Best Credit Repair Companies for May 2024

The Bottom Line

Our top pick for credit repair is the Credit Pros, which has standard pricing and many tools to help you repair and rebuild your credit. In addition to contacting credit bureaus and creditors on your behalf, the Credit Pros offers credit builder loans, TransUnion credit monitoring, and lines of credit, all of which you can discuss during a free consultation.

Our other top choices cover a wide variety of needs. If you're in a hurry, for example, The Credit People offers the most aggressive timeline, while CreditFirm can help if you have a variety of dispute needs. To effectively rebuild your credit, take the time to find the right company for your specific situation.

Compare the Best Credit Repair Companies

Repairing Your Credit on Your Own

If you’d prefer not to work with a credit repair service, you can repair your credit on your own. While this process can take time, it could be worth it for those who have minor credit issues that need fixing. All three credit bureaus let you dispute inaccurate or incomplete information on your credit reports, and you can choose to dispute online or by mail. Most also offer dispute letter templates that you can download and use.

Working on your financial habits can also help improve your credit over time. You might start by using a budgeting tool and looking at your finances to develop a budgeting system that works. This way, you’ll have a good idea of money coming in every month and how you’re spending it. Many budgeting tools also have bill tracking and payment features, which can be useful if you’re trying to stay on track with payments. 

If you’re interested in repairing your credit on your own, check out these resources:

• The 5 Biggest Factors That Affect Your Credit
• How to Read a Consumer Credit Report
• Inside Credit Repair: What You Need to Know to Fix Your Credit
• How to Use a Credit Card to Build Credit

How to Dispute a Credit Report

If you discover a mistake or outdated information on your credit report, you can follow the three-step process outlined below to dispute the error.

• Step 1: Contact the credit reporting company (or companies): You'll want to dispute the error(s) with each credit bureau that has the mistake. You can contact the major credit bureaus online, by mail, or by phone. If you decide to dispute by mail, then you can fill out a sample letter from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In your letter, you'll want to include your contact information, a request that the incorrect or inaccurate information be removed or corrected, each mistake you want fixed (and why), copies of any supporting documents, and a copy of the relevant report (with the mistake(s) circled).
• Step 2: Contact the company that provided the erroneous information: You'll then have to dispute the incorrect or inaccurate information with the business that provided it. The CFPB and the FTC each provide template letters for contacting these businesses as well. Your letter should specify that you're disputing one or more errors, and it should include your complete name and address, each mistake you want fixed (and why), and copies of any supporting documents.
• Step 3: Monitor your credit report(s): After all letters have been sent, you should keep a close eye on your credit report(s) to ensure that each bureau has removed the incorrect or inaccurate information. Should the business that reported the erroneous information continue to do so, check that each credit bureau has placed a notice that you're disputing the information.

How to Fix Your Credit Score

If you're interested in fixing your credit score on your own, then following the steps listed below can put you on the right path without having to pay the sizable fees that credit repair companies often charge:

• Step 1: Review your credit report: By law, the three major credit bureaus are each required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report once per year. Ideally, you should check your credit reports from one of the bureaus every four months. Review each report to identify any possible mistakes.
• Step 2: Dispute inaccurate or incomplete information: If you do find one or more errors on your credit report, you should file a dispute with the respective credit bureau as soon as possible. The credit bureau will remove or update any mistakes and, while it's not a guarantee, this may improve your score.
• Step 3: Find ways to better manage your debt: One of the best things you can do to improve your credit score is to make payments on any outstanding debt you have. The reason for this is twofold: Firstly, payment history accounts for 35% (the largest share) of your FICO score, so paying your bills on time is the best thing you can do to fix your credit. If you're already late on any payments, bring any past-due accounts current as soon as possible—the longer you wait, the harder it'll be to repair the damage. Secondly, the amount of debt you owe is responsible for 30% of your FICO score, so keeping your credit utilization ratio low will also improve your score. If you can't afford to make payments on your outstanding debts, reach out to your lender about hardship options immediately.
• Step 4: But don't make yourself completely debtless: This may seem to contradict the above point, but the amount of time you've had an account open is viewed positively by lenders. It's not as important as paying down your debt (with account history only composing 15% of your FICO score), but keeping your credit card balances open and your credit utilization low (as opposed to not using any credit) are both still good strategies for improving a bad credit score.
• Step 5: Look into credit-improving lending: Products like credit builder loans, which are specifically designed to help build (or rebuild) your credit, and secured loans or credit cards, which are easier for borrowers with poor credit to qualify for due to being backed by collateral, offer opportunities to show financial responsibility to the three major credit bureaus. As you make on-time payments on these smaller loans/lines of credit, your positive payment history will slowly improve your credit score over time.

Guide to Choosing the Best Credit Repair Company

As you shop around for credit repair companies, you’ll likely notice that different companies offer slightly different services, pricing, and customer service options. Here’s what to look for as you compare options and narrow down your choices.

What Is a Credit Repair Company and How Does It Work?

Credit repair companies will engage with the credit bureaus and creditors to help get misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate information removed from your credit reports. The goal is to clean up your payment history, which is the largest factor that affects your credit score.

While a credit repair company typically doesn’t do anything you can’t do on your own, these services can be helpful if you need significant assistance with your credit. For instance, if you have several accounts to deal with or lots of errors on your credit reports, a credit repair company could be a good option for you. Disputing all of the issues on your own may be too time-consuming or overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with significant financial stress.

How to Compare Credit Repair Companies

There are several factors to compare as you shop around for the right credit repair services, including:

• Services offered: Review which services each credit repair company offers. For instance, some might offer credit repair and credit monitoring, while others offer additional services like debt management plans or identity theft protection.
• Cost: Compare the cost of services, including both monthly and first work fees. Look into any discounts available to help lower the cost of services.
• Number of monthly disputes: Certain credit repair companies may offer unlimited disputes, while others provide a specific number of disputes per month. Consider your needs and the number of disputes offered as you research companies.
• Credit bureau coverage: Look at which credit bureaus each company works with. It’s a good idea to choose a company that works with all three major bureaus if you need negative items removed from your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports (most companies work with all three).
• Free credit consultation: Many credit repair services offer free credit consultations for new customers. These consultations can provide helpful guidance and insight into the services offered and what you should reasonably expect.
• Guarantees: Certain companies offer money-back guarantees for a set time frame, often 30, 60, or 90 days. See if the companies you’re considering offer any guarantees in case you’re dissatisfied with the services, as it can be difficult to know what will come of attempted credit repair.

How to Not Fall for Credit Repair Scams

If you’re thinking about working with a credit repair service, it’s important to choose a reputable option. Unfortunately, there are some shady companies in this industry eager to take advantage of financially vulnerable consumers, so doing your due diligence is essential. 

Each company on our list is reputable and abides by Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) regulations, but if you’d like to shop around further, you can start by looking at the CFPB Complaint Database. This database lets you review complaints about companies that consumers have logged with the CFPB since 2011. However, a lack of complaints doesn’t necessarily indicate a good company reputation—a company must respond to a complaint for it to be listed on the CFPB, so companies can avoid listings by not responding.

While it may be tempting to use services like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research companies, that’s generally not the best approach. Companies can pay to become accredited on the BBB platform, which could make them seem more legitimate than they actually are.

We've carefully looked into and researched each of the businesses that we recommend listed above to ensure that they're legitimate credit repair companies. If you suspect a credit repair company you’ve come across is scamming customers or otherwise engaged in fraud, you can report them to the FTC.

How to Find a Credit Repair Company Near You

Some people prefer to work with local companies rather than connect with a company online. While discussing issues about your credit can feel embarrassing, a recommendation from a trusted loved one may provide peace of mind that the company you’re working with is legitimate.

As you compare options, search for company complaints in the CFPB database, review company websites and contact information, and research consumer review sites for insight. If possible, opt for companies that offer a free consultation so you can get a better sense of their services. 

Working with a local company can be helpful if you’d like to speak with someone in person. But be aware that your options may be more limited depending on where you’re located.

Alternatives to Credit Repair Companies

While working with a credit repair company can be a good option for improving your credit score, it's just one of many possible solutions, and it won't be the right fit for everyone. Outside of trying to repair your credit on your own, you can consider seeking credit counseling or a debt settlement company.

Credit Counseling

A credit counseling agency often offers many of the same benefits that a credit repair company typically does, including reaching out to creditors on your behalf. Its primary function, however, is to work with you directly to devise money management strategies that'll help you avoid bankruptcy.

After analyzing your income, expenses, and debts, a credit counselor will provide advice and plans tailored to your financial situation. Working with one of these organizations can be a good alternative to a credit repair company if you know your credit report is accurate and primarily need help with budgeting, managing spending, and controlling debt.

Credit counselors are often nonprofit or not-for-profit agencies and, as such, many charge low fees (or nothing at all) for their services. This isn't always the case, however, so be sure to review what fees you may be charged, in addition to whether an agency will put a comment that you worked with them on your credit report (which could make you seem like a credit risk to prospective lenders).

Debt Settlement

Debt settlement companies are typically for-profit entities that work with creditors on your behalf. The biggest difference between debt settlement companies and credit repair companies is that the former negotiate with creditors to arrange settlements or even debt forgiveness on your behalf, whereas not all of the latter will contact your creditors for you, and those that do usually only do so to dispute errors on your credit report.

The main thing they have in common, however, is that neither type of company offers anything that you can't do yourself. In fact, some creditors will refuse to negotiate with debt settlement companies. Additionally, even if a company is able to have your debt reduced or forgiven, you will likely have to pay income taxes on the amount that was settled, and a debt settlement can remain on your credit report for seven years.

Legitimate companies offering something as enticing as debt forgiveness have also made this field fraught with scams. Be on the lookout for companies that promise fast debt settlements or try to charge fees upfront before they actually succeed in reducing your debt.

How Much Does a Credit Repair Company Cost?

Credit repair company costs can vary heavily, as different companies have different pricing structures. When you hire a credit repair company, you'll typically be charged a monthly fee. Prices can range from $19 to $149 per month, depending on the service you select.

Instead of charging a monthly fee, some credit repair companies use a performance-based billing model, wherein a client is charged a fee for each item on their credit report that the company challenges. Some companies will only charge you if they successfully have a negative mark deleted from your report, while others will levy a fee regardless of a challenge's success. Additionally, if a single error appears on more than one of your credit reports, a performance-based credit repair company may treat that as several items for billing purposes.

In addition to the sticker price of the service you choose, there may also be enrollment fees that would increase the overall cost. You have a right to cancel a credit repair service at any time, though you may be charged a cancellation fee.

Under the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act, a credit repair company can neither request nor receive payment until it's completed the services it's promised to provide. If a company tries to get you to pay fees upfront before completing the promised service, you may be dealing with a scam.

Why You Should Trust Us

Investopedia collected and analyzed hundreds of key data points from over 17 companies across three months to identify the most important factors for readers choosing a credit repair company. We used this data to review each company for costs and fees, services offered, customer experiences, and other features to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews to ensure our readers make the right decision for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999, and has been helping readers find the best credit repair companies since 2020.

How We Pick the Best Credit Repair Companies

We evaluated 17 credit repair companies and collected over 600 data points before selecting our top choices. We weighed 39 criteria, giving the highest weights to those that are the most significant for customers.

The top picks were selected based on:

• Costs and fees (weighted 40.5% in total)
• Services offered (34%)
• Customer experience (22.5%)
• Stability (3%)

We took into account factors like how many disputes will be sent per month, what kinds of dispute letters will be sent, cancellation and return policies, and how long companies have been in business. This information was used in our company's star ratings and best picks.

Guide to Credit Repair

Learn more about credit repair:

• Credit Repair: What It Is, How It Works, Services Related To
• Do Credit Repair Companies Really Work?
• Is Credit Repair Illegal?
• How to Choose a Credit Repair Company
• How Much Does Credit Repair Cost?
  
• Avoid These Credit Repair Mistakes