The 7 Best Credit Repair Companies of October 2021

Lexington Law

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Repair My Credit

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Pros

• AI software analyzes your credit reports to identify negative items
• Automatically generates dispute letters based on your credit situation
• Keeps track of your credit score and disputes with an easy-to-read dashboard
• Monthly plans include identity theft insurance

Cons

• You must mail the dispute letters yourself
• No credit experts to assist you
• No money-back guarantee
• No credit consultations

Even though you can repair bad credit yourself, at no cost, the process can be time-consuming and stressful.

Credit repair software, Credit Versio, can help streamline this process.

The company’s software uses artificial intelligence to scan your credit reports for negative items that are lowering your credit score. It then organizes them according to the credit bureau that reported it.

If you find a mistake and would like to dispute it, the software can generate tailored dispute letters based on your credit information and the reason you believe that item is inaccurate. All you have to do is print out the letter and mail it to the credit bureau.

Credit Versio offers three plans that include unlimited dispute letters and monthly credit reports and scores. Two plans give you access to SmarCredit’s credit monitoring platform. The most expensive plan gives you access to IdentityIQ, an identity theft protection service.

By connecting to these services, Credit Versio can keep track of any changes to your credit report in case you need to send out more dispute letters.

Other Credit Repair Companies We Considered

As we researched the credit repair industry, there were some companies that didn’t quite meet the standards we’d set. These are some of them:

CreditRepair.com

Pros

• Simple process
• Educational blog

Cons

• Zero info about their staff’s qualifications
• Pending legal action from the CFPB
• Unclear information on their three plans

AMB Credit Consultants

Pyramid Credit Repair

Pros

• 50% discount for couples on their first month
• 90-day money-back guarantee
• Extended customer service hours
• No upfront fees

Cons

• More expensive than the industry average
• Higher than average fees
• Expensive one-time enrollment fee of $149
• Not available in some states
• Sparse information

Pinnacle Credit Repair

Pros

• Two Fast Track options for results within 15 or 60 days
• Fast Track Elite option gives access to personal credit mentor
• Connects account members to their network of lending partners

Cons

• Fast Track tier costs between $1,500 and $2,500
• High first-work fee of $199
• No free consultation available
• Limited information on the website

Creditfirm.net

Pros

• Low monthly fee of $49.99
• Cancel any time
• Unlimited disputes to creditors
• 24/7 service

Cons

• Monthly credit monitoring not available
• No guarantee
• No debt settlement services
• Outdated website makes it hard to navigate
• Customers must send in credit reports themselves

Credit Assistance Network

Pros

• Cancel anytime
• No flat monthly payment, as you pay for concrete results
• Issues cease and desist letters to collection agencies

Cons

• High first work fee of $179 per individual, and $279 per couple
• Complicated pay structure charges fees for each deletion
• No monitoring
• Contradictory and false information on its website
• Unsecured website

Credit Glory

Pros

• 24/7 customer support
• Two options for victims of identity theft
• 90-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• High first-work fee of $199
• Only removes negative items
• No credit monitoring
• Won’t pull your credit report

Credit Repair Guide

What To Know Before You Pay for a Credit Repair Company

Credit repair takes time

It can take from three months to a year to see an improvement in your credit report.

Not all negative information can be removed

Late or missed payments, hard inquiries, charge-offs, repossessions and debt collections can only be removed if the information is inaccurate or outdated.

You should stay away from companies that guarantee they can remove accurate information from your report or promise you a new credit identity, for example. For steps on how to deal with negative items that cannot be removed, read our guide on how to repair bad credit.

You have to do some of the legwork

You may have to provide credit repair agencies with documentation to support disputes of negative information on your credit report.

Most companies have setup fees

Most credit repair companies charge an initial fee (also called setup or first work fee) that can range anywhere between $15 to $200. This fee is used to set up your account, which may involve gathering your personal and financial information and creating a strategy plan for your particular credit situation.

Credit repair companies can’t charge you in advance for their services

Once you pay the setup fee (if required), companies can’t make any additional charges unless they prove that the services offered to you in contract are being fulfilled.

Legitimate credit repair companies should include a copy of the Consumer Credit File Rights

Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), credit repair companies must give you a written contract outlining their services before receiving any payment from you. The agencies must also give you a copy of the “Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law,” a document that is meant to inform you of your right to order credit reports and dispute inaccurate information yourself.

You have the right to cancel any services without incurring any penalties within 3 business days

The CROA also states that you have the right to back out of a contract within three business days without any charges or cancellation fees. This is also stipulated by the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC)’s Cooling-Off Rule.

How Credit Repair Agencies Work

Each credit repair company has its own way of doing things, but most of them follow a four-step process:

Free Consultation.

The credit repair company will walk you through the process, pull your credit reports from all three bureaus and determine if you’d be a good candidate for credit repair.

Limited power of attorney and written consent.

The company’s representatives will inform you if they find mistakes in your file, and send you a written contract giving them limited power of attorney, that is, the legal right to act on your behalf.

Challenge items.

With your legal consent, the company goes on to dispute inaccuracies with your creditors and the major credit bureaus. Once they’re notified, credit reporting agencies must then investigate within 30 days of receiving a dispute. Once they confirm them as errors, they’ll remove them from your credit profile.

Progress reports.

A good credit repair company will track the disputes’ progress and update you on the status of each disputed item. They will usually send progress reports along with an updated copy of your credit report so you can review the changes.

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How to choose the right credit repair company

Check for Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) compliance

CROA establishes clear directives that legitimate credit repair agencies should follow, and it’s important to ensure the company you choose is compliant in every step of the process.

Companies must provide a written contract explaining in detail the services they will provide, how long it will take for them to get results, any guarantees they offer and the total credit repair cost for their services.

You have the right to walk away without penalty within three days of signing the contract if it does not satisfy your requirements.

Read customer reviews

Sources like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Yelp are useful starting points in gauging customer experience. They each have their own way of offering feedback and evaluating companies, with the BBB giving an A-to-F grading system and Yelp offering its well-known star ratings, for example.

These websites are helpful, but we recommend complementing what you read with further research — after all, most people post reviews when they’re unhappy with a service, not when they’re satisfied.

Having said that, if you read multiple reviews alleging similar types of issues, you should certainly consider it a red flag.

In our search for the best credit repair companies, we focused on those that received mostly positive consumer feedback across multiple review websites.

Check the Regulatory Agencies

The credit repair industry is tightly regulated and must abide by the provisions of multiple consumer protection laws.

One of the agencies overseeing the industry is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal organization that protects consumers from fraudulent or predatory practices by banks, lenders or any type of financial institution — including credit repair companies.

When searching for the right credit repair company, it’s a good idea to check the CFPB complaint database and check how many complaints — if any — have been filed against the company you’re considering.

Compare fees and turnaround times

Reputable credit repair companies will list their prices and services clearly, so consumers can select the right package for their needs easily. Turnaround time should be reasonable, and the company must keep you updated about the progress.

Look for personal finance tools

Besides their standard credit repair services, many credit repair companies include features like financial tools, guidance and expert advice, satisfaction guarantees, credit monitoring, and identity theft protection services.

A free credit consultation can be particularly useful, because you can get a professional evaluation before committing to the service.

Difference between debt settlement, credit repair and credit counseling

As we said above, there are different ways to repair your credit.
Debt settlement, credit repair and credit counseling are all in the personal finance sphere, but it’s important to note the key differences between the three services.

If you’re interested in using a credit counselor, The National Foundation for Credit Counseling offers low-cost debt counseling, debt consolidation, and debt management plans.

7 Warning Signs of a Credit Repair Scam

The credit repair industry has had its share of controversies and scams. It’s important to recognize the red flags indicating a company or agent you’re dealing with might be engaging in some questionable practices.

Getty; Money

DIY Credit Repair

Credit repair companies are helpful if you can afford the service and don’t have the time to dispute the items. However, do note that you can fix your own credit — and at no cost. There are also ways to improve your credit score without the help of a credit repair agency.

Free credit reports from the three main credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — are available at AnnualCreditReport.com. Once you examine your reports for any discrepancies or errors, you can go to each bureau’s website and file an online dispute. They will investigate within 30 days and, if they confirm it’s a mistake, will delete the item from your report.

They might also delete items from your report if your debtor cannot validate the debt and is unable to provide evidence that the debt belongs to you.

If you’d like to try it, it’s important to really know how to read a credit report. Once you have that down, check out our guide on how to remove items from your credit report.

Covid-19 and Credit Repair

Free credit reports

Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax are offering access to a free credit report weekly through April 2022. Take advantage to check your reports for errors and, if there are any, dispute them or consider hiring a credit repair company to do it for you.

Credit reporting errors during COVID-19

It’s important to watch out for erroneous “late payments” on your credit report — especially if you enrolled in a deferral program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Loan, mortgage or credit card payments shouldn’t be marked as late if your lender agreed to temporarily suspend them. Contact your lender right away if you notice deferred payments are being incorrectly labeled as late on your report. If your lender doesn’t resolve the issue, contact the credit reporting agencies to begin a dispute process.

CARES Act protections

If you obtained a forbearance on a federally backed loan during the pandemic, these are some things to remember:

• Forbearance, payment deferrals or pauses should not show up on your credit report or bring down your credit score. This applies to suspended collections and defaults as well.
• Homeowners with federally backed loans (HUD, FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) are protected from foreclosure until July 31, 2021 and can apply for mortgage forbearance.
• Student loans are eligible for suspensions on loan payments, collections, defaults, and interest rates are set to zero until at least September 30, 2021.

You can fix your credit on your own, but it will take time, effort and patience. Review each of your credit reports from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax for errors. If you find any, file a dispute with the credit bureau and contact your creditor. They are legally obligated to investigate and eliminate inaccurate information from your report, at no charge to you.

Prices vary across credit repair agencies. However, companies typically charge around $20 to $150 per month, depending on the service package you choose. They may also charge a setup fee (also called initial or first work fee) that can cost up to $200.

The amount of time it takes to repair bad credit depends on how much inaccurate information your report contains. Some companies estimate that it can take up to six months to see an improvement in your score. However, if your report has few errors, the process might be faster as there will be fewer disputes to process.

What do credit repair companies do?
These companies look into your credit reports from the three main credit bureaus for inaccurate information that may be lowering your credit score. If the agency spots any errors, it'll contact your lenders and the credit bureaus to dispute the negative marks and have them removed. Some companies also offer personal finance tools and access to credit counselors. 

A credit repair company reviews your credit reports from the major credit bureaus for inaccuracies that may be impacting your credit score. It identifies accounts that don't belong to you or payments incorrectly marked as late, for example, and disputes the errors by contacting the credit bureaus or creditors. If the information is incorrect or can't be verified, the bureau is required to delete it.

How We Chose The Best Credit Repair Companies of 2021

Trustworthiness

During our research, we looked at each company’s history of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) violations and whether they had any customer complaints or enforcement actions filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). We chose credit repair services with a low number of complaints with regulatory agencies, have been around for over ten years and have positive customer reviews across different platforms.

Product offering

A credit repair service essentially assumes responsibility for writing dispute letters, communicating with lenders and credit bureaus and ensuring removal of each item. It helps if the standard service is complemented with other features. Multiple pricing options, additional financial tools, expert advice, and service guarantees helped companies stand out from the competition.

Pricing Options and Service Guarantees

These were the two most common aspects throughout the companies we evaluated, so we decided to emphasize them further in our vetting process. As we researched companies, we made sure that their pricing options were as ample and/or varied as possible, and that their service guarantees were transparent and with little-to-no exceptions. This way we can offer choices for customers with different financial situations while assuring that each company stays true to their service promise.

Summary of Money’s Best Credit Repair Companies of October 2021

• Credit Saint – Best Overall
• Sky Blue Credit – Best Value
• Ovation Credit Repair – Best for Discounts
• The Credit Pros – Best Bonus Features
• The Credit People – Best Guarantee
• Lexington Law – Best for Legal Expertise
• Credit Versio – Best for DIY Credit Repair