The Credit Pros – Highly Rated by Forbes Advisor
Setup fee
$119 to $149
$100 off set up fee when you enroll online!*
Monthly fee
$69 to $149
Packages
3
$119 to $149
$100 off set up fee when you enroll online!*
$69 to $149
3
Jordan Tarver has spent seven years covering mortgage, personal loan and business loan content for leading financial publications such as Forbes Advisor. He blends knowledge from his bachelor's degree in business finance, his experience as a top performer in the mortgage industry and his entrepreneurial success to simplify complex financial topics. Jordan aims to make mortgages and loans understandable.
Jordan Tarver
Jordan Tarver has spent seven years covering mortgage, personal loan and business loan content for leading financial publications such as Forbes Advisor. He blends knowledge from his bachelor's degree in business finance, his experience as a top performer in the mortgage industry and his entrepreneurial success to simplify complex financial topics. Jordan aims to make mortgages and loans understandable.
Mike Cetera is the editor in chief for Forbes Marketplace U.S. Mike has written and edited articles about mortgages, savings accounts, CD rates and credit cards for more than a decade. Prior to joining Marketplace, his work appeared on Bankrate, The Points Guy and Fit Small Business. Mike earned a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois and has been a journalist for more than two decades. He also has offered his expertise in numerous TV, radio and print interviews.
Reviewed
Mike Cetera
Mike Cetera is the editor in chief for Forbes Marketplace U.S. Mike has written and edited articles about mortgages, savings accounts, CD rates and credit cards for more than a decade. Prior to joining Marketplace, his work appeared on Bankrate, The Points Guy and Fit Small Business. Mike earned a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois and has been a journalist for more than two decades. He also has offered his expertise in numerous TV, radio and print interviews.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Credit repair companies can help people rebuild credit after setbacks. They can also help you fix errors on your credit report. While correcting mistakes independently is feasible, it’s often time-consuming.
Although they can’t guarantee success, they can make disputing errors and contacting each credit bureau less tedious.
A good credit repair company is open about its services and fees, produces real results—such as fixing errors and boosting credit scores, and offers helpful customer service.
Forbes Advisor staff researched and assessed top credit repair companies to determine the best ones.
Read more
Show Summary
Best Credit Repair Companies of 2024
Tips for Comparing Credit Repair Companies
Consider these tips when comparing credit repair companies:
- Look out for potential scams. Credit repair companies typically have a bad reputation, right or wrong. So it’s crucial to look out for any potential red flags. These may include companies promising to remove negative items, avoiding explaining your rights or telling you not to contact credit reporting companies. You should also look into a company’s Better Business Bureau file and check to see if there are any complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Evaluate packages and fees. No two credit repair companies are identical. This means not only will they offer various packages, but they will also charge different fees. Some charge a monthly and setup fee while others charge only a monthly fee. If cost is a priority, be sure to evaluate and compare all packages and potential fees.
- Check to see if they include credit monitoring. When comparing different companies or packages within one company, be sure to check if credit monitoring is included. Some companies include it at no additional cost; others may require you to upgrade to a higher-tier package to receive the service.
- Look for a money-back guarantee. If you want to have more confidence in your credit repair journey, look for a company that offers a money-back guarantee to hedge your bet.
- Review any potential discounts. Some credit repair companies will offer discounts on setup or monthly fees, or both. For example, some companies on this list offer discounts for active military members, veterans and couples. Look for these deals if you want to save some money.
Methodology
We reviewed 13 popular credit repair companies based on 19 data points in the categories of stability, reputation and customer satisfaction, customer experience, services, and cost and fees. We chose the best companies based on the weighting assigned to each category:
- Cost and fees: 45%
- Services: 30%
- Customer experience: 10%
- Reputation and customer satisfaction: 10%
- Stability: 5%
Within each major category, we also considered several characteristics, including years in business, customer reviews and online resources the companies provide. We also looked at service packages offered, fee structure, money-back guarantees, discounts and cancellation policies.
Where appropriate, we awarded partial points depending on how well a lender met each criterion.
What Is Credit Repair?
Credit repair is when consumers work with companies that specialize in removing errors from credit reports with the intent to increase their credit score. Depending on the company someone works with, they can access a range of additional features, including free credit score updates, credit monitoring, writing cease and desist letters to debt collectors or even writing letters of recommendation to lenders you’re applying for a loan with.
It’s crucial to have a good credit score because lenders use it to help determine if you qualify for loans, mortgages and credit cards; landlords may also use it when reviewing a rental application.
How Much Does Credit Repair Cost?
A subscription model is the most common credit repair pricing structure. This means customers would pay a monthly fee between $60 to $200, depending on the package, plus a potential setup fee, which can be the same price as a full-month subscription.
Some companies estimate that it takes six months for the credit repair process to create results. So, for example, if you signed up for a package with a $100 monthly fee and $100 setup fee, after six months you would have paid $700. While it may seem worth it, you can do this work independently, though it would require more of your time.
Does Credit Repair Work?
While many companies will advertise how many negative entries they’ve had deleted, no reliable statistics exist that prove the effectiveness of credit repair companies. Credit repair companies can try to help you remove negative items from your credit report, but it’s not guaranteed to be successful.
Because you can do on your own everything a credit repair company can do, it’s often better to take the time to review your credit reports yourself and submit any disputes. Doing the work yourself is completely free, which will save you hundreds of dollars that you would pay a credit repair company.
Best Credit Repair Companies Ratings
| Rank | Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Learn More | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Credit Pros |  |
3.5 |  |
View More | ||
| 2 | Credit Saint |  |
3.0 |  |
View More | ||
| 3 | Sky Blue Credit |  |
2.5 |  |
Learn More | On Sky Blue's Website |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I fix my credit myself?
While a credit repair company can take the workload off your plate, you are able to fix your credit on your own. Follow these eight tips to take action:
• Get your credit report
• Review your credit report for errors
• Dispute any errors
• Pay late or past-due accounts
• Increase your credit limits
• Pay off high-interest debts
• Open a new credit card
• Pay balances on time
How long does it take to improve your credit?
Because each person’s financial situation is unique, there’s not an exact amount of time it takes to improve your credit. While credit scores typically update every 30 days, that doesn’t mean you’ll see an improvement in your score.
To understand how long it might take to improve your credit, let’s look at a FICO study of the average amount of time it takes to recover your score back to its original number after a negative mark on your credit report.
| Starting credit score of 680 | Starting credit score of 720 | Starting credit score of 780 | |
|---|---|---|---|
30-day late payment
| 9 months
| 2.5 years
| 3 years
|
90-day late payment
| 9 months
| 3 years
| 7 years
|
Short sale, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or foreclosure
| 3 years
| 7 years
| 7 years
|
Bankruptcy
| 5 years
| 7-10 years
| 7-10 years
|
*Note: Figures are approximations.
*This study was only done for mortgage payments.
How do I maintain good credit after it’s repaired?
After you repair your credit, it’s crucial to practice healthy credit habits to keep your credit score and reports in shape. Be sure to pay all your debts on time or early, don’t use more than 30% of your total credit limit, refrain from submitting multiple credit applications in a short period of time and only spend what you know you can afford.
It’s always a good idea to check your credit score regularly so you understand how your habits impact your score. You can also receive a free credit report weekly through AnnualCreditReport.com.This is a handy way to catch any new errors or negative information.
