How to Choose a Reputable Credit Repair Company

Unfair credit scores prevent consumers from getting the best conditions on loans, renting the best apartments, and even getting hired. This is a universal indicator of creditworthiness. Sadly, erroneous reports compiled by bureaus cause these evaluations to deteriorate. Professional credit repair allows you to get a boost as soon as possible with no effort - of course, if your provider is legit.

The industry is large, with dozens of companies offering similar services in most states. Which firm should you trust? Is one review of creditrepair.com enough to make a choice? This is not a simple decision. Follow our guide to prevent redisputes and unnecessary expenses.

What These Companies Can and Cannot Do

A repair provider will fix your score on your behalf, handling everything from report analysis to formal disputes. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, every bureau in the United States is obliged to share only verifiable information. Any mistakes may be disputed formally.

Whether to do this on your own or to hire an expert is a dilemma. If you lack knowledge of consumer credit laws or did not have time for evidence collection and disputes, professional repair from firms like Credit Saint is a no-brainer.

Note that no expert can promise to remove accurate information from your records. This is impossible. If the analysis shows that your reports are correct, the company may advise you on the best rebuilding strategy. You will need to change your borrowing habits to get a higher score. If the provider offers a credit line, you may use it to rebuild your history.

1.   Reputation

Like in any other industry, repair firms are not created equal. Research the background of your potential providers. Multiple sources of information are at your fingertips - review sites like Consumer Affairs and TrustPilot, BBB, etc. They can tell you a lot about the competence of the team and the level of customer service.

Accreditation with The Better Business Bureau is not obligatory, but the rating can tell you a lot. The company's profile will feature complaints over the past 3 years, so you can see what issues customers have encountered, and how responsive the provider is to negative feedback. The website will notify you about any pending lawsuits against the firm.

2.   Cost

If you are planning to order credit fixing services, budget for the cost in advance. Every billing cycle, which varies between 30 and 45 days, the company will charge you based on its pricing policy. The cost depends on the company and the level of repair - basic, intermediate, or aggressive. Generally, the range is $79-$129.

In the beginning, the provider may require a special payment - 'first work fee' aka 'setup fee'. It is charged only once, and the amount may be equal to or different from the subsequent recurring change. Score improvement does not require any formal contracts - you are charged as long as the services are needed.

3.   Extra Services

The more expensive the service package - the more extras it usually includes. The vast majority of companies divide their services between several plans (usually, three). The cheapest one suits basic fixing needs. It includes only the core services: information gathering, analysis, and disputes.

Upgraded plans encompass different add-ons you may or may not need. For instance, you may get score monitoring tools, TransUnion alerts, identity theft protection, personal budgeting apps, the special credit line, etc. Choose a service level for your needs. Make sure you will not be paying for anything you don't need.

In the process, the professionals may produce different types of written correspondence to liaise with lenders, bureaus, and collection agencies. For example, cease and desist letters are sent to stop collection attempts. Validation letters require that lenders provide evidence of the debt they reported.

4.   Money-Back Policy

Score improvement is not an exact science, so there may not be any guarantees. Do not expect to be promised a particular number of points from the fixer. In the best-case scenario, the provider will have a money-back policy covering the first 90 days of service.

Usually, the guarantee is voided by one change to your reports. If your reports remain unchanged, you will be eligible for a refund. Unconditional policies are rare - at the moment, such conditions are offered by Sky Blue Credit Repair.

5.   Customer Support

Most commonly, you may track progress on your case online through the company's web portal. The biggest brands, such as Lexington Law, have their proprietary apps. Updates must be available at any time of day or night, and online tools allow this. The customer support center must be available every weekday, and some companies continue assisting on weekends during shorter hours.

How Long Does It Take?

It depends. The more reporting errors you want to be removed - the longer the process. Every dispute letter gives the bureau 30 or 45 days to investigate the claim and get back to you with a formal reply.  On average, our clients may wait for 3-6 months to get the desired result.

With professional repair, fixing is accelerated, as professionals do their best to avoid redisputes - i.e., achieve removal from the first attempt. When consumers try to dispute reporting mistakes on their own, they may fail and due to insufficient evidence or sloppy letters. Preparation of evidence is a complex process, and you can save a lot of time by delegating it to experts.