Package ($149 per month). The Money Management plan comes with all of the services we discussed above, while the higher-tier plans come with added features like medication discounts and guaranteed lines of credit.
This company’s suite of services is appealing, but its customer service is somewhat lacking. Customer representatives can be reached via phone, email, and support ticket. But there’s no live chat or mobile app available, and its website doesn’t offer many educational resources. There aren’t many customer reviews of the company online, either.
For more information, see the full Credit Assistance Network Credit Repair review.
Final Verdict
Our top pick for credit repair is The Credit Pros, which has standard pricing and many tools to help you repair and rebuild your credit. In addition to contacting credit bureaus and creditors on your behalf, The Credit Pros offers credit-builder loans, TransUnion credit monitoring, and lines of credit, all of which you can discuss during a free consultation.
Our other top choices cover a wide variety of needs. If you're in a hurry, for example, The Credit People offers the most aggressive timeline, while CreditFirm can help if you have a variety of dispute needs. To effectively rebuild your credit, take the time to find the right company for your specific situation.
Repairing Your Credit on Your Own
If you’d prefer not to work with a credit repair service, you can repair your credit on your own. While this process can take time, it could be worth it for those who have minor credit issues that need fixing. All three credit bureaus let you dispute inaccurate or incomplete information on your credit reports, and you can choose to dispute online or by mail. Most also offer dispute letter templates that you can download and use.
Credit Bureau | File Dispute Online | File Dispute By Mail |
---|---|---|
Equifax | https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute/ | Equifax Information Services, LLC P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374-0256 |
Experian | https://www.experian.com/disputes/main.html | Experian P.O. Box 4500 Allen, TX 75013 |
TransUnion | https://www.transunion.com/credit-disputes/dispute-your-credit | TransUnion Consumer Solutions P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 |
Working on your financial habits can also help improve your credit over time. You might start by using a budgeting tool and looking at your finances to develop a budgeting system that works. This way, you’ll have a good idea of money coming in every month and how you’re spending it. Many budgeting tools also have bill tracking and payment features, which can be useful if you’re trying to stay on track with payments.
If you’re interested in repairing your credit on your own, check out these resources:
- The 5 Biggest Factors That Affect Your Credit
- How to Read a Consumer Credit Report
- Inside Credit Repair: What You Need to Know to Fix Your Credit
- How to Use a Credit Card to Build Credit
Compare the Best Credit Repair Companies
Company | Starting Monthly Fee | First Work Fee | Monthly Disputes |
---|---|---|---|
The Credit Pros Best Overall | $129 | $129 | Unlimited |
Credit Saint Best Simple Credit Repair Options | $79.99 | $99 | Limited |
SkyBlue Credit Most Experienced | $99 | $99 | Unlimited |
The Credit People Most Aggressive Timeline | $79 | $19 | Unlimited |
CreditFirm.net Best for Dispute Services | $49.99 | $49.99 | Unlimited |
CreditRepair.com Best Customer Experience | $49.95 | $49.95 | Limited |
Lexington Law Best for Transparency | $59.95 | $59.95 | 3 per 45–60 days |
Credit Assistance Network Best for Additional Services | $49 | Not available online | Unlimited |
Guide to Choosing the Best Credit Repair Company
As you shop around for credit repair companies, you’ll likely notice that different companies offer slightly different services, pricing, and customer service options. Here’s what to look for as you compare options and narrow down your choices.
How Do Credit Repair Companies Work?
Credit repair companies will engage with the credit bureaus and creditors to help get misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate information removed from your credit reports. The goal is to clean up your credit history and improve your credit score.
While a credit repair company typically doesn’t do anything you can’t do on your own, these services can be helpful if you need significant assistance with your credit. For instance, if you have several accounts to deal with or lots of errors on your credit reports, a credit repair company could be a good option for you. Disputing all of the issues on your own may be too time-consuming or overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with significant financial stress.
How to Compare Credit Repair Companies
There are several factors to compare as you shop around for the right credit repair services, including:
- Services offered: Review which services each credit repair company offers. For instance, some might offer credit repair and credit monitoring, while others offer additional services like debt management plans or identity theft protection.
- Cost: Compare the cost of services, including both monthly and first work fees. Look into any discounts available to help lower the cost of services.
- Number of monthly disputes: Certain credit repair companies may offer unlimited disputes, while others provide a specific number of disputes per month. Consider your needs and the number of disputes offered as you research companies.
- Credit bureau coverage: Look at which credit bureaus each company works with. It’s a good idea to choose a company that works with all three major bureaus if you need items removed from your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports (most companies work with all three).
- Free credit consultation: Many credit repair services offer free credit consultations for new customers. These consultations can provide helpful guidance and insight into the services offered and what you should reasonably expect.
- Guarantees: Certain companies offer money-back guarantees for a set timeframe, often 30, 60, or 90 days. See if the companies you’re considering offer any guarantees in case you’re dissatisfied with the services, because it can be difficult to know what will come of attempted credit repair.
How to Verify a Legitimate Credit Repair Company
If you’re thinking about working with a credit repair service, it’s important to choose a reputable option. Unfortunately, there are some shady companies in this industry eager to take advantage of financially vulnerable consumers, so doing your due diligence is essential.
Each company on our list is reputable and abides by Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) regulations, but if you’d like to shop around further, you can start by looking at the CFPB Complaint Database. This database lets you review complaints about companies that consumers have logged with the CFPB since 2011. However, a lack of complaints doesn’t necessarily indicate a good company reputation—a company must respond to a complaint for it to be listed on the CFPB, so companies can avoid listings by not responding.
While it may be tempting to use services like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research companies, that’s generally not the best approach. Companies can pay to become accredited on the BBB platform, which could make them seem more legitimate than they actually are.
If you suspect a credit repair company you’ve come across is scamming customers or otherwise engaged in fraud, you can report them to the FTC.
How to Find a Credit Repair Company Near You
Some people prefer to work with local companies rather than connect with a company online. While discussing issues about your credit can feel embarrassing, a recommendation from a trusted loved one may provide peace of mind that the company you’re working with is legitimate.
As you compare options, search for company complaints in the CFPB database, review company websites and contact information, and research consumer review sites for insight. If possible, opt for companies that offer a free consultation so you can get a better sense of their services.
Working with a local company can be helpful if you’d like to speak with someone in person. But be aware that your options may be more limited depending on where you’re located.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Using a Credit Repair Company Worth It?
Using a credit repair company can be worth it if you’re overwhelmed by the idea of fixing your credit on your own—or you simply don’t have the time to do so. While these services come at a cost, this expense can be worth it. Knowing someone is working on your behalf can give you much-needed peace of mind.
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What’s the Fastest Way to Repair Your Credit?
Working with a credit repair service may be the fastest way to repair your credit if you need significant assistance. While these services generally don’t provide a set timeframe for improvement, many will start working on your credit right after you sign up. However, even if a company starts work quickly, it can still take a few months or even longer to see changes in your credit reports and score.
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Can Credit Repair Companies Remove Bankruptcies and Collections?
Yes, it’s possible for credit repair companies to remove bankruptcies and collection accounts in certain instances. If you’ve paid off the debt, they could send a goodwill deletion request on your behalf. Or, if the account information is inaccurate or outdated, the credit repair service could file a dispute letter to get it removed. For instance, Chapter 13 bankruptcies are supposed to be removed from your credit reports after seven years.
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How Do Credit Repair Companies Help?
A credit repair company contacts the credit reporting bureaus on your behalf to remove information that is inaccurate or outdated. Over time, this improves your credit report and score. Many companies also offer additional services to help you rebuild and maintain your credit, such as credit monitoring, budgeting tools, and identify theft protection.
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How Do You Choose a Credit Repair Company?
To choose a credit repair company, look for one that has been around long enough to have a reliable track record of helping customers. You can look online to see whether customers are satisfied or have registered complaints with any federal agencies or business watchdogs. Many companies will also offer a free consultation; this can help you understand the company's process and timeline and get your questions answered before you commit to purchasing a service.
Methodology
We evaluated 17 credit repair companies and collected over 600 data points before selecting our top choices. We weighed 39 criteria, giving the highest weights to those that are the most significant for customers.
The top picks were selected based on:
- Costs and fees (weighted 40.5% in total)
- Services offered (34%)
- Customer experience (22.5%)
- Stability (3%)
We took into account factors like how many disputes will be sent per month, what kinds of dispute letters will be sent, cancellation and return policies, and how long companies have been in business. This information was used in our company's star ratings and best picks.
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