Chicago Credit Repair
Are inaccurate items plaguing your credit reports? Check out the best Chicago credit repair companies to help you challenge and remove these errors.
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The best professional credit repair services in Chicago include:
- Lexington Law: Best Overall
- Credit Saint: Best for Money-back Guarantee
- Sky Blue Credit: Best for Couples Pricing
- The Credit Pros: Best for Credit Building
- The Credit People: Best for Flat-Rate Plan
- Illinois Credit Services: Best for Referrals
Your credit significantly impacts the interest rates on your loans and determines the credit cards you qualify for. In other words, better credit means better deals.
But what if inaccuracies are dragging down your credit? That's where credit repair comes in.
In this guide, uncover the best credit repair companies in The Windy City to help improve your credit.
Free Online Credit Assessment
- Free Credit Score
- Free Credit Report Summary
- Free Credit Recommendation
- 5 Minutes to Check Your Credit
Get Free Consultation From Experts
- Challenges to three credit bureaus
- Score Analysis and Tracker
- 90-Day Money-back Guarantee
- No first work fee for additional family member
Get a Free Consultation Today
- Plans start at $69/month and $119 first work fee
- 60 day money back guarantee
- Cancel service anytime
- Free Credit Monitoring
Get Started on Your Credit Repair
- No charges for the first 6 days
- 90-day guarantee
- 45-day dispute cycle
- Cancel service anytime
6 Best Chicago Credit Repair Companies
The best credit repair companies in Chicago all have their expertise. But here's a tip: take advantage of their free initial consultation or credit assessment to best know if they suit your needs.
Lexington Law: Best Overall
Lexington Law is a law firm with over 20 years of experience, specializing in credit repair. In 2023, it removed over 2 million inaccurate, negative items from the credit reports of its clients.[1]
Why We Like It:
Lexington Law offers Focus Tracks which are credit repair solutions for unexpected life events that impact your credit. These could be active military duty, national emergencies, or student loans.
Imagine you're a military member who's spent years overseas in active duty. It won't be uncommon if you have a thin credit history as a result of being far away from home.
Lexington Law will leverage statutes like the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to ensure your rights are protected. Additionally, Lexington Law will appeal to the goodwill of your creditors for affected accounts during your service.
Pricing & Fees:
Lexington Law offers only one premium credit repair package at $139.95/month.[2] You get the following:
- Skilled lawyers and paralegals working on your case
- Challenges to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- Monthly TransUnion FICO score
- $1 million identity theft insurance
- Personalized strategies to improve your credit score
The first payment is charged five days after you enroll, but Lexington Law doesn’t specify the exact amount. Then after a month, you'll be charged the monthly fee.
Pros & Cons:
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In 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a settlement with Lexington Law for violating several guidelines of the Telemarketing Sales Rule.
As a result, Lexington Law faced a substantial $2.7 billion judgment as compensation for their violations.[3]Free Online Credit Assessment
- Free Credit Score
- Free Credit Report Summary
- Free Credit Recommendation
- 5 Minutes to Check Your Credit
Credit Saint: Best Money-back Guarantee
Credit Saint has been offering its credit repair services in the United States. Since 2004, it has helped over 200,000 clients improve their credit reports.[4]
Why We Like It:
Being one of the most aggressive companies available in Chicago, Credit Saint stands out for its 90-day money-back guarantee.
This means if you don't see inaccurate items taken off your credit reports within 90 days from enrollment, you can get a full refund.
Additionally, Credit Saint waives the initial fees for members added to your account. So you can invite your spouse or another family member and enjoy the savings.
Pricing & Fees:
Credit Saint offers three packages with the following features:[5]
| CLEAN SLATE | CREDIT REMODEL | CREDIT POLISH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressiveness | Very High | High | Medium |
| Price (monthly) | $139.99 | $109.99 | $79.99 |
| Initial working fee/first work fee | $195.00 | $99.00 | $99.00 |
| Challenges to the 3 credit bureaus | Unlimited disputes | ✔ | ✔ |
| Creditor intervention letters | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Score tracker and analysis | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Inquiry targeting | ✔ | ✔ | — |
| Personalized guide to credit building | ✔ | ✔ | — |
Pros & Cons:
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Sky Blue Credit: Best for Couples Pricing
Sky Blue Credit is one of the longest-running credit repair companies around. Since 1989, it has been offering its services in the United States, and it's available in Chicago.[6]
Additionally, Sky Blue Credit is one of the few companies in Chicago that offers couples pricing. You get discounted monthly fees for signing up with another person.
Why We Like It:
Credit repair can get pricey, especially if there are a lot of inaccurate items on your credit reports. Thankfully, Sky Blue Credit's couples pricing is one of the cheapest plans.
Also, all plans are protected with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not satisfied with your service, you can request a refund by contacting support.
Lastly, Sky Blue Credit offers a distinctive Mortgage Preparation service. If you're planning on buying your first home or refinancing your current mortgage, Sky Blue Credit can help optimize your credit reports for this big financial step.
Pricing & Fees:
Sky Blue Credit offers the following features for each package:[7]
| PREMIUM | FULL SERVICE | BASIC SERVICE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (monthly) | Individual: $119.00 Couples: $179.00 | Individual: $99.00 Couples: $149.00 | Individual: $79.00 Couples: $119.00 |
| Initial working fee/first work fee | Same as monthly price | ||
| 3-bureau credit reports and scores | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Credit bureau disputes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Score tracker | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Credit updates | Every 45 days | Every 45 days | Every 60 days |
| Creditor interventions | ✔ | ✔ | — |
| Credit builder tool | ✔ | ✔ | — |
| Monthly inquiry disputes | ✔ | — | — |
| Debt validation letters | ✔ | — | — |
| Cease and desist letters | ✔ | — | — |
| Personal Information Correction letters | ✔ | — | — |
Pros & Cons:
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Get Started on Your Credit Repair
- No charges for the first 6 days
- 90-day guarantee
- 45-day dispute cycle
- Cancel service anytime
The Credit Pros: Best for Credit Building
Not all credit repair companies are created equal. Most focus on credit repair, but with The Credit Pros, you get to repair and build your credit at the same time. You can achieve your ideal credit more quickly.
Why We Like It:
With The Credit Pro's Repair + Build Credit plan, you get a $5,000 tradeline with National Credit Direct. You can shop on the website and pay off your balance every month on time.
Additionally, with selected plans, The Credit Pros reports your monthly payments to the credit bureaus. Over time, you'll build more positive items on your credit reports with these transactions.
Also, The Credit Pros provides credit monitoring features to help you track unauthorized use of your information. No need to spend extra on a separate credit monitoring app to prevent identity theft.
Pricing & Fees:
Here's what else you can get from them:[8]
| REPAIR + BUILD CREDIT | REPAIR CREDIT | BUILD CREDIT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (monthly) | $149.00 | $129.00 | $69.00 |
| First work fee | $149.00 | $129.00 | $119.00 |
| Unlimited disputes to the credit bureaus | ✔ | ✔ | — |
| Creditor interventions | ✔ | ✔ | — |
| Cease and Desist letters | ✔ | ✔ | — |
| Positive payment reporting | ✔ | — | ✔ |
| Credit Building Tradeline | ✔ | — | — |
| ID Cover Darkweb Monitoring | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TransUnion fraud alerts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Debt Payoff & Budgeting System | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Pros & Cons:
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Get a Free Consultation Today
- Plans start at $69/month and $119 first work fee
- 60 day money back guarantee
- Cancel service anytime
- Free Credit Monitoring
The Credit People: Best for Flat-Rate Plan
The Credit People is another credit repair company with offices in Chicago. It's been around since 2001, with clients having seen their credit scores improve by an average of 50–100 points.[9]
Why We Like It:
The Credit People is distinctive for being the only company that offers a flat-rate plan. For $599, you get 6 months of Premium credit repair service.
This lets you save around $20/month instead of paying the regular Premium plan.
The satisfaction guarantee covers the entire 6 months of this plan. You can remain at ease knowing your full payment is protected.
On top of that, The Credit People offers setup fees that are among the most affordable in the credit repair industry. You only need to pay $19 to start. You'll be charged the service fee after seven days.
Pricing & Fees:
You can choose between a flat-rate package and two regular monthly packages:[10]
| PREMIUM FLAT RATE | PREMIUM | STANDARD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 for 6 months | $119/month | $99/month |
| Setup fee | $19 | ||
| Challenges to the 3 credit bureaus | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Unlimited challenges | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Before & After credit scores | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Monthly credit scores | ✔ | ✔ | — |
| Creditor interventions | ✔ | ✔ | — |
| Escalated disputes & validations | ✔ | ✔ | — |
Pros & Cons:
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Illinois Credit Services: Best for Referrals
Illinois Credit Services is a credit repair company that has been in business since 2009. As such, it has built a solid network of referral partners for your inquiries.
Why We Like It:
If someone you know is interested in credit repair, try Joint Credit Services for a plan. You get to save around $25/month and also significantly reduce the first work fee per person.
That said, the company's edge is that it has an established network of partners for other services. A lot of referral partners include mortgage professionals, employment agencies, and real estate professionals.
This means if you're looking to buy a new car or find better insurance, you can inquire and get referrals from Illinois Credit Services once your credit improves.
Pricing & Fees:
Illinois Credit Services offers two plans with these features:[14]
| INDIVIDUAL CREDIT SERVICES | JOINT CREDIT SERVICES | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (monthly) | $99 | $149 |
| Initial working fee/first work fee | $189 | $239 |
| Dispute letters to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion | ✔ | ✔ |
| Letter of enrollment | ✔ | ✔ |
| Goodwill letters | ✔ | ✔ |
| Credit report review | ✔ | ✔ |
| Debt validation letters | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dispute letter to creditors | ✔ | ✔ |
| 24/7 online portal access | ✔ | ✔ |
Individual Credit Services is for one person only, while the Joint Credit Services plan covers two people.
The first work fee is charged 14 days after your enrollment date. Then after a month, you'll be charged the monthly fee.
Pros & Cons:
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Credit Repair Process in Chicago
Chicago credit repair companies will review your credit reports and challenge the credit bureaus for items that are inaccurate. That way, negative items impacting your credit score will be removed.
Here's how it works:
- Sign up for a free consultation
You can start with an initial consultation or credit assessment. Most companies offer this for free and may even pull your credit reports without charge to get started. - Professionals review your credit reports
Professionals will review your credit reports for inaccurate or outdated items. They will also analyze items that may not belong to you. - Professionals send dispute letters for you
Once they find inaccurate items, credit repair companies will write and send dispute letters to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to dispute the items in question. - Wait for results
Credit bureaus have 30–45 days to investigate your claim in the dispute letter. Once they complete their investigation, they have five business days to inform you of the results.
If the first round of dispute letters doesn't remove the item in question, you can ask your credit repair company to send another one. This allows you to include additional supporting evidence and re-dispute the item for a better chance of removal.
Keep in mind that another round of disputes will require waiting another 30–50 days for new results.
Each person has unique credit so there is no definite way to fix your credit fast. Each dispute letter may take 30–50 days to get resolved. If you want to speed up improving your credit, you can try credit builders, monitor your credit for suspicious activities, and build better financial habits.
Chicago Credit Repair State Law
Since Chicago is in Illinois, credit repair companies should follow the Illinois Credit Services Organizations Act (815 ILCS 605) and do the following:
- Register with the Secretary of State and pay the registration fee of $100
- Obtain a surety bond of $100,000 before doing business and maintain it for a period of 2 years after ceasing operations
- Provide a contract in writing, dated and signed
- Provide a clear notice of cancellation in the contract
- Return any payment you made if you cancel the contract within 3 days of signing
Chicago credit repair companies are also obliged to follow the Credit Repair Organizations Act and the provisions in Telemarketing Sales Rule.
Credit repair companies are prohibited from using any abusive and deceptive practices to telemarket their services. This means no company should state false claims and guarantee promises to you, or contact you to advertise their services without your consent.
All contracts should provide clear guidelines on your rights and state your right to cancel the service at any time within 3 days of signing the contract. Additionally, you shouldn't be demanded to pay upfront fees before they do any type of work.
Yes, credit repair is legal in Chicago. However, credit repair companies should follow the statutes and guidelines stated in the Illinois Credit Services Organizations Act before offering their services.
Is Chicago Credit Repair Worth It?
Chicago credit repair companies are worth it if there are numerous inaccuracies in your credit reports. It takes a lot of expertise and knowledge for disputes to lead to successful removals.
Some negative items may even need strategies to be disputed successfully. So, signing up with reputable companies may increase your confidence regarding the results.
That said, the process of credit repair takes a lot of time and can cost hundreds of dollars. If you have only selected negative items impacting your credit, a DIY may be a better option.
There is no definite amount of time to improve your credit. It may take 3 to 6 months to see initial improvements in your credit reports. However, it may take more time to improve your credit score to an excellent range (above 800).
How to Do Credit Repair by Yourself
If you don't have the extra budget for professional services, you can do the credit repair process on your own.
First, get free copies of your credit reports in AnnualCreditReport.com. Analyze the errors. Then write the dispute letters and send them to the credit bureaus.
You can also improve your credit by settling your debts on time and improving your financial habits.
How to Choose a Chicago Credit Repair Company
Not sure what to look for in a credit repair company? These factors can help narrow down your choices.
- History and experience
Look for companies that have a proven track record. That way, it'll be easier to get the latest news and updates regarding the company's performance, legal compliance, and accreditations. - Testimonials and reviews
Online platforms like BBB, Google Reviews, and Trustpilot are your best friends. Search for comments, reviews, and ratings to gauge and assess the company you're eyeing. - Guarantee and refund policies
Not all companies offer a guarantee and refund policy. If you want the extra safety net for your payments, go for companies with money-back guarantee or satisfaction guarantee. - Website and online presence
Most things are online now. Search for the company's website, social media accounts, and verified profiles online. This way, you'll see the basic information and send inquiries before you decide to sign up for their service.
Free Online Credit Assessment
- Free Credit Score
- Free Credit Report Summary
- Free Credit Recommendation
- 5 Minutes to Check Your Credit
Get Free Consultation From Experts
- Challenges to three credit bureaus
- Score Analysis and Tracker
- 90-Day Money-back Guarantee
- No first work fee for additional family member
Get a Free Consultation Today
- Plans start at $69/month and $119 first work fee
- 60 day money back guarantee
- Cancel service anytime
- Free Credit Monitoring
Get Started on Your Credit Repair
- No charges for the first 6 days
- 90-day guarantee
- 45-day dispute cycle
- Cancel service anytime
Our Methodology
We chose credit repair companies with more than 10 years of experience and continue to provide services to consumers. These companies have a track record for removing millions of items and helping thousands of clients in their years in the industry.
We also look at the pricing structure and potential costs when you sign up, such as:
- First work fees
- Service fees
- Other charges
- Promos and discounts
All companies on the list have extensive websites with a large library of news, articles, and resources. Some even feature online tools to help you with your finances.
Lastly, we considered companies that had a significant number of reviews from clients and prospects. We browse platforms like BBB, Trustpilot, and Google Reviews, and look for social media profiles of these credit repair companies.
Bottom Line
Credit repair isn't out of reach for residents in The Windy City. There are companies in Chicago that help improve your credit.
But keep in mind that reputable companies may charge expensive fees. For this reason, you can start by settling your debts first and study the DIY approach.
Then, sign up with a company for more challenging items on your credit reports.
Free Online Credit Assessment
- Free Credit Score
- Free Credit Report Summary
- Free Credit Recommendation
- 5 Minutes to Check Your Credit
Get Free Consultation From Experts
- Challenges to three credit bureaus
- Score Analysis and Tracker
- 90-Day Money-back Guarantee
- No first work fee for additional family member
Get a Free Consultation Today
- Plans start at $69/month and $119 first work fee
- 60 day money back guarantee
- Cancel service anytime
- Free Credit Monitoring
Get Started on Your Credit Repair
- No charges for the first 6 days
- 90-day guarantee
- 45-day dispute cycle
- Cancel service anytime
References
- ^ Lexington Law. Lexington Law - Home Page, Retrieved 10/21/2024
- ^ Lexington Law. How much does Lexington Law cost?, Retrieved 10/08/2024
- ^ CFPB. CFPB Reaches Multibillion Dollar Settlement with Credit Repair Conglomerate, Retrieved 10/24/2024
- ^ Credit Saint. Credit Saint - Home Page, Retrieved 10/24/2024
- ^ Credit Saint. Packages, Retrieved 10/08/2024
- ^ Sky Blue Credit. About Us, Retrieved 10/24/2024
- ^ Sky Blue Credit. Member pricing, Retrieved 10/08/2024
- ^ The Credit Pros. How Much Does Credit Repair Cost, Retrieved 10/09/2024
- ^ The Credit People. The Credit People - Home Page, Retrieved 10/24/2024
- ^ The Credit People. Plans & Pricing, Retrieved 09/16/2024
- ^ The Credit People. FAQ: IS there a discount for couples?, Retrieved 11/01/2024
- ^ Illinois Credit Services.About Illinois Credit Services, Retrieved 10/24/2024
- ^ Credit Expert Consulting. About Jim Droske, Retrieved 11/08/2024
- ^ Illinois Credit Services. Credit Repair Pricing, Retrieved 10/24/2024
Alex Mambaje is a research analyst at CreditDonkey, a credit card comparison and reviews website. Write to Alex Mambaje at mambaje@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.
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