How Much Does Credit Repair Cost
Find out how much credit repair services cost, four of the best credit repair companies available, and how much you will pay to do it yourself.
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If you're looking to improve your credit score, you might consider a credit repair service.
But should you be spending your hard-earned money on it?
In this article, find out whether credit repair is worth the money. Plus, see a pricing breakdown of four specific companies and learn the basics of credit repair.
What is a Credit Repair?
Credit repair typically involves paying a company to contact the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) to remove inaccurate information from your credit report.
The purpose of credit repair is to improve your credit score. With a better credit score, you'll appear more trustworthy to lenders, get better interest rates on loans and credit cards, and have better odds of getting financing in general.
It is possible to perform your own credit repair, but the process often takes a significant amount of time and patience (more on this later).
You can access your credit report once per year free of charge at www.annualcreditreport.com.
How Does Credit Repair Work?
If you hire a credit repair company, this is how the process will work:
- First, the company will audit your credit report. This is to find any inaccurate information that is negatively impacting your credit score.
- Next, they will dispute the information in writing to the major credit bureaus and provide supporting documentation to prove the information is inaccurate.
- Finally, the company will follow up with you regarding the outcome of the dispute.
How To Detect Scam Credit Repair Companies
Unfortunately, if you're seeking credit repair companies, you'll want to be aware of some common scams. Look out for these things:
- Guarantees. Credit repair companies cannot guarantee results according to the law. Look for guarantees like:
- Increased credit scores
- Results in a very short time
- Removal of accurate negative marks
- Increased credit scores
- Payment Before Services. Scammers could ask for a high upfront payment or charge a cancellation fee.
- Offering A New Identity. You can't get a new Employer Identification Number (EIN) or a Credit Privacy Number (CPN).
- Asks You To Lie. They may try to persuade you to claim accurate negative markers were inaccurate or to use an EIN or CPN number to claim identity theft.
- Doesn't Explain Your Legal Rights. Fraudulent companies may tell you not to contact credit bureaus directly, not let you review your contract, or not advise you that you can repair your credit yourself.
Credit repair companies have to follow the law, which you can learn about below.
What is the Credit Repair Organizations Act?
The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) is a statute under United States law that was originally signed in 1996 to provide consumers with legal protections when dealing with credit repair companies.
These consumer protections include:
- Requires affirmative disclosures during the sale or marketing of credit repair services.
- Prohibits companies from demanding advance payment for services.
- Requires contracts to be in writing.
- Guarantees certain contract termination rights to the consumer.
Credit Repair Cost
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The cost of credit repair services varies widely depending on the company you choose and the services you want. The average price range for credit repair services is between $50 and $125 per month.
When selecting the best credit repair company for you, be sure to read the fine print to discover any additional fees, such as a first work fee, which is common in the industry.
1. Lexington Law
Lexington Law is arguably the most reputable credit repair company in the country, but you get what you pay for — it is also one of the most expensive.
Lexington Law offers only one premium package that costs $139.95/month. You'll be charged an initial work fee five days after you sign up. After that, you will pay $139.95/month.
Free Online Credit Assessment
- Free Credit Score
- Free Credit Report Summary
- Free Credit Recommendation
- 5 Minutes to Check Your Credit
2. CreditRepair.com
CreditRepair.com is another reputable company that has been in business for over a decade. You will be charged a monthly fee that starts at $49.95/month.
Similar to Lexington Law, CreditRepair.com charges first payment which costs the same as the monthly fee.
3. Credit Firm
As one of the least expensive credit repair options available, Credit Firm comes at a flat price of $49.99 with no setup fees.[1]
The best part is that this affordable option comes with many of the bells and whistles of its more expensive counterparts, including licensed attorney supervision of your account, unlimited bureau challenges, Consumer Finance Protection Bureau requests, and more.
Is Credit Repair Worth It?
Paying for a credit repair service is ultimately a personal decision. But remember that credit repair companies can only do what you can accomplish alone.
However, credit repair companies often come prepared with licensed attorneys and years or even decades of experience, making it easier and faster to remove negative marks from your credit report.
Also, remember that credit repair is limited to removing inaccurate derogatory remarks from your report. If negative information is accurate, it cannot be removed.
For example, if your poor credit score is caused by failing to make on-time payments or accounts in collections that are accurately included in your credit report, credit repair will not be able to help you.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair Your Own Credit?
If you choose to DIY your credit repair, the primary expense will be time and energy. The workload to repair your own credit report includes but is not limited to:
- Requesting your credit report
- Researching and fact-checking negative items on your report
- Collecting evidence of inaccuracies
- Writing letters to each of the three major credit bureaus
- Mailing letters and documentation to the bureaus
In addition, you will likely pay about $25 in postage to send your documents.
Paying a credit repair company will save you time and effort. Doing it yourself will save you money. It all comes down to your personal preferences and needs.
The Bottom Line
Before contacting a credit repair agency, you should always review your own credit report to find out if inaccurate information or errors are indeed lowering your score.
If you are seeking out credit repair services, you can expect to pay between $50 and $125 on average. Be sure to keep an eye out for additional fees, including first work fees, and consider whether a DIY method is best for you.
References
Write to Justin Barnard at feedback@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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