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If you have a poor credit score or have errors on your credit report that are holding you back, hiring a credit repair company can be one of the best financial decisions you can make.
Credit repair services work by analyzing your credit report to identify negative items that are hurting your credit score. Once the derogatory items are identified, credit repair companies will work on your behalf with your creditors and credit reporting bureaus in an attempt to get them removed.
But with so many credit repair agencies to choose from, picking the best company is not easy. To help you decide, we’ve reviewed the top credit repair services on a variety of factors including company reputation, reviews, price, and features.
If you’re ready to get your credit score back on track, here are the best credit repair companies to check out.
Top 7 Best Credit Repair Companies of 2022
1) Credit Saint: Best Company Overall
Credit Saint is a New Jersey-based credit repair agency helping people rebuild their credit since its beginning in 2004. In 2007, the company gained Better Business Bureau accreditation. Since then, the company has consistently maintained an “A” rating. You can get started by requesting a free consultation and speaking with a friendly and knowledgeable Credit Saint specialist.
Credit Saint works by challenging inaccurate items on your credit report to get them removed and prevent any further damage to your credit scores. If you qualify, the experts at Credit Saint will open an account for you on CreditSquad.com, which is another reputable credit monitoring and identity theft prevention company.
After that, a specialist will conduct an extensive analysis to identify inaccurate or incomplete items that negatively impact your credit scores. The Credit Saint team will also teach you credit score-building techniques and how to make better financial decisions in the future.
The Credit Saint system runs in 45-day cycles, with progress reports in between. Credit Saint offers three packages:
Credit Polish Package
- $79.99 monthly fee
- $99 initial work fee
- Five challenges per month
Credit Remodel Package
- $99.99 monthly fee
- $99 initial work fee
- 10 challenges per month
Clean Slate Package
- $119.99 monthly fee
- $195 initial work fee
- Unlimited challenges
- Experian monitoring
- Inquiry targeting
Standard Included Features
- Challenges to the three major credit bureaus
- Credit score analysis
- Creditor interventions
- Credit score tracker
Key Features: First, we have one important note: Credit Saint (and the other companies on our list) can’t indiscriminately wipe out any negative item on your credit report. Instead, the company helps people challenge and erase damaging items that are questionable, false, or otherwise inaccurate, including:
- Foreclosures.
- Hard inquiries.
- Bankruptcies.
- Late payments.
- Collections.
- Repossessions.
- Judgments.
- Liens.
With Credit Saint, you’ll also have access to an easy-to-use online dashboard where you can monitor your progress. Plus, Credit Saint offers a 90-day money-back guarantee. If the items in question are still on your credit report within 90 days, you’ll get a full refund.
Pros
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Free credit repair consultation
- Credit monitoring included
- Private dashboard to monitor progress
- BBB accredited
Cons
- First-work fees are a little higher than other companies
Click Here to Get A Free Consultation With Credit Saint
2) Lexington Law: Most Experienced Credit Repair Firm
If you’ve been researching the best credit repair companies, Lexington Law probably popped up in your search.
Founded in 2004 as a Utah law firm, Lexington Law boasts over 56 million removals from its clients’ credit reports. For this reason, it surprised us to learn that such a well-established company has a C rating from the Better Business Bureau and no accreditation. However, there’s no denying the fact that Lexington Law has helped millions of people repair their credit histories.
The Lexington Law credit repair specialists work with the three major credit bureaus to challenge inaccurate and harmful items on your credit report. The company can also help stop creditor harassment or excessive calls by sending out cease-and-desist letters on your behalf. The website states that the average client needs about six months of credit repair service, but it varies case-to-case.
Plan Options and Packages: Lexington Law offers three credit repair packages: Concord Standard, Concord Premier, and Premier Plus.
Concord Standard: Basic
- $89.85 monthly fee
- Credit bureau challenges
- Creditor interventions
Concord Premier: Intermediate
- $109.95 monthly fee
- Credit bureau challenges
- Creditor interventions
- ReportWatch
- TransUnion® alerts
- Free credit score analysis
- Inquiry assist
Premier Plus: Advanced
The Premier Plus package has all the features from the first two plans we listed but includes even more services:
- Cease and desist letters
- Personal finance tools
- Identity theft protection
- FICO® credit score tracker
Lexington Law has a ton of great features. You can start your credit rebuilding journey with a free consultation to determine if your credit history qualifies. In addition, Lexington Law is an actual law firm. The firm’s staff includes licensed lawyers and paralegals with extensive knowledge, one of whom will serve as your dedicated account manager.
The company’s mobile app (the number one credit repair app on Android and iOS) is another excellent feature and makes tracking your progress easy and convenient. Lexington Law also doesn’t charge any initial work fees, which is a nice perk.
Click Here to Get A Free Consultation With Lexington Law
3) CreditRepair.com: Best for a Free Credit Score Analysis
CreditRepair.com is another credit repair agency that can help you rebuild your credit. The Seattle, WA-based company boasts over 23 million challenges and over 7.5 million removals for its clients since it began in 2012. Although the company has successfully helped many people rebuild their credit in the last nine years, it’s not BBB-accredited and only has a D rating, or 2.14/5 stars.
CreditRepair.com works like many other credit repair agencies, providing services to dispute and remove incorrect items from your credit report by working with the credit bureaus. The company uses a three-step approach: Check, Challenge, and Change. It consists of checking your credit history for inaccuracies, challenging those items with the credit bureaus, and giving you the tools to change your credit score and learn better financial habits.
CreditRepair.com offers three credit repair packages: Direct, Standard, and Advanced.
Direct
- $69.95 monthly fee
- $69.95 first-work fee
- 15 monthly challenges
- Three monthly creditor disputes
- Inquiry assists
- Goodwill intervention
- Quarterly credit score updates
Standard
- $99.95 monthly fee
- $99.95 first-work fee
The Standard plan includes every feature from the Direct package and these additional credit repair services:
- Quarterly credit score analysis
- FICO® score inquiry assist service
- Hard inquiry challenging
- 24/7 credit monitoring
Advanced
- $119.95 monthly fee
- $119.95 first-work fee
- 19 monthly challenges
- Six monthly creditor disputes
- Goodwill intervention
- Monthly credit score updates
- FICO® score inquiry assist service
- Cease and desist interventions
- ID theft protection
- Personal finance tools
- 24/7 credit score monitoring
CreditRepair.com made our list as one of the best credit repair companies of 2021 because of its comprehensive package options and advanced credit reparation services. You can start the process with a free credit consultation and then choose one of the three service packages that will meet your needs best.
Next, download the mobile app, which offers a user-friendly dashboard and tons of convenient features with 24/7 account access. Unfortunately, CreditRepair.com doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee. However, veterans and active military personnel qualify for a 50% discount on the first-work fee.
Click Here to Get A Free Consultation With CreditRepair.com
4) Sky Blue Credit Repair: Best Value
Since 1989, the Boca Raton-based company Sky Blue Credit has been helping people everywhere repair their credit and build a better financial future. While Sky Blue Credit doesn’t have BBB accreditation, it maintains an A+ rating and has tons of glowing reviews from former customers.
As with most credit repair agencies, Sky Blue Credit offers a range of services and works with the major credit reporting agencies to help you dispute incorrect items on your credit report. You’ll also receive expert strategies and techniques for rebuilding your credit score and making smarter financial decisions in the future.
Sky Blue can also handle goodwill letters, debt validation, and even mortgage preparation. First, you’ll need to schedule your free consultation call. If you decide to use Sky Blue’s credit repair services, you can sign up immediately.
Sky Blue Credit only offers one package for its customers. However, it’s highly flexible and all-inclusive, especially for the low price.
Individual Service Package
- $0 upon signing up
- $79 review fee after six days
- $79 monthly fee after 30 days
Included Services
- 15 item disputes every 35 days (5 for each credit bureau)
- Advanced credit analysis
- Statute of limitations research
- Credit score building
- Cease and desist letters
- Debt validation letters
- Goodwill letters
- Debt settlement/negotiation
Sky Blue Credit offers a couple’s discount, too: standard pricing for one person and only $40 per month for the second person. The discount pricing consists of a $119 review/setup fee and a $119 monthly fee instead of $158 each.
Sky Blue Credit is one of the best credit repair services for people on a tight budget. You get more features with Sky Blue than you do with other credit repair agencies that charge the same $79 monthly fee. Plus, you don’t incur any extra charges for additional services or upgrades. You also gain access to the Best-In-Class Support team, which is full of credit repair professionals.
Another key feature is the company’s unconditional 90-day money-back guarantee: you can cancel within the first 90 days of signing up for a full refund. Users also love the ultra-convenient mobile app and user portal, which make it a cinch to monitor progress. You also have the option to pause your membership for a month.
Click Here to Get A Free Consultation With Sky Blue Credit
5) The Credit Pros: Reputable Service with Identity Theft Protection Included
Founded in 2009, The Credit Pros is a reputable credit repair business named by INC 5000 as the fastest-growing credit repair company for six years in a row. While the company doesn’t have BBB accreditation, it maintains a solid and respectable B rating. Also, the BBB has many positive reviews from prior or present clients who saw results and had an overall pleasant experience.
The Credit Pros use exclusive, AI-driven credit repair software for a highly advanced and technological approach to repair credit for its clients. You’ll get free credit reports with personalized score insights, tips, tricks, and techniques to build a positive credit history, as well as credit monitoring services with no additional fees. Plus, you’ll get a one-on-one action plan with one of the agency’s Certified FICO® Professionals.
The Credit Pros offer four packages for credit repair options: Credit Sentry Monitoring, Money Management, Prosperity, and Success.
Credit Sentry Monitoring
- $19 first-work fee
- $19 monthly fee
- TransUnion® credit score
- Credit monitoring
- Dark web monitoring
- Change of address monitoring
- Social security trace monitoring
- Payday monitoring
- Social network monitoring
Money Management
- $119 first-work fee
- $69 monthly fee
Money Management includes all the Credit Sentry Monitoring features and these additional services:
- Unlimited monthly disputes
- Bill reminder
- Budgeting system
- Snowball and avalanche debt systems
- TCP legal network
- Debt validation letters
- National Credit Direct line of credit
Prosperity Package
- $119 first-work fee
- $119 monthly fee
The Prosperity package includes all the features from the first two packages, plus a Slash Rx membership for up to 80% off prescriptions.
Success Package
- $149 first-work fee
- $149 monthly fee
You’ll get all the features we listed above, plus a $1,500 National Credit Direct line of credit, guaranteed.
One of the best features of The Credit Pros is its comprehensive packages and services (including a guaranteed line of credit with the Success package), though you will pay more for them. Unless you need every single feature, you might look for a cheaper alternative.
The Credit Pros also offer a 90-day money-back guarantee. However, it’s only valid if there have been no items removed from your credit report within the first 90 days of service or if you cancel within five days of signing up.
You can also download the app or use the client portal to track your progress, get notifications when your credit score changes, and view your credit reports. Users found the app excellent, with a 4.5/5 star rating for Android and iOS platforms.
Click Here to Get A Free Consultation With The Credit Pros
6) The Credit People: Best Guarantee
The Credit People stands out as another well-established credit repair service, boasting 20 years of experience in the credit repair industry. The company helps people raise their credit scores and removes harmful inaccuracies from their credit reports.
The Credit People has served over 100,000 prior customers, many of whom have found good results. However, the business maintains a C+ rating on the BBB and lacks accreditation.
Once you sign up, you can monitor your progress 24/7 from the online dashboard. The website says that you will see results within 60 days. However, a disclaimer states that most people see the best results within four to six months. As a plus, you’ll get all your initial credit scores free and a free credit report, too.
One reason why The Credit People made our list of the best credit repair companies is its affordable pricing options. You can choose between a monthly membership, or you can save money by prepaying a flat-rate fee:
Monthly Membership
- Pay $19 when you sign up
- $79 per month
Flat Rate Membership
- Six months for $419
- $74 in savings over monthly membership costs
Package Features:
- 24/7 account access
- Toll-free customer service support
- Score-driven results
- Unlimited disputes
- Creditor communication
- Free credit reports
- Debt validation
- Inquiry validation
- Certified FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act)
One feature that we love from The Credit People is its transparent pricing structure. If you prepay, you’ll save enough money to get almost one whole month for free ($74).
The Credit People also offers its risk-free Unbeatable Satisfaction Guarantee. Members on a monthly plan can cancel any time without being charged that month’s fee. The same risk-free guarantee applies to the flat-rate plan. However, members who’ve worked with another credit repair company in the last 180 days are ineligible.
Besides challenging, verifying, and correcting items on your credit report, The Credit People’s specialists also teach you how to improve your credit score. Ultimately, it’s a good credit repair company, and we like the guarantee, although we wish it guaranteed a full refund instead of just one month.
Click Here to Get A Free Consultation With The Credit People
7) Ovation Credit Repair Services by Lending Tree
Ovation Credit Services by Lending Tree is one of the most reputable credit repair companies on our list. With Better Business Bureau accreditation since 2004 and an A+ rating, Ovation has rave reviews from former clients. In addition, the credit repair company has helped over 120,000 people build their credit through an education-based approach, teaching better financial and spending habits.
The sign-up process starts with a free consultation to learn which services will work best for your needs. Once you sign up, you’ll meet your personal case advisor, who will perform an extensive analysis of your credit report and history to build a custom strategy for you. They’ll also dispute and challenge any incorrect items on your account with the three credit bureaus, ultimately improving your credit scores.
Ovation Credit Services offers two credit repair packages: Essentials and Essentials Plus.
Essentials Plan
- $89 first-work fee
- $79 monthly fee
- Personalized credit dispute options
- Team of expert credit advisors
- Personal finance tools
- Professional advice for credit score rebuilding
Essentials Plus Plan
- $89 first-work fee
- $109 monthly fee
The Essentials Plus plan includes all the features from the Essentials plan, plus a few extras:
- Unlimited disputes/challenges
- Unlimited goodwill letters
- Ovation recommendation letter to creditors
- TransUnion® credit monitoring
Ovation Credit Services is one of the best credit repair companies on our list for many reasons, including its stellar reputation, affordable service plans, money-back guarantee, and education-based approach. We also love that Ovation offers a ton of discounts:
- Competitive Upgrade: Members who have used another credit repair service in the last year qualify for a $50 credit.
- Tell-a-Friend: For every successful referral you make, you earn a $30 credit. Refer a couple to earn a $50 credit.
- Couples Discount: Couples’ sign-ups receive a 20% discount.
- Military Discount: All veterans and active-duty military members receive a 10% discount.
- Senior Discount: Senior citizens receive a 10% discount on their monthly fees.
Ovation Credit Services offers a no-risk refund policy for its members. If the company doesn’t provide the agreed-upon services during any month, you won’t have to pay the monthly fees.
How We Ranked the Top Credit Repair Services
When we were researching the top credit repair companies, we used a wide range of criteria and ranking factors to determine the legitimacy of each one. Take a look at the different elements we used for our review to help you find the best credit repair service for your unique financial needs:
Total Credit Repair Cost and Fees
Costs and fees are some of the most important factors we considered. Many credit repair companies charge first work fees, also known as “setup fees” or “review fees.” Credit repair companies charge these fees to circumvent the Credit Repair Organizations Act, which prohibits businesses in the industry from charging clients up front for services.
Before you choose a plan, make sure that you need all the credit reparation services included. If you don’t, find a cheaper alternative without the frills.
Credit Repair Methodology
We also looked at the methodology of each credit repair company on our list and how those specific methods can improve your credit score. As you know, companies in the credit repair industry work by evaluating your credit report for inaccurate items. Then, they contact the major credit bureaus to dispute those items and remove them.
Some credit repair companies also provide educational tools, credit monitoring, and techniques to repair your credit, build a good credit score, and implement better financial habits.
Credit Repair Reviews
Reviews and testimonials from prior clients were also important factors we considered when ranking the best credit repair companies. Some of the review sites we looked at include the Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Yelp.
We also looked at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for any registered complaints. The only two credit repair companies on our list with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaints were Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com.
Services Included
Perhaps the most critical factor to consider when researching the best credit repair company is the range of services included with each package. Don’t let a sales rep upsell you on a premium package with features you don’t need.
Before you start looking at packages, look closely at your credit report and write down a list of all the services you’ll need. Then, use that list as a guide when researching your credit repair options. Finally, look for the cheapest plan possible that still includes everything on your list.
Guarantee
The best credit repair companies offer a guarantee. While some credit repair companies promote a 90-day money-back guarantee labeled as “risk-free,” check for the catch before you hand over your credit card number.
Some credit score repair companies only honor guarantees if you haven’t had any removals on your credit reports within the first 90 days or haven’t worked with another credit repair company within the last six months. Always read the fine print before you make any decisions based on a guarantee.
How Do Credit Repair Companies Help Improve Your Credit Score?
The exact methodology may differ, but most companies in the credit repair industry work by removing incorrect or damaging items on your credit report to improve your credit score.
After you sign up, the first step in the credit repair process is requesting copies of your credit reports from the major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Next, the company will scour your credit reports to find incorrect items and then contact the original creditor and the credit reporting agencies we just listed to challenge or dispute the inaccuracies.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires creditors to supply accurate account information, which is why you can get incorrect items erased from your credit report. Some of the most common negative items that people remove from their credit reports include:
- Foreclosures.
- Hard inquiries (must be fraudulent).
- Bankruptcies.
- Late payments.
- Collections.
- Repossessions.
- Judgments.
- Liens.
- Charge-offs.
By removing those harmful items, companies can increase their clients’ credit scores. In addition, many credit repair companies offer credit monitoring, educational tips, and finance tools to help their members learn better budgeting, curb impulsive spending, and effectively manage debt.
What to Look for in the Best Credit Repair Services
Free Consultation
The best credit repair companies will offer a free consultation. It’s the industry standard and an excellent opportunity to determine which credit reparation services will improve your credit score and meet your unique needs. It offers a way to determine if you’re choosing the right credit repair company for your needs with no obligation to commit. All the companies on our list provide free consultations to potential customers.
Money-Back Guarantee
Most reputable credit repair companies have a money-back guarantee. But, beware: always read the fine print and requirements before you sign up. Many allegedly “risk-free” policies have hidden catches that prevent you from receiving a full refund or render you ineligible altogether. It will take a few minutes of your time, but you should check every last detail and disclaimer before you decide on the right credit repair company for your needs.
Credit Repair App to Monitor Progress
It may not seem that important, but a mobile app that lets you monitor your credit repair progress is a valuable tool. Not only does it provide convenience, but it’s a great way to stay on top of your credit score and get motivated about continuing your hard work. Plus, you’ll have all the most important information about your credit reports right at your fingertips.
Credit Monitoring
When researching and comparing your options to find the best credit repair company, always check to see if credit monitoring is an included service. Not every company offers this feature, which is crucial for tracking your credit score changes, evaluating your credit reports, and benchmarking progress. Only the best credit repair companies offer credit monitoring as a standard feature on every plan.
Positive Better Business Bureau Rating
You can also calculate credit repair companies’ worth and legitimacy by checking out the Better Business Bureau website to verify accreditation and read any complaints. The BBB is a valuable resource to leverage when comparing good credit repair companies and can provide information critical to your decision-making process. Remember, the most reputable credit repair company will have BBB accreditation and a high rating, with no registered complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Flexible Pricing Plans
Most people with bad credit scores don’t have a ton of money to spend on credit repair. That’s why finding a legitimate credit repair company that offers flexible pricing plans is a must. Unfortunately, many credit repair companies with low monthly rates ultimately get the money you’re “saving” anyway by charging exorbitant initial work fees.
To get the best value, look for the top credit repair companies that offer all-inclusive plans with free additional features or upgrades, like advanced credit repair software, credit monitoring, or identity theft insurance.
Because of the Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies cannot charge for services they haven’t performed yet. That’s why so many companies charge high initial work fees, which is a loophole for them to get money up front before providing you with a credit repair service.
How to Determine if a Company Offers Legitimate Credit Repair Services
How can you tell the difference between legitimate credit repair companies and scam artists? Unfortunately, credit repair scams are all too common, and should you fall prey to one, you’ll end up in a worse position than you were in before.
For starters, always do your research! Sometimes, a cursory look is all it takes to ferret out a scam. Remember, reputable credit repair services will have a positive BBB rating and no complaints in the CFPB database. They’ll also have a guarantee or refund policy available for their clients. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) lists these red flags you should watch out for that often indicate fraud or a scam regarding credit repair companies:
- Dissuades you from contacting the credit bureaus yourself
- Asks for sizeable sums of money up front before rendering services
- Glosses over the fine print or your legal rights during your consultation
- Encourages you to put down false information on a loan or credit application
- Pressures you to challenge accurate items on your credit report
- Promises to remove any type of negative item on your credit reports
Frequently Asked Questions
What do credit repair companies do?
Most credit repair companies work in the same way, by evaluating your credit reports for false or inaccurate items that negatively affect your credit score. The credit repair company you choose will work with the major credit bureaus and the original creditors to dispute and remove incorrect items from your credit report.
Many companies also provide expert advice and techniques to help you build a good credit score, control your spending, create and follow a budget, and make smarter decisions for financial stability.
However, every company has its own methods and techniques for repairing credit. The best way to determine which is the best credit repair company for your needs is to make a list of all the services you’ll require to build your credit score back up. Then, compare those services with pricing, reviews, available discounts, etc., to find the best possible deal instead of choosing blindly.
How long does it take to repair your credit?
Unsurprisingly, there’s no shortcut or cure-all to repair your credit and raise your credit score. Also, the amount of time it will take to improve your credit depends on the complexity and severity of your credit issues. Some clients see results in 90 days, others find improvement in four to six months, and still others may need a year or more to see the best results.
However, the amount of time it will take to rebuild your credit will take even longer if you don’t get started on the process right away. It will take hard work and commitment, but the results will be worth it in the end.
What is the average cost of credit repair?
The average cost of credit repair depends on a few factors:
- The complexity of your case
- The company you work with
- Monthly fees on the package you choose
- How many negative items are on your credit report
Most credit repair packages cost between $69 and $149 per month. However, many companies also charge an initial work fee. The fee usually ranges between $69 to $149 and is payable before you receive services.
Can legitimate credit repair companies guarantee results?
No reputable credit repair service should ever guarantee results. The Credit Reporting Organizations Act prevents credit repair companies from misrepresenting or overstating the extent of their services or promising results. One such example would be a company claiming that they can remove negative items from your credit report, even when the items are accurate (e.g., late payments or overspending).
Can credit repair help with identity theft?
If you’ve been the victim of identity theft, a credit repair company can most definitely help you. The FCRA is what provides recourse in the event someone steals your identity. If you send a request to the major credit bureaus to block reporting on accounts where someone has stolen your identity, they have only four days to comply with your request.
Can credit repair companies help remove hard inquires?
Yes, a credit repair company can remove hard inquiries from your credit report. However, this only applies to hard inquiries that are the result of fraud. Any other type of hard inquiry to your credit is not eligible for removal.
Is hiring a credit repair company really worth it?
Yes, hiring a credit repair company to help you improve your score and rebuild positive credit is worth it. While there’s no guarantee, credit repair companies have helped millions of Americans rebuild their credit.
If you have multiple inaccurate and harmful items on your credit report, then hiring a reputable credit repair service is an excellent idea. You get help from an industry expert who knows what it takes to negotiate with creditors and work with credit reporting agencies to dispute incorrect items and boost your credit score.
Final Thoughts
We hope that our review of the best credit repair companies has helped you with your decision-making process on which credit repair service will suit your needs best. Of course, investing in credit repair is no light decision, but if you’re willing to put in the work and make a commitment, you can reap some fantastic rewards.
Take advantage of every free consultation you can to determine which company will work best for you. With the right credit repair company, you can increase your credit score, learn smarter money habits, and lay the foundation for a stable financial future in the long term.