Best Credit Repair Companies 2024
Explore the best credit repair companies offering personalized services to dispute inaccuracies, improve credit scores, and provide transparency in pricing and results.
Written by
Luke Daugherty
Luke Daugherty is a freelance writer, editor, and former operations manager. He covers personal finance, operations, marketing, and sustainable business, as well as many of his personal passions. His work, bylined and ghostwritten, has appeared in The Balance, CNET, CIO Magazine, Entrepreneur, and more.
Last Update on Jan 11, 2024
Table Of Contents
Your credit history is one of your most important financial assets. It gives you access to loans, credit cards and more, with the best terms available for those with the cleanest credit records and highest scores. To ensure no false information stands between you and the credit you need, it’s critical to ensure everything on credit your report is accurate.
That’s sometimes easier said than done — especially if you find plenty of errors on your credit report. You can call individual lenders and credit bureaus to dispute those mistakes, but that’s a time-consuming process. Credit repair companies are designed to take the work out of your hands and help you get your credit in shape.
These companies can’t remove accurate negative information from your credit history, but they can help you clean up errors that might hurt your score or cause you problems when you apply for a loan. They’ll file disputes on your behalf, and you should begin to see results within a few months.
But not every credit repair company is a viable option — in fact, some should be avoided like the plague. Here are four you can trust.
Comparing The 4 Best Credit Repair Companies Of 2024
| Company | Setup Fee | Monthly Fee | # of Packages | Money-Back Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Credit Pros | $119 to $149 | $69 to $149 | 3 | 90 days |
| Credit Saint | $99 to $195 | $79.99 to $119.99 | 3 | 90 days |
| Lexington Law Firm | None | $99.95 to $139.95 | 3 | No |
| CreditRepair.com | $69.95 to $119.95 | $69.95 to $119.95 | 3 | No |
Best Overall Credit Repair Service
The Credit Pros
Credit monitoring included
AI-driven platform
Broad range of features in each plan
Setup Fee
$119 to $149
Monthly fee
$69 to $149
# of Packages
3
Money-Back Guarantee
90 days
Show More Details
With 12 years in business and a personal credit management system driven by artificial intelligence (AI), The Credit Pros stands out as our top choice for a well-rounded credit repair company. Unlike other companies, it includes credit monitoring for no additional charge. Plus, it offers a free consultation to help you decide whether it’s a good fit. It’s pricier than other options, but if you don’t see items removed from your credit reports from Equifax, TransUnion or Experian within 90 days, you’ll get a full refund of anything you’ve spent up to that point.
Pros
- Credit monitoring included at no additional cost
- Free consultation
- 90-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- High initial setup fee
- Not available in Kansas, Maine, Minnesota and Oregon
- Minor differences in the three plans compared to the price increases for each one
Additional Details
- Slash Rx discount (up to 80% off) available in the top two tiers
- All three plans include key features such as credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, Social Security trace, budgeting and debt payment systems, and access to TCP legal network
- Basic Money Management plan and top-tier Success package include a direct line of credit from National Credit Direct
Best Simple Credit Repair Service
Credit Saint
Streamlined, simple service model
17 years of experience
Pay only for what you need
Setup Fee
$99 to $195
Monthly fee
$79.99 to $119.99
# of Packages
3
Money-Back Guarantee
90 days
Show More Details
For customers looking for simpler credit rebuilding services, Credit Saint offers a streamlined model focused on removing any critical incorrect items like late payments, judgments, collections, bankruptcies, liens and more. With 17 years in the industry, it has the reputation and service history to provide you with complete peace of mind.
Pros
- Free consultation
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Handles all communication with credit bureaus on your behalf
Cons
- No credit monitoring in basic plan
- Fairly expensive startup fees
- Short on online resources
Additional Details
- Choose your plan based on how many items you need challenged per credit dispute cycle: five (basic), 10 (intermediate), or unlimited (top-tier)
- All plans include credit score analysis and tracker, plus creditor interventions
- Top two plans include Experian monitoring and credit inquiry targeting
- You’re entitled to a full refund if you don’t see any eligible items deleted from your credit report within 90 days
Best for Families and Veterans
Lexington Law Firm
Discounts for veterans and spouses who sign up together
Affordable startup with no setup fees
Three simple plans are easy to compare
Setup Fee
None
Monthly fee
$99.95 to $139.95
# of Packages
3
Money-Back Guarantee
No
Show More Details
With more than 15 years in business, Lexington Law has built a strong reputation in the credit repair industry. The company’s services focus on critical areas such as credit report analysis, disputes and escalations, and credit monitoring. Veterans and spouses are eligible for steep discounts, and there’s no setup fee to get started.
Pros
- No setup fee makes this the most affordable service out of the gate
- Free credit assessment and consultation
- No cancellation fee
Cons
- Additional one-time charge for your TransUnion credit report
- Top-tier plan required for credit monitoring
- No money-back guarantee
Additional Details
- Veterans receive 50% off first-work fee
- When your spouse signs up with you, they’ll receive a one-time 50% discount
- Choose between 15 (basic and intermediate plans) or 19 (top-tier plan) challenges per credit dispute cycle
- All three plans include creditor interventions, inquiry assist, ID theft insurance and DebtHandler features
- Top-tier, Premier Plus plan includes your TransUnion FICO score, lost wallet protection and other personal finance tools
Best for Free Credit Evaluation
Credit Saint
Streamlined, simple service model
17 years of experience
Pay only for what you need
Setup Fee
$99 to $195
Monthly fee
$79.99 to $119.99
# of Packages
3
Money-Back Guarantee
90 days
Show More Details
For customers looking for simpler credit rebuilding services, Credit Saint offers a streamlined model focused on removing any critical incorrect items like late payments, judgments, collections, bankruptcies, liens and more. With 17 years in the industry, it has the reputation and service history to provide you with complete peace of mind.
Pros
- Free consultation
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Handles all communication with credit bureaus on your behalf
Cons
- No credit monitoring in basic plan
- Fairly expensive startup fees
- Short on online resources
Additional Details
- Choose your plan based on how many items you need challenged per credit dispute cycle: five (basic), 10 (intermediate), or unlimited (top-tier)
- All plans include credit score analysis and tracker, plus creditor interventions
- Top two plans include Experian monitoring and credit inquiry targeting
- You’re entitled to a full refund if you don’t see any eligible items deleted from your credit report within 90 days
Tips for Comparing Credit Repair Companies
When you’re choosing a credit repair company, there’s a lot to consider, and some companies make outlandish offers to remove every derogatory mark from your credit report. How do you know which company to choose? Here are a few things to look for.
Ensure The Company Is Legitimate
Because credit repair scams are common, it’s important to do your due diligence before hiring any company. Legitimate companies — like the ones on the above list — abide by the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), which bans certain predatory behaviors. Under the Act, credit repair companies aren’t allowed to make misleading claims or demand payment in advance. They also must provide disclosures and put any service contracts in writing.
If you encounter any concerns after signing a contract, keep in mind that the CROA provides you three days to cancel services without penalty, regardless of which company you choose.
Watch For Complaints And Red Flags
When it comes to claims about what they can do, you should never simply take credit repair companies’ word for it. Search for complaints and red flags that others have raised. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) offers an online database you can use to search for complaints, but keep in mind that these only get posted if the company responds. You can also search for public complaints on the Better Business Bureau, as well as with the attorney general and corporate commission offices where the company is headquartered and in your state.
Don’t Believe False Promises
Money-back guarantees are a great feature to look for with credit repair companies, but some make big promises and claims simply aren’t true. Credit repair companies can’t guarantee they’ll raise your score, and they certainly can’t remove legitimate negative information from your credit history. If a company makes such claims or asks you to provide false information, you should look elsewhere.
Compare Their Core Services
After you weed out any questionable contenders, finding the right fit comes down to comparing core costs and services. Most companies charge an initial setup fee and monthly fee, so you’ll want to consider what your likely total expenses will be. Many also offer a 60- or 90-day money-back guarantee to give you peace of mind that you won’t waste your money.
In terms of services, consider factors like how many disputes each company can file each month, whether credit monitoring is included, and which credit bureaus they’ll work with. It’s best to get your credit corrected with all three bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax — so keep that in mind when comparing services. We also recommend looking for credit repair companies that offer free credit consultations to go over your report and explain what they can do to help.
How Credit Repair Works
Credit repair is the act of removing inaccurate or erroneous negative information from your credit report. Since such information can be damaging to your credit score and hurt your chances of getting favorable loan terms, it’s important to ensure your credit report is accurate.
Getting this information removed can often take significant time and effort, as you’ll need to communicate with credit bureaus and lenders and provide documentation to support your claims. This may involve several rounds of calls, emails, or mailing letters back and forth, and the process may take months, depending on how many items there are to dispute.
Credit repair companies take some of this burden off consumers and communicate with the bureaus and creditors on their behalf. They’ll typically offer to dispute a certain number of items per credit cycle and may offer your money back if you don’t see improvements within a certain timeframe. Keep in mind that you’ll still need to provide some information and documentation and communicate with the credit repair company throughout the process.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Credit Repair
Because credit repair takes time, it’s difficult to forecast the total cost of enrolling in a repair service. Credit repair companies usually charge in one of two ways: monthly or per correction. In a monthly setup, you’ll pay a set monthly subscription fee for the plan you choose, and you’ll pay that fee regardless of whether any items are removed. In the other model, you pay only when items are removed from your credit report.
Although the CROA prohibits these companies from charging you for services up front, they are still allowed to charge initial setup fees for consultation or creating a credit repair plan. Be sure to review these charges, along with subscription fees, before you sign up. If there is a money-back guarantee, find out the terms and how much you’ll get back if the company fails to deliver. Some credit repair companies also charge cancellation fees.
Besides reviewing each company’s terms carefully, it’s a good idea to review your credit reports before you start the process. This will help you get an idea of how many items you need to dispute, how long the process may take, and whether a subscription or per-item fee would be more cost effective. You can get a free annual copy of your credit report from each of the three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Affordable Credit Repair
Not everyone can afford the high fees some credit repair companies charge. Recognizing this, a new wave of affordable credit repair services has emerged, catering to those on a tighter budget. These services prioritize the most impactful credit issues, ensuring that even with limited resources, consumers can see significant improvements in their credit reports. While affordability is a key factor, it’s essential to ensure that the service is transparent, adheres to the Credit Repair Organizations Act, and has a track record of genuine success. Remember, a lower cost shouldn’t mean lower quality. By choosing an affordable credit repair service, individuals can make a wise investment in their financial future without breaking the bank. For affordable credit repair we recommend The Credit Pros. See our article on the cheapest credit repair for more information.
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Benefits and Effectiveness of Credit Repair
The biggest benefit of credit repair companies is that they relieve you of some of the legwork and hassle involved in cleaning up your credit report. They don’t do anything you can’t do yourself, but they may be able to accomplish the task more quickly.
Although these companies once had a fairly unsavory reputation, the CROA helped to put consumer protections in place. Many reputable credit repair companies have since helped remove inaccurate information from consumers’ credit histories.
That said, it’s difficult to measure the effectiveness of credit repair services, as the results vary from person to person based on how much inaccurate information must be addressed. If you have plenty of errors on your credit report and don’t have the time to correct them yourself, a credit repair company may be able to address the issues more quickly. That could help you improve your score and qualify for better loan terms sooner rather than later
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Long Does It Usually Take To See Improvements In My Credit Score With A Credit Repair Company?
If the company successfully disputes negative items on your credit report, you may begin to see your score improve within three to six months. However, the process may take longer if you can’t remove any negative items and simply need to focus on good credit-building behaviors.
Can A Credit Repair Company Remove Legitimate Negative Items From My Credit Report?
Credit repair companies cannot remove negative items that accurately reflect your past credit history. These typically remain on your report for seven years.
How Much Do Credit Repair Services Typically Cost?
Credit repair services range in cost depending on the variety of features they offer. Most (but not all) charge an initial setup fee, which ranges from $70 to $200, plus an ongoing monthly fee of anywhere from $70 to $140.
What Should I Look For When Choosing A Credit Repair Company?
Credit repair companies offer a variety of features, and some of these come down to what kind of monitoring or repair services you need. The most important things to look for, however, are satisfaction guarantees, customer reviews and a free consultation to help you evaluate whether the company is a good fit.
How Do I Know If A Credit Repair Company Is Legitimate?
Unfortunately, credit repair scams are common, so it’s important to be on the lookout for red flags. Avoid credit repair companies that demand upfront fees before providing service, refuse to explain your rights, or tell you not to contact credit reporting companies directly. Above all, avoid companies that promise to remove negative information from your credit report, even if it’s accurate.
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It’s never been so simple.
Find out more
- Comparing Services: Understand the nuances in comparing credit repair companies to make an informed choice.
- Credit Repair Costs: Get an idea of the cost of credit repair services and budget accordingly.
- Cheaper Alternatives: Explore cheapest credit repair services for budget-conscious consumers.
- Credit Score Monitoring: Learn about the best credit score monitoring services to track your progress.
- Credit Repair Basics: Understand what is credit repair and how it works.
- Fixing Credit Yourself: For DIY enthusiasts, learn how to fix your credit on your own.
- Credit Report Challenges: Learn how to challenge items on your credit report.
- Removing Hard Inquiries: Discover how to remove hard inquiries from your credit report.
Luke Daugherty
Author
Luke Daugherty is a freelance writer, editor, and former operations manager. He covers personal finance, operations, marketing, and sustainable business, as well as many of his personal passions. His work, bylined and ghostwritten, has appeared in The Balance, CNET, CIO Magazine, Entrepreneur, and more.
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