Best Credit Repair Companies in October 2024

Benzinga's top picks for the best credit repair companies for this month include Step and Credit Saint.

A good credit score is essential in today's financial landscape, as it significantly affects your ability to secure loans, mortgages, and even job opportunities. If your credit score is less than ideal, don't worry. There are effective ways to improve it. While you can take steps on your own to enhance your credit score, working with a credit repair specialist can expedite the process of boosting your score and yield better results. These professionals possess expert knowledge of credit reporting and can pinpoint errors or inaccuracies that may be dragging down your credit score. When selecting a credit repair company, it's important to choose one that is reputable and has reasonable fees, along with a range of services tailored to your needs. To make this process easier, Benzinga has curated a list of top credit repair companies, helping you navigate your way toward better financial health.

Quick Look at the Best Credit Repair Specialists:

• Best for Free Credit Building: Step
• Best for Overall Services: Credit Saint
• Best for Building a Budgeting System: The Credit Pros
• Best for Minimal Setup Fees: The Credit People
• Best for Legal Advice on Credit Scores: Lexington Law Firm
• Best for Help with All Credit-related Problems: Credit Assistance Network

6 Best Credit Repair Companies

The best credit repair companies provide fast results by helping you tackle the most impactful aspects of what’s holding your credit back. Here’s a look at the leading options to help you return your credit to a decent number that allows you to take out loans, get into safe apartment complexes, or purchase a car or home.

1. Best for Free Credit Building: Step

Unlike other credit repair specialist or companies on this list, Step is a mobile app that allows you to open a secured credit card that works to build your credit. These cards are great for kids, parents, those with little credit history, fair credit score or bad credit score from the past. You can sign up today, pay no fees and manage everything in the app so that you can get back on track. Every purchase made is reported to all three credit bureaus, and you only pay what is put into the card.

Why We Picked It: Step serves everything, no matter their situation, making it the ideal secured credit card for anyone, even teenagers who are starting to learn about money, working, etc.

2. Best for Overall Services: Credit Saint

Credit Saint has low setup fees and fair monthly pricing to help you get to work on your credit affordably. The company has outstanding reviews on Google, with high satisfaction ratings. And if you don’t experience that same satisfaction, the company offers a 90-day money-back guarantee. Its basic service includes analyzing your credit score, educating you about what affects your credit, challenging the credit bureaus on anything that’s out of place and tracking your score. 

If you step up to the next plan level, you can also get creditor intervention letters, inquiry targeting, real-time account sync, credit score and report for one bureau, and a guide to building your credit based on the changes you need to make. Their robust online chat hours, including weekends, offer a convenient and efficient way to get the support you need.

Why We Picked It: With its personalized service, top-notch customer service and stellar reputation, Credit Saint is truly the best option for overall credit repair services. Their team of experts knows the ins and outs of credit repair and are dedicated to helping their customers achieve their financial goals.

3. Best for Building a Budgeting System: The Credit Pros

While credit repair is important to getting access to line of credit, securing better insurance rates and so much more, it only lasts so long if you fall back into bad habits. The Credit Pros offers additional features that help you learn how to manage your money wisely to keep your good credit once your number improves. You can get free consultation to discuss your current situation before paying for their services, which include identity monitoring, budgeting system and credit-builder loans. The company receives an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Why We Picked It: The Credit Pros offers a comprehensive solution for getting out of debt and staying out of debt. With their debt payoff and budgeting system, they provide the tools and support you need to take control of your finances.

4. Best for Minimal Setup Fees: The Credit People

Paying upfront setup fees when struggling financially can be challenging. That’s why The Credit People is an attractive service for many people looking to repair their credit. The setup fee is only $19, which is far less than the standard $99 monthly fee, which can be higher depending on the tier you select from other companies.

But it isn’t just a cheap service. It also is effective. Many customers claim they saw results starting at 60 days of using the service. It also has an easy-to-use interface with a clear dashboard to help you track your credit score. However, without a mobile app, you’ll need to log in through your web browser regularly.

Why We Picked It: For a minimal investment, you can sign up for The Credit People's financial services and begin the process of repairing your credit. This low barrier to entry makes it easy for individuals with limited financial resources to take the first step towards financial freedom.

5. Best for Legal Advice on Credit Scores: Lexington Law Firm

When you want an experienced company on your side to improve your credit rating, turn to Lexington Law Firm. With more than 10 years in the industry, the firm has encountered a variety of scenarios and is prepared to advocate for you. With no initial or setup fees, you are provided with a free credit report summary and repair recommendations.

Why We Picked It: Lexington Law Firm provides access to lawyers and paralegals to help you improve your credit score and offer credit counseling service. With their expertise and guidance, clients can take proactive steps to rebuild their credit.

6. Best for Help with All Credit-Related Problems: Credit Assistance Network

Whether you are seeking extensive credit repair services or simply need assistance with a credit-related issue, the Credit Assistance Network can help. The company is not your traditional credit repair specialist. Instead, it comes alongside you to help with specific challenges or create a plan for improving your credit quickly. Plus, you can get a free credit consultation. Their lowest price tier is less expensive than competitors ($49 per month).

Why We Picked It: Credit Assistance Network offers a wide range of services at different prices to help clients improve their credit rating, including credit repair, credit monitoring, debt validation and more. They provide comprehensive solutions to address all aspects of credit repair and financial health.

What Is Credit Repair?

Credit repair is the process of identifying and disputing inaccuracies on a person’s credit report in order to improve their credit score and overall creditworthiness. This can involve reviewing credit reports for errors, negotiating with creditors, and addressing any negative items that may be affecting the individual's credit standing. Credit repair services may also provide advice on budgeting and responsible credit use to help clients establish positive credit habits.

What Does a Credit Repair Specialist Do?

A credit repair specialist helps you fix your credit. It involves several steps, which vary based on the company you select but might include:

• Identifying errors on your credit report, including your personal information or account information (like balances, payment history, credit limit)
• Disputing errors on your credit report
• Educating customers on what’s impacting their credit score
• Offering guaranteed loans to help build your credit
• Monitoring your credit
• Preparing and sending letters to the credit bureaus and debt collectors

How Credit Repair Works

Credit repair works by identifying and addressing inaccuracies or negative items on a person's credit report that can adversely affect their credit score. The process typically involves reviewing the credit report for errors, including late payments, charge-offs, or accounts that don’t belong to the individual. Once such discrepancies are identified, credit repair services or individuals can dispute these items with the credit bureaus, requesting investigations and corrections. The objective is to remove or amend harmful information, thereby improving the credit score. Additionally, credit repair may also involve guidance on improving financial habits, paying down debt, and establishing a positive credit history, all of which contribute to a healthier credit profile over time.

How Do Credit Repair Companies Work?

A credit repair company uses the laws to protect your rights and help you get a fair credit score. Some of your rights when it comes to your credit include knowing your credit score, what’s on file in your credit report, and the chance to dispute inaccurate information. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), for example, gives consumers the right to access their credit reports, dispute inaccurate information, and seek damages from entities that violate the law. This act aims to protect consumers from unfair and inaccurate credit reporting practices.

While disputing something on your credit is not a guarantee that the credit bureau will remove it, you will at least have a chance at making the update. 

Credit repair companies offer many services, such as a credit consultation, challenging inaccurate items on your credit report, providing regular progress reports and fighting for your rights.

How to Choose the Right Credit Repair Specialist

Here are things to keep in mind when choosing a credit repair company:

• The breadth of service offering: Each company offers its own set of services. Look for one that includes the credit services and features you need, such as credit counseling, dispute letters, education, consultations, loans, etc.
• Transparent pricing and agreements: Make sure you know what you’re signing up for. Some companies require a certain number of months of commitment, which means you can’t cancel at any time. Others are fuzzy on what’s included in your service. Select a transparent company that tells you exactly what you get for your fees.
• Access to customer service: You’re busy with all the other aspects of daily life. Getting in touch with your credit repair specialist shouldn’t be hard. Look for the company that allows you to reach them via phone, email, online chat and any other communication channel you prefer.
• Fair pricing: Choose the service with fair prices that meet your budget while still providing great results.
• Customer reviews: Read the reviews about the company to see what past customers have said. Some good places to go are Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau. That way you know you’re reading reputable reviews that the company has not filtered so you only see the best of the best.
• Money-back guarantees and freedom to cancel: Companies that allow you to cancel at any time are probably more confident in their services than those that hold you captive for a set number of months.

How to Avoid Credit Repair Scams

Sadly, there are many people out there who prey on people looking to improve their financial standing through credit repair. Protect yourself from these scammers with these tactics.

• It seems too good to be true: If so, it probably is. If the company is overpromising, this is not the best option for you. They should not guarantee results because there is no way to guarantee credit improvements since each person’s situation is unique.
• They are not CROA compliant: The Credit Repair Organization Act (CROA) helps protect consumers from scams. Read the act to ensure that the company is compliant.
• Pricing seems out of line with competitors: When the price is extremely high or bottom of the barrel, that should tip you off that something isn’t right here. Don’t pay hundreds of dollars per month for a service when most are between $100-$150. 
• There are no tools or resources for learning about credit: Additional features and education help you learn about your credit and ensure you’re taking proper steps. Without that, you might not know that the company is just taking your money without results.
• Reviews are generally negative: Read reviews on as many third-party sites as you can. If the reviews are generally negative or past customers experienced pain points that you don’t think you can deal with, avoid the company.

Alternatives to Credit Repair Companies

There are several alternatives to credit repair companies for individuals looking to improve their credit scores.

• Take a DIY approach by obtaining a copy of your credit report and reviewing it for errors or derogatory marks. You can dispute inaccurate information directly with the credit reporting agencies.
• Work on improving your credit score by paying down outstanding debts, making timely payments, and reducing credit card balances to lower your credit utilization ratio.
• Utilize financial education resources and budgeting tools which can help you develop better financial habits.
• Seek help from non-profit credit counseling services, which can provide personalized advice and assistance with debt management plans without the high fees typically associated with credit repair companies.

Start Your Journey to Better Credit

When your credit score is too low to get access to financial tools and resources, it can be frustrating and you might not know where to turn or what to do. Working with a company skilled in credit repair can help you elevate your score quickly and get on track with improvements that can be life-changing.

Frequently Asked Questions