As you are likely aware, obtaining loans or accessing decent interest rates with a sub-600 credit score is difficult. If you feel your rating needs to be better and you need more time or assets to rectify it, enlist a specialist to argue with creditors. Check out our guide on choosing the most suitable credit recovery agency to handle your debt.
Who Are the Leaders in Credit Repair?
Below, you’ll find a comparison of their services, rates, and customer satisfaction among five leading companies in credit repair. To find out more about each company’s respective client experiences, we invite you to read the verified reviews.
Methodology Approach
WiseConsumer’s research department evaluated 15 companies providing credit repair that over 1519 customers had rated. To refine the selection, we only considered companies that disputed claims from each of the three credit bureaus. Also, we left out agencies that don’t feature free counseling for new customers.
The ranking of the best companies for credit repair of the year was then based on a specific algorithm that integrates, among other things, the recency and duration of the evaluations. Companies rated below 3.5 in overall satisfaction were excluded from refining the rankings further.
In addition, we examined data regarding the 5-star reviews of the top-ranked companies to highlight the best parts of each company.
- Credit Saint
- Ovation
- The Credit People
- Sky Blue Credit Restoration
- The Credit Pros
To date, all fees were accurate to those in effect.
Credit Saint
To date, Credit Saint has achieved an average overall satisfaction score of 3.9 on this site, taking into account 54 client experiences sent in throughout the past year.
Key points: Credit Saint makes three sets of credit repair plans available, from moderately aggressive to extremely aggressive. Fees for the first service start at $99 and go up to $195, according to the method selected. Monthly payments range from $79.99 to $119.99, with varying prices for each service you require. Credit Saint allows you to add a relative living in your home to your package and pay only one start-up fee.
Procedure: At your consultation, an advisor will explain the billing arrangements for the services. Plans offered cover unlimited credit bureau challenges, cease and desist notices, score tracking, monitoring from Experian, and additional services. Credit Saint teaches clients how to enhance their credit and maintain positive ratings.
Things we liked: Positive reviews of Credit Saint published over the past year frequently refer to the company’s agents as excellent and responsive. Also, former customers who would refer Credit Saint to someone they know note that their ratings have risen due to the company’s assistance.
Ovation Credit Services
Ovation has earned a 4.3 global satisfaction score from 331 customer reviews sent in over the past year.
Key points: Ovation provides two different credit repair plans: Essentials & Essentials Plus. In both cases, an $89 fee is required for the first treatment. For a monthly cost of $79, the Essentials package is suitable for many standard credit resolution problems. While the Essentials Plus is slightly more expensive ($109 monthly), it aims to get the more complex negative stuff out of the way faster. Essentials Plus features many dispute validation letters, goodwill letters and credit surveillance.
Procedure: A credit specialist will review your file information and financial history as part of the consultation offered. After enrollment, a strategy will be developed to address discrepancies found on your file. As with our other recommended services, clients can access a 24/7 online portal to track their ongoing progress.
Things we liked: Ovation is able to give same-day service, individual customer care and personalized solutions to disputes. Based on positive customer reviews, the company’s agents are friendly, helpful, and fun. We were also pleased to see that they provide discounts for seniors and military personnel.
The Credit People
To date, this company is among the most highly rated companies for credit repair listed there. It boasts a score of 4.6 in overall satisfaction according to 10 customer reviews submitted in the past year.
Key points: There is a choice of monthly or flat fee subscription. The monthly plan has a $19 fee for the first job and a $79 recurring monthly fee. The flat rate plan is $419 for a six-month term. With a monthly subscription, you can end your membership at any time.
Procedure: The Credit People claims that the first results will appear within 60 days. Under the monthly subscription, customers can easily cancel without paying for the entire month if they don’t like the service. The membership package of six months includes a guarantee of satisfaction.
Things we liked: The Credit People is among the best companies because of its flexibility in payments, fairly inexpensive setup and two different plan options. Throughout the past year, positive feedback has indicated a smooth process from the beginning to the end. Past clients appear to value the company’s responsiveness and competitively priced services.
Sky Blue Credit
To date, Sky Blue Credit is the best credit repair firm listed in our rankings. It earned a score of 4.7 for overall satisfaction, relying on 110 customer experiences sent in during the past year.
Key points: They are charging a $79 setup cost and $79 each month for their services. Couples who subscribe together are also eligible for a 50% discount on a membership.
Procedure: Following an initial consultation, Sky Blue experts typically resolve at least five claims per cycle for you (each is 35 days long). The firm’s credit repair services encompass professional review, score counseling, and customized challenges for non-compliant marks. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the service or outcomes, a full refund is available during the introductory 90 days of subscription.
Things we liked: Those likely to give Sky Blue a recommendation to a relative note that the firm’s credit restoration experts are knowledgeable, efficient and approachable by phone or email.
The Credit Pros
The global satisfaction score for The Credit Pros is 4.2, reflecting 37 customer reviews during the past year.
Key points: This company has four packages with subscription fees ranging from $19 to $149. The CreditSentry Tracking Plan ($19 for installation & $19 each month) incorporates IDCover monitoring with no credit repair services. The premium Success Plan ($149 for installation and $149 each month) includes monitoring and credit repair services, like debt approval letters, TCP Legal Network access or National Credit Direct.
Procedure: As part of the consultation, a certified FICO pro will analyze your credit records and develop a game plan, which may include letters of debt validation and ID theft disputes. Once entered into the system, your progress can be tracked using a web-based portal.
Things we liked: Credit counselors simplify the planning of your online preliminary consultation. Satisfied customers of The Credit Pros’ services who have left feedback generally cite the professionalism of their services and their fast results. We are also delighted that their plans include credit monitoring without additional fees.
What Does Credit Repair Involve?
Credit repair challenges negative marks or misinformation found on one’s credit reports to remove them. This process, sometimes referred to as credit restoration, involves disputing negative marks appearing on your financial reports from the credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax or TransUnion).
Credit restoration is critical for accessing financial assistance like loans or credit cards for most people. By improving your rating, you are able to increase your limit and obtain lower interest rates. The following are the most commonly targeted derogatory marks when repairing credit:
- Falsified accounts
- Accounts with overdue payments
- Accounts placed on collection
- Non-existent accounts
- Errors in data management
- Inaccurate personal information
- Court decisions
- Debts that have expired
- Debts not verified or validated
- Foreclosures
- Repossessions
- Delayed payments
- In-depth investigations
- Delinquent receivables
- Bankruptcy
Undertaking credit restoration on your own requires considerable effort, especially if you are a victim of ID theft or your creditworthiness is seriously damaged. We recommend that you turn to a professional credit restoration company in the event of numerous and multifaceted disputes.
In many cases, using a specialist to dispute any errors on your credit report is faster and more effective than trying to resolve them yourself. These credit restoration professionals have the relevant skills and resources to handle complicated financial issues.
What is the procedure of credit restoration?
In order to have inaccurate marks deleted from your credit history, the credit bureaus must verify the erroneous information. The agency must take off your credit report if the contested item fails to be validated. As time passes, the deletion of negative items enhances your overall score. Deleting even one negative entry from your credit history can raise your overall credit rating by over 100 points.
First, credit restoration firms collect your credit files from the three credit bureaus. Then, the professional analyzes these reports for any faults or errors. Some of the common mistakes that a credit restoration firm searches for are erroneous inquiries and duplicate, incorrect or missing accounts. If the specialist identifies errors in your current reports, they will dispute them.
Per the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act), credit reporting bureaus have 30 and 45 days to review a disputed claim. If they fail to verify it by this deadline, they are required to remove the listing. So, if you contest a late payment with the bureaus and your creditor cannot confirm the information, they must delete it from your report. For late payments under 90 days, it is possible to ask your creditor for a goodwill adjustment and to schedule payments to avoid any additional damage to your score.
Credit reporting agencies are responsible for notifying you of any adjustments they make to your file. In some cases, a dispute that has been removed may resurface on your credit history if the creditor demonstrates that the claim is justified. If you notice that a derogatory marking has been reinserted back onto your credit record, it is possible to rechallenge it. If you suspect a credit bureau or your creditors violated the FCRA, file a consumer complaint with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
Credit restoration methods also involve sending letters of cessation and disclaimers to the collectors of debts. Adverse items that credit restoration firms may eliminate are overdue payments, collections, errors on the credit report as well as charge-offs.
Credit Repair Services
Should you be concerned regarding your report, a competent credit restoration company can dispute the errors that are important to you. These companies work with accredited attorneys and financial professionals who are well-versed in the finer points of credit regulations. They handle all tasks, from writing letters to correspondence with the credit bureaus, creditors and collectors. But you will have to provide documentation to back up your disputes.
In addition, the top credit restoration companies explain to you why your credit rating is so low. Besides disputing credit reports, leading credit restoration agencies give you credit monitoring and debt negotiation services. Others advise on credit and debt handling so clients can build and maintain their creditworthiness. Credit repair services are particularly beneficial when helping individuals:
- Review their credit rating
- Analyze and review their credit records
- Set strategies to enhance their credit profile
- Challenge credit agencies to clear negative allegations
- Report errors to creditors themselves
- Cut back or suppress calls from collectors
What is the Cost of Credit Repair?
The amount of money spent on your credit restoration will be determined by the level of involvement you wish to put into the process. For example, if you hire a credit restoration firm, you should expect a start-up fee of about $100 and a monthly service fee of about $150 for six months. The process comes at no cost if you spend time repairing your credit by yourself. A credit restoration tool that ranges in price from $30 to $400 can help you write letters to creditors or credit reporting agencies.
What is the Fee for Credit Restoration Companies?
Generally, they charge a one-time sum, sometimes referred to as the “first job fee,” which ranges from $20 to $100. A few credit repair businesses bill per item successfully removed, while others have a flat fee for a specific duration, generally half a year. If the company is charging monthly, it tends to be in the range of $60 to $150 for each billing cycle.
A few companies give a reduction to couples who both seek credit repair services. Remember, legitimate credit restoration firms almost always provide a no-cost consultation and only ask for payment once they’ve completed their work with your account.
Tips for Selecting the Proper Credit Restoration Agency
A credit restoration company can be an asset when errors in your credit report seriously harm your overall rating. However, you need to know if a credit reparation agency is trustworthy before you hire their services. Finding the proper credit restoration organization that will perform the job correctly and quickly is critical to your success.
When comparing credit restoration companies, please pay attention to what functions and services they offer. Look at things like pricing and reputation. Good companies will provide you with timely progress information via email or phone. Check for warning signs, like a significant amount of money upfront or lousy customer feedback. Also, find out about your state’s legislation on credit restoration and reducing debt: in some states, for-profit debt relief firms are prohibited. These tips will help you choose the appropriate agency:
- Browse reviews: When comparing reviews, be alert to recurring problems like unexpected fees, ambiguous or misleading advertising campaigns or possible scams. Looking at reviews from past customers will help you spot red flags. A business that charges substantial money upfront may be a fraudulent enterprise.
- Formulate pertinent questions: Don’t retain a firm that fails to answer straightforward questions related to its credit restoration service offerings and pricing. Under the CROA (Credit Repair Organizations Act), credit reparation and restoration companies are illegal when they lie to consumers about their outcomes. Under this law, they must give a written agreement, and you have three days to cancel it if you choose not to accept the agreement at all. Ask specific questions about the firm’s credit repair procedure, like:
- Do you have any cancellation requirements?
- Do you check every credit reporting agencies?
- Do you hold any accreditations or certifications?
- Do you tailor each challenge letter or use a general template?
- In which ways are you protecting the privacy of your clients?
- Don’t get trapped by credit restoration scams: Beware of companies that promise great things before you consult with them – no one can guarantee success before they start. Another warning sign is when a firm requests that you dispute fair credit marks or make changes to your identity in any way, which involves getting a different social security number. Firms requiring substantial upfront fees before providing services are generally credit restoration scams.
- Establish reasonable expectations: Go through your credit history with an awareness of the purpose for which you seek a credit recovery professional before requesting a free counseling session. Your expectations must be reasonable for your situation. Ask questions regarding previous cases and the company’s success records at the consultation. A legitimate company will not charge a significant fee for the consultation. Instead, they will provide free consultations to get a clear picture of your finances.