Best Companies to Fix and Restore Your Credit

Bad credit has a huge negative impact on so many parts of your financial life. The impact isn’t just on what rates you pay on credit cards and loans, or whether you qualify at all. Bad credit can also have an impact on insurance premiums, whether your application for an apartment is approved, or even if you’re hired for a job.

A credit repair company can improve your credit, but doing the research will ensure that you are paying for the best fit. There are a lot of credit restoration services to choose from. They charge a fee, so to get the best value for the best credit repair, it’s important to do your homework,

What is Credit Repair and How Does It Work?

Credit repair involves fixing errors, outdated and unverifiable information on a credit report.

The companies review credit reports from the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and Transunion – and look for disputable items that are pulling down your credit score and have them removed.

Many credit repair companies charge a fee upfront, usually called a setup fee or first-work fee. They all charge a monthly fee, though some also offer a flat rate that covers several months.

They are prohibited from charging you until they’ve done some work, usually pulling and analyzing your credit reports.

You can do the same work yourself for free, but repair companies are experienced in understanding credit reports, recognizing items that can be disputed, then doing the work to have them removed. It can be time-consuming and confusing, and a good credit repair company is much more thorough and efficient at fixing credit than the average consumer.

It’s not a quick fix, though. It takes a minimum of 60-90 days to see any results, and usually much longer to see significant results.

Accurate information cannot be removed from a credit report. Credit restoration services cannot include “erasing bad credit.” If you have chronic late payments, a repossession or foreclosure, a charge-off, or any other accurate information that’s having a negative impact on your credit, it must stay there and run its course.

Many credit repair services also offer creditor intervention, which can be key if you are being hassled by debt collectors, or have other issues with a creditor. They’ll send a formal letter disputing charges, asking to cease collection calls, or even a goodwill withdrawal of debt collection. This helps tackle credit issues on the front end, before they get on a credit report or has them removed faster if they’re already there.

Many credit repair companies also offer tools and resources to build good credit and increase your credit score, including credit trackers, identity theft monitoring, credit-building loans and credit counseling. These services can be found in other places, often for free or less money. Only pay for credit repair services if you believe there are errors or other removable items on your credit report.

How to Choose the Right Credit Repair Company for You

Before you pay for credit restoration services, know what’s in your credit report. You can get copies of all three agencies’ reports through annualcreditreport.com. They’re free and available weekly. The reports are easy to read and provide information so you can understand what you’re looking at. You don’t need a credit repair service if you don’t see any errors on your report, things you don’t recognize or old issues that should have expired.

If you do have items that should be removed or disputed, choose a credit repair company that’s a good fit. Monthly fees generally range from $49 to $150 a month. The services that are offered for those fees vary greatly. Know what your credit issues are and look for the best-priced package that will address them.

Some of the things to compare and research when you’re looking for the best credit repair company for your needs are:

• Services Offered: Are credit bureau disputes limited by number, or to only one credit bureau? Is creditor intervention part of the package? Credit monitoring? Make sure services offered will address your specific credit issues.
• Pricing and Fee Structure: If a company offers different pricing tiers, does the one you can afford have the services you need? A company may advertise “unlimited disputes,” but when you look at the packages, it may be only with the highest-priced tier.
• Cancelation and Money-Back Guarantees: Read the fine print and understand the requirements in order to be eligible for the refund. A “90-day” guarantee may mean it expires after the first 90 days, or it doesn’t kick in until after 90 days. A “satisfaction” guarantee may have a very specific definition of what “satisfaction” is. Many tout the fact that you can cancel at any time – this is true of all credit repair companies, since it’s a federal legal requirement.
• Ease of Customer Access: Does the company have an app? How robust is its dashboard? Can you call customer service, or do you have to email if you have questions? Make sure you’ll be able to access your account in a way that’s comfortable for you.
• Be Discerning: Beware of across-the-board promises that seem to be too good to be true. Credit repair companies are not allowed to guarantee a result or credit score improvement. If a company is making promises, steer clear. Look for specifics on service, pricing and access, not general pronouncements.
• Customer Reviews: Read reviews of the company. Not the ones on their website, but on Trustpilot, Google Reviews, Consumer Affairs, or some other neutral review site. While AI has made reviews less credible, if it looks like a lot of customers have had a similar issue [and the reviews aren’t all worded the same], take that into account.

Requirements for Credit Repair Companies

Credit repair companies have to follow strict federal regulations. They can’t charge you until they perform the initial service they’ve promised. You have a three-day right to cancel a contract with a credit repair company before any fee is charged, and you can also cancel at any time during a contracted period without any more fees or cancelation fees charged.

The company must provide a contract that is legally required to include:

• A description of services they’ll perform.
• Explanation of your three-day right to cancel without any charge, which includes a written cancellation form.
• How long will it take to get results.
• Total cost, both upfront and monthly fees.
• Any guaranteed results.

Reg Flags and Credit Repair Scams

The Federal Trade Commission warns that any credit repair company that does the following is likely a scam:

• Makes you pay before they provide a service.
• Tells you not to contact the credit bureaus directly.
• Tells you to dispute information in your credit report that you know is accurate.
• Tells you to lie on applications for credit or a loan.
• Tells you to file a false identity theft report.
• Doesn’t explain your legal rights when they tell you what they can do for you.

How We Evaluated the Best Credit Repair Companies

To evaluate the best credit repair companies, we reviewed each company for:

Transparency – Ease of finding information about fees, services offered and policies.

Customer satisfaction and reviews – Positive customer reviews and feedback.

Pricing and value – Fees, how pricing packages are structured, and value of services offered for the price.

Services offered – What’s offered, including disputes [limited or unlimited], how many credit bureaus are accessed a month, creditor intervention, update frequency, credit monitoring, consultation, digital tools, etc.

Expertise and years in business – How long has the company been in business?

Top Credit Repair Companies

Credit Saint – Best Overall Credit Repair Company

Credit Saint offers a range of fees for three tiers of service, with prices and services for each clearly laid out on their easy-to-navigate website. The company has been in business since 2007 and has maintained fairly positive reviews in that time. While the lower two tiers only regularly provide one credit bureau report and score, all three tiers offer creditor intervention letters. It has a money-back guarantee for customers who have used the service for 90 days and haven’t seen any negative items removed from their credit report.

Fees & Tiers: $99-$195.99 working fee, $79.99-$139.99 monthly fee.

Longevity: Established in 2007

Guarantees: 90-day money back guarantee for customers who don’t have any negative items removed from their credit reports during that time period.

Customer access: Online account page with timeline, progress report, and credit analysis; extensive telephone customer service.

What Sets it Apart: Three-tiered pricing and services, creditor intervention letters on all three tiers, nearly 20 years in business with solid reputation.

Customers Satisfaction: 4.8 stars on both Google reviews [14,000-plus rankings] and Consumer Affairs.

Pros

• Money-back guarantee after 90 days with no negative items removed.
• Three pricing tiers.
• Creditor intervention at all three tiers.
• Extensive telephone customer service.

Cons

• Fees for upper tiers are higher than many companies
• Must pay for most expensive tier for unlimited disputes with credit reporting bureaus, and reports and scores from all three bureaus
• Not available in South Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Maine, Washington, D.C.

Safeport Law – Best for Legal Expertise

Safeport Law is a relative newcomer in the credit repair business, incorporating in 2022. Its roots are in a Georgia law firm, Coleman Law LLC, and it promotes itself as a consumer advocate manned by experienced lawyers. Customers can choose from two credit repair solutions. The lower tier, Credit Cleanse, comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Fees & Tiers: $89 working fee, $89.99 monthly fee Credit Cleanse; $129 working fee, $129.99 monthly fee Credit Cleanse+.

Longevity: Established in 2022

Guarantees: 90-day money-back guarantee for Credit Cleanse clients

Customer access: Online account page shows progress, timeline, credit analysis,

What Sets It Apart: Combines legal expertise with two different tiers of service.

Customers Satisfaction: 4.8 on Google Reviews, 4.6 on Better Business Bureau.

Pros

• Two packages to choose from
• Legal expertise
• Money-back guarantee

Cons

• No creditor intervention on lower tier
• Money-back guarantee only available for lower tier
• Not available in South Carolina

The Credit Pros – Best for Technology and Monitoring

The Credit Pros has been around since 2009, but the technology is as up to date as you can get. The Credit Pros platform blends traditional credit fixing methods with modern financial tech, including AI-driven credit analysis. Customers can easily find the company’s app in their smartphone app store, and its digital tools include automatic identity theft protection, live account sync, budgeting system, and bill reminders. Services include credit monitoring, which sends an alert when there’s credit report activity. The app allows customers to link their bank accounts, so they can track transactions and sort them, which makes for a robust dashboard that includes both credit repair and financial activity. There are three pricing tiers.

Fees & Tiers: $119 first work fee, $69 a month for Build Credit; $129 first work fee, $129 a month for Repair Credit; $149 first work fee, $149 a month for Building & Repair Credit.

Longevity: Established in 2009.

Guarantees: Free service for limited time after 60 days if not satisfied.

Customer access: Online dashboard and app provide credit repair updates and financial activity with linked accounts.

What Sets It Apart: AI-driven credit analysis, robust digital tools, and credit monitoring.

Customers Satisfaction: 4.9 on both Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs.

Pros

• Extensive digital tools on app
• Credit monitoring
• Creditor intervention, unlimited disputes on two higher tiers
• ID theft protection on all tiers

Cons

• No disputes, creditor intervention on lowest tier
• High fees on top two tiers
• “Satisfaction guarantee” is not money-back

Sky Blue Credit – Best for Discounts and Couples

Consumers who are looking for low-cost, simple way to repair credit can find it with Sky Blue Credit, which has been in the credit repair business since 1989. Sky Blue offers three tiers, with the lowest, Basic, available for $79. Sky Blue also offers a big discount for couples. You don’t have to be married, just join and make payments together. Another customer-friendly feature is that you can pause your account, then pick it back up. Sky Blue doesn’t charge a setup fee, but the first monthly payment is due six days after joining, once your credit reports are pulled. Sky Blue offers three service tiers.

Fees & Tiers: No startup fee [first monthly fee due 6 days after enrollment]. $79 a month [$119 couples] Basic, $99 [$149 couples] Full Service, $119 [$179 couples] Premium.

Longevity: Established in 1989.

Guarantees: 90-day money back guarantee [expires 90 days after enrollment].

Customer access: User-friendly dashboard online and app.

What Sets It Apart: Low fees, can pause account, couple’s discount.

Customers Satisfaction: 5.0 on Consumer Affairs, 4.2 Google Reviews.

Pros

• Low fees
• Discount for couples
• Disputes included with all tiers
• Can pause subscription

Cons

• 60-day credit updates for lowest tier
• No creditor intervention at lowest tier
• Money-back guarantee expires after 90 days

The Credit People – Best for Affordability & Value

The Credit People doesn’t have a setup fee, and its three-tier fee system costs less than many of the competitors. Customers can also choose a six-month $599 flat rate for the Premium service, which is a savings of $114 over that period. All of The Credit People’s pricing tiers include unlimited challenges at all three credit reporting bureaus, making it a great value for the money. The company offers a couple’s discount of $20 off the first month’s payment for each person. The Credit People has been part of the credit repair industry since 2001.

Fees & Tiers: No setup fee. $99 monthly Standard, $119 monthly Premium, $599 six-month Premium flat rate.

Longevity: Established in 2001.

Guarantees: Satisfaction guarantee refunds that month’s fee as well as the previous’ months; refunds entire fee for those who paid flat rate.

Customer access: Online dashboard and app.

What Sets It Apart: Low pricing tiers with unlimited challenges at all levels.

Customers Satisfaction: 4.8 on Google Reviews.

Pros

• Low monthly fees
• Discounted flat six-month rate
• Unlimited challenges at all pricing levels

Cons

• Limited money-back guarantee
• No credit monitoring
• Creditor intervention only available with Premium package

The Credit Firm – Best for the Basics

The Credit Firm, which also goes by creditfirm.net, has no setup fee and one low pricing tier — $49 a month, or $89 for couples. For that money, customers get unlimited dispute filings and creditor interventions, as well as other services. The low price does have some drawbacks – the company doesn’t offer credit monitoring or a money-back guarantee and has an online credit portal that isn’t as convenient as many other credit repair dashboards. The Credit Firm has been around since 1997, founded by a group of consumer-advocate attorneys.

Fees & Tiers: No setup fee. $49 a month, $89 for couples.

Longevity: Established in 1997.

Guarantees: None.

Customer access: Online credit portal; consultant available through phone, email, and portal.

What Sets It Apart: Low monthly fee, discounted couple’s fee.

Customers Satisfaction: 4.6 on BestCompany.

Pros

• Low fee
• Discounted couple’s fee
• Unlimited disputes

Cons

• No money-back guarantee
• No credit monitoring
• No app

Pros & Cons of Using a Credit Repair Service

Whether to use a credit repair service, and which one to use, depends on your financial situation and what the issues are with your credit report. Since monthly fees can be hefty, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.

If your credit is worse than you’d like it to be, but you don’t see anything on your credit report that credit restoration services can fix, it’s best to do the work of improving your credit yourself. You can also find help from nonprofit credit counseling agencies like InCharge Debt Solutions, usually at a lower cost, for the things you can’t do.

Keep in mind that you can access and review your credit reports online weekly for free, dispute errors, and that many banks and credit card companies provide credit score updates as part of their online services.

Pros of a Credit Repair Service

• Faster dispute handling
• Expert help
• Services may include creditor intervention, credit monitoring, identity theft protection

Cons of a Credit Repair Service

• Monthly fees
• Results not guaranteed
• Paying for things that are available for free, or that you can do yourself

DIY Credit Repair vs. Professional Help

If you can’t get the credit or loan you need, or rates you can afford, because of your credit score and credit report, there are things you can do to repair your credit yourself. The steps to DIY credit repair are:

1. Get credit reports from all three credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and Transunion – at annualcreditreport.com. You can get them online weekly for free.
2. Comb through your credit reports and see where the problem areas are. The website explains how to understand what you’re looking at.
3. Determine if your credit reports are accurate, or if there are things to dispute.
4. Dispute any items that are in error, inaccurate or out of date through the dispute process outlined on the credit report website. Taking the proper steps to dispute mistakes can help you fix credit issues caused by reporting errors.
5. Analyze what other issues are keeping your credit score low. The most important elements of good credit are on-time payments and having a low credit-to-income ratio.
6. Make a plan, including a budget, to attack your credit issues. The fastest thing you can do to improve your credit score is to make on-time payments and lower account balances. Making consistent on-time payments will take longer to have an impact but will pay off in a much better credit score once you do it consistently.
7. Enable credit score monitoring with your bank and credit card accounts. This free service is offered by many financial institutions. It keeps you up to date on your credit score changes and analyzes why it changed. It’s a great tool to help you stay on track.
8. Seek help from a nonprofit credit counseling agency, where a counselor can review your finances with you, help you create a budget and discuss debt relief options like a debt management plan.

Credit Repair Company Claims

If you choose to pay for the services of a credit repair company, watch for claims that may be misleading or even fraudulent. Credit repair companies cannot guarantee to increase your credit score, promise to remove all negative information, or “erase bad credit.”

A credit repair company cannot remove legitimate negative items, including a repossession, foreclosure, bankruptcy or charge off.

If you have accurate negative information on your credit report, it will stay there until it expires, in most cases, for seven years. No credit repair company can remove it for you.

If you plan to pay for a credit repair company’s lowest-cost tier, be sure you’re not paying simply for credit reports and credit scores. You can easily access those for free.

Frequently Asked Questions About Credit Repair

How Much Does Credit Repair Cost?

Credit repair can cost anywhere from $49 to $150 a month, and most also include a startup fee. Cost depends on the credit repair company and their price structure.

Can I Repair My Credit Myself?

Yes. Anything a credit repair company does is something that you can do yourself. Some of it is simple, like accessing your credit reports and credit scores. Disputing errors on your credit report and undertaking creditor interventions are more time-consuming and complicated. The worse the issues on your credit report are, the more you may need a credit repair company.

How Long Does Credit Repair Take?

It will take a minimum of 60 days to see results in most cases because of the cycle of credit report updates. Significant credit repair can take many months or even years.

Can a Credit Repair Company Erase Items That Lower My Credit Score?

A credit repair company can only dispute items on a credit report that are inaccurate, out of date or can’t be verified. If you have late payments, a charge-off, repossession, foreclosure, unpaid accounts, bankruptcy, or other legitimate negative items, they must stay on your report until it expires.

What’s the Difference Between Credit Repair and Credit Counseling?

Credit repair is done by a for-profit business that reviews your credit report and disputes errors and out-of-date information. The goal is to remove them from your credit report, which will improve your credit score. A credit repair company may also contact your creditors to dispute errors reported to credit bureaus, ask for goodwill removal of debt collection, or to cease and desist collection calls. Customers pay a fee, usually monthly, for credit repair services.

Credit counseling is free or low-cost, and usually through a nonprofit agency, like InCharge Debt Solutions. The counselor reviews your finances with you; helps you create a budget that allows for on-time payments and improve your credit in other ways. They will offer financial literacy resources and also may suggest debt relief solutions that can help improve your credit score and eliminate debt.