FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
$119 to $149
$69 to $149
3
Best Credit Repair Companies of 2024
Best for Budgeting and Bill Tracking
The Credit Pros
Call Now
Learn More
On The Credit Pros Website
$119 to $149
$69 to $149
3
Why We Picked It
The Credit Pros has been in business since 2009. It offers an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven personal credit management and repair platform and includes credit monitoring at no additional cost. Other credit repair companies include credit monitoring as an additional service.
Customers who choose to work with The Credit Pros will have to pay a one-time setup fee, which starts at $119. After that, they will owe a monthly fee starting at $69, depending on which of the three available packages they choose.
Before starting to work with The Credit Pros, potential customers can schedule a free consultation in either English or Spanish. This is a handy way to see if the company is a fit for your specific needs and which package would support you best. All three packages provide bill-payment trackers and budgeting assistance to help you keep moving forward without credit mishaps.
The Credit Pros also offers a 90-day, money-back guarantee: In 90 days, if there’s no deletion from Equifax, Experian or TransUnion, you will be entitled to the amount you invested during that period.
Pros & Cons
- Credit monitoring included with every package tier
- Free consultation
- 90-day, money-back guarantee
- Unlimited dispute letters
- Charges a one-time setup fee starting at $119
- Doesn’t provide services to Kansas, Maine, Minnesota or Oregon
Package Details
The Credit Pros offers three packages that range from $69 to $149 per month.
Money Management—$69/month & $119 startup fee | Prosperity Package—$129/month & $129 startup fee | Success Package—$149/month & $149 startup fee |
---|---|---|
TransUnion credit score | TransUnion credit score | Three-bureau credit score |
TransUnion credit monitoring | TransUnion credit monitoring | Three-bureau credit monitoring |
Full credit report | Full credit report | Full credit report |
DarkWeb monitoring | DarkWeb monitoring | DarkWeb monitoring |
Change of address monitoring | Change of address monitoring | Change of address monitoring |
Bill reminder | Bill reminder | Bill reminder |
Budgeting system | Budgeting system | Budgeting system |
Real-time account sync | Real-time account sync | Real-time account sync |
— | Credit interventions | Credit interventions |
— | Cease-and-desist letters | Cease-and-desist letters |
— | Letters of reference | Letters of reference |
Best for Simple Credit Repair Options
Credit Saint
Why We Picked It
Credit Saint has been in business since 2004 and is backed by a strong reputation in the industry. It offers a free consultation for new customers and handles all communications with the credit bureaus if the customer proceeds with one of its packages. Customers have the option to choose from among three different packages, which start at $79.99 per month and a minimum setup fee of $99.
To help customers repair their credit, Credit Saint focuses on removing the following items from a credit report if they’re incorrect:
- Late payments
- Judgments
- Collections
- Repossessions
- Bankruptcies
- Credit inquiries
- Liens
It provides customers with a 90-day, money-back guarantee. The guarantee states, “If you sign up for service with Credit Saint in any program, and do not see any questionable items deleted from your credit in 90 days, you will be entitled to a full refund.” Credit Saint also requires customers to “be an active participant in the program for 90 days.” According to its website, “eligibility for a refund does not start until day 90.”
Pros & Cons
- Three credit packages
- 90-day, money-back guarantee
- Transparent pricing policies
- Startup fee between $99 and $195
- Lacks online resources
Package Details
Credit Saint offers three packages ranging from $79.99 to $119.99 per month.
Credit Polish—$79.99/month & $99 startup fee | Credit Remodel—$99.99/month & $99 startup fee | Clean Slate—$119.99/month & $195 startup fee |
---|---|---|
Score analysis | Score analysis | Score analysis |
Creditor interventions | Creditor interventions | Creditor interventions |
Score tracker | Score tracker | Score tracker |
— | Inquiry targeting | Inquiry targeting |
Best Budget Option
Sky Blue Credit
On Sky Blue's Website
$79 to $99
$79 to $99
1
Why We Picked It
Sky Blue Credit has been in operation for over 30 years and offers a unique, one simple credit repair service option. Its service includes everything a customer needs to find and dispute errors on their credit reports and repair their credit scores. Unlike other credit repair companies on this list, there are no upgrades needed to more expensive packages.
Customers can access Sky Blue Credit’s service for a monthly fee of $79, plus a one-time setup fee of $79. If customers sign up as a couple, the second member pays just a $40 monthly fee and a $40 setup fee. If a customer is not satisfied for any reason during the first 90 days of their membership, Sky Blue Credit will refund their money in full.
According to Sky Blue Credit, customers are told the credit repair process can take up to six months; however, they can cancel anytime during that period with no additional charge.
Pros & Cons
- 90-day, money-back guarantee
- Discount if you sign up as a couple
- Setup fee required
- Credit monitoring not included or offered
Package Details
Sky Blue Credit offers Basic Service for $79 per month.
One Price, Every Feature—$79/month & $79 setup fee |
---|
Pro Analysis—expert dispute candidate identification |
15 item disputes (five per bureau) every 35 days |
Custom disputes tailored to the situation |
Statute of limitation research |
Credit rebuilding guidance |
Debt validation |
Goodwill letters |
Cease-and-desist letters |
Debt settlement/negotiation consultations |
Tips for Comparing Credit Repair Companies
Consider these tips when comparing credit repair companies:
- Look out for potential scams. Credit repair companies typically have a bad reputation, right or wrong. So it’s crucial to look out for any potential red flags. These may include companies promising to remove negative items, avoiding explaining your rights or telling you not to contact credit reporting companies. You should also look into a company’s Better Business Bureau file and check to see if there are any complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Evaluate packages and fees. No two credit repair companies are identical. This means not only will they offer various packages, but they will also charge different fees. Some charge a monthly and setup fee while others charge only a monthly fee. If cost is a priority, be sure to evaluate and compare all packages and potential fees.
- Check to see if they include credit monitoring. When comparing different companies or packages within one company, be sure to check if credit monitoring is included. Some companies include it at no additional cost; others may require you to upgrade to a higher-tier package to receive the service.
- Look for a money-back guarantee. If you want to have more confidence in your credit repair journey, look for a company that offers a money-back guarantee to hedge your bet.
- Review any potential discounts. Some credit repair companies will offer discounts on setup or monthly fees, or both. For example, some companies on this list offer discounts for active military members, veterans and couples. Look for these deals if you want to save some money.
Methodology
We reviewed 13 popular credit repair companies based on 19 data points in the categories of stability, reputation and customer satisfaction, customer experience, services, and cost and fees. We chose the best companies based on the weighting assigned to each category:
- Cost and fees: 45%
- Services: 30%
- Customer experience: 10%
- Reputation and customer satisfaction: 10%
- Stability: 5%
Within each major category, we also considered several characteristics, including years in business, customer reviews and online resources the companies provide. We also looked at service packages offered, fee structure, money-back guarantees, discounts and cancellation policies.
Where appropriate, we awarded partial points depending on how well a lender met each criterion.
What Is Credit Repair?
Credit repair is when consumers work with companies that specialize in removing errors from credit reports with the intent to increase their credit score. Depending on the company someone works with, they can access a range of additional features, including free credit score updates, credit monitoring, writing cease and desist letters to debt collectors or even writing letters of recommendation to lenders you’re applying for a loan with.
It’s crucial to have agood credit score because lenders use it to help determine if you qualify for loans, mortgages and credit cards; landlords may also use it when reviewing a rental application.
How Much Does Credit Repair Cost?
A subscription model is the most common credit repair pricing structure. This means customers would pay a monthly fee between $60 to $200, depending on the package, plus a potential setup fee, which can be the same price as a full-month subscription.
Some companies estimate that it takes six months for the credit repair process to create results. So, for example, if you signed up for a package with a $100 monthly fee and $100 setup fee, after six months you would have paid $700. While it may seem worth it, you can do this work independently, though it would require more of your time.
Does Credit Repair Work?
While many companies will advertise how many negative entries they’ve had deleted, no reliable statistics exist that prove the effectiveness of credit repair companies. Credit repair companies can try to help you remove negative items from your credit report, but it’s not guaranteed to be successful.
Because you can do on your own everything a credit repair company can do, it’s often better to take the time to review your credit reports yourself and submit any disputes. Doing the work yourself is completely free, which will save you hundreds of dollars that you would pay a credit repair company.
Best Credit Repair Companies Ratings
Rank | Company | Company - Logo | Forbes Advisor Rating | Forbes Advisor Rating | Learn more CTA below text | Learn More | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Credit Pros | 3.5 | View More | ||||
2 | Credit Saint | 3.0 | View More | ||||
3 | Sky Blue Credit | 2.5 | Learn More | On Sky Blue's Website |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I fix my credit myself?
While a credit repair company can take the workload off your plate, you are able to fix your credit on your own. Follow these eight tips to take action:
• Get your credit report
• Review your credit report for errors
• Dispute any errors
• Pay late or past-due accounts
• Increase your credit limits
• Pay off high-interest debts
• Open a new credit card
• Pay balances on time
How long does it take to improve your credit?
Because each person’s financial situation is unique, there’s not an exact amount of time it takes to improve your credit. While credit scores typically update every 30 days, that doesn’t mean you’ll see an improvement in your score.
To understand how long it might take to improve your credit, let’s look at a FICO study of the average amount of time it takes to recover your score back to its original number after a negative mark on your credit report.
Starting credit score of 680 | Starting credit score of 720 | Starting credit score of 780 | |
---|---|---|---|
30-day late payment | 9 months | 2.5 years | 3 years |
90-day late payment | 9 months | 3 years | 7 years |
Short sale, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or foreclosure | 3 years | 7 years | 7 years |
Bankruptcy | 5 years | 7-10 years | 7-10 years |
*Note: Figures are approximations.
*This study was only done for mortgage payments.
How do I maintain good credit after it’s repaired?
After you repair your credit, it’s crucial to practice healthy credit habits to keep your credit score and reports in shape. Be sure to pay all your debts on time or early, don’t use more than 30% of your total credit limit, refrain from submitting multiple credit applications in a short period of time and only spend what you know you can afford.
It’s always a good idea to check your credit score regularly so you understand how your habits impact your score. You can also receive a free credit report weekly through AnnualCreditReport.com.This is a handy way to catch any new errors or negative information.
Next Up In Credit Score
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- What Is A Credit Report?
Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circ*mstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.