However, there are steps you can take to start building a more positive credit history and improve your credit scores over time. Check Your Credit Report To get a better understanding of your credit picture and what lenders can see, check your credit report and learn more about how to read your Experian credit report.

It's also a good idea to order your free credit score from Experian. With it, you'll receive a list of the risk factors that are most impacting your scores so you can make changes that will help your scores improve. If you find information that is incorrect, you can file a dispute with the credit reporting agency on whose report you found it.

You should also contact the lender that is reporting the incorrect information directly and ask them to correct their records. Your payment history is the most important component of FICO ® scoring models. Late and missed payments will reduce your credit scores, and bankruptcies and collections can cause significant damage.

This negative information will remain on your credit report and impact your credit scores for seven to 10 years. Your scores often take into account the size of your debt and the timing of your missed payments.

The bigger your debt is, and the more recent your missed payments are, the worse your score will be, typically. Bringing accounts current and continuing to pay on time will almost always have a positive impact on your credit scores. Credit scoring models usually take into account your credit utilization ratio, or rate , which is how much you owe compared with how much credit you have available.

Basically, it's the sum of all of your revolving debt such as your credit card balances divided by the total credit that is available to you or the total of all your credit limits —multiplied by to get a percentage.

High credit utilization can negatively impact your credit scores. That said, while increasing your credit limit may seem like an appealing option, it can be a risky move.

If increasing your credit limit tempts you to spend more, you could fall deeper into debt. Additionally, if you try to open a new credit card, a hard inquiry will appear on your credit report and could temporarily reduce your credit score by a few points.

Also, while consolidating your debt with a personal loan can drop your utilization rate to zero immediately, it can be tough to get approved for a loan with a reasonable interest rate if your credit score is in poor shape.

As such, paying down your balances on credit cards and other revolving credit accounts may be the best option to improve your credit utilization rate and, subsequently, your credit scores. Scoring models consider how much you owe and across how many different accounts.

If you have debt across a large number of accounts, it may be beneficial to pay off some of the accounts, if you can.

Paying down credit card debt is the goal of many who've accrued debt in the past, but even after you pay the balance down to zero, consider keeping that account open. Not only can closing it hurt scores by eliminating that available credit and increasing your credit utilization ratio, but keeping paid off accounts open can also be a plus because they're aged accounts in good paid-off standing.

And again, you may also consider debt consolidation. Credit scoring models, like those created by FICO ® , often factor in the age of your oldest account and the average age of all of your accounts, rewarding individuals with longer credit histories. Before you close a credit card account , think about your credit history.

It can be beneficial to leave a credit card open even if you've paid it off and don't plan on using it anymore. Of course, if keeping accounts open and having credit available could trigger additional spending and debt, you may choose to close the accounts after all. Like fingerprints, every person has a unique financial situation, and only you know all the ins and outs of yours.

Make sure you carefully evaluate your situation to figure out the approach that works best for you. Opening several credit accounts in a short period of time can cause you to appear risky to lenders and, in turn, negatively impact your credit scores.

Before you take out a loan or open a new credit card account, consider the effects it could have on your credit. Note, however, that when you're buying a car or looking around for the best mortgage rates, your inquiries may be grouped together and counted as only one inquiry for the purpose of credit scoring.

In many commonly used scoring models, recent inquiries have a greater effect than older inquiries, and they only appear on your credit report for 24 months. It's hard to say with certainty how long it takes to rebuild credit because each person's credit history is different.

If you've had credit difficulties in the past, how long it will take to rebound depends in part on the severity of the negative information in your credit report and how long ago it occurred.

While some actions can have an almost immediate effect—such as paying down credit card balances—others may take months to make a significant positive impact. If you're disputing information in your credit report you believe is fraudulent or inaccurate, the investigation can take up to 30 days.

If the credit reporting agency finds your dispute valid, the information will be removed from your credit report, and your score will reflect that change as soon as it's calculated again. If you're making payments or reducing your credit card balances, don't worry if your credit report isn't updated right away.

Creditors only report to Experian and other credit reporting agencies on a periodic basis, usually monthly. It can take up to 30 days or more for your account statuses to be updated, depending on when in the month your creditor or lender reports their updates. It's critical that you check your credit score regularly to keep track of your progress and make sure the right information is being reported over time.

As you build a positive credit history , over time, your credit scores will likely improve, and you'll have a better chance of qualifying for favorable credit terms when you need to borrow again.

How to Get Extra Help With Your Credit and Debt If your debt is manageable, consider consolidating it via a personal loan or balance transfer credit card.

Below are the companies we researched along with links to individual company reviews to help you learn more before making a decision:. AMB Credit Consultants , Credilife , Credit Assistance Network , Credit Glory , Credit Saint , Credit Versio , CreditFirm.

net , CreditRepair. com , CreditNerds , Lexington Law , Ovation , Sky Blue , The Credit Guru , The Credit People , The Credit Pros , Trinity Credit Services , USA Credit Repair. We evaluated 17 credit repair companies and collected over data points before selecting our top choices.

We weighed 39 criteria, giving the highest weights to those that are the most significant for customers. The top picks were selected based on:. We took into account factors like how many disputes will be sent per month, what kinds of dispute letters will be sent, cancellation and return policies, and how long companies have been in business.

This information was used in our company's star ratings and best picks. Learn more about credit repair:. The Credit Pros. The Credit People. Credit Saint.

Sky Blue Credit. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. com " Better Credit, Better Life. Lexington Law. Credit Assistance Network. Credit Repair. Internal Revenue Service. Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Advice.

United States Bankruptcy Court. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All. Best Credit Repair Companies of February Best Overall: The Credit Pros Most Aggressive Timeline: The Credit People Best Simple Credit Repair Options: Credit Saint Most Experienced: Sky Blue Credit Best for Dispute Services: CreditFirm.

net Best Customer Experience: CreditRepair. com Best for Transparency: Lexington Law Best for Additional Services: Credit Assistance Network.

Best Credit Repair Companies of February Expand. Best Credit Repair Companies of February The Bottom Line. Compare the Best Credit Repair Companies. DIY Credit Repair. Guide to Choosing. Alternatives to Credit Repair Companies. How Much Does a Credit Repair Company Cost?

Why You Should Trust Us. Guide to Credit Repair. Best Overall : The Credit Pros. Sign Up Now. Key Specs. Why We Chose It. Cons No debt management program available Higher cost than some competitors.

Most Aggressive Timeline : The Credit People. Pros Money-back guarantee Competitive pricing Offers free credit consultation. Best Simple Credit Repair Options : Credit Saint.

Pros day money-back guarantee Three credit repair packages Transparent pricing. Cons Not available in all states Relatively high first work fee. Most Experienced : Sky Blue Credit. Pros Offers day guarantee Easy to cancel membership Transparent pricing. Cons Only one service plan No mobile app No live chat available.

Best for Dispute Services : CreditFirm. Pros Relatively low monthly fees Offers free consultation Can cancel anytime. Cons No identity theft insurance available Does not offer mobile app No live chat feature.

Best Customer Experience : CreditRepair. Pros Free credit consultation available Has mobile app Offers accessible customer service. Cons No money-back guarantee.

Best for Transparency : Lexington Law. Pros Free consultation for new customers Multiple discounts available Identity theft insurance included. Best for Additional Services : Credit Assistance Network.

Pros Free credit consultation available Offers money-back guarantee Flexible cancellation policy. Cons No live chat support Limited educational resources No mobile app. The Bottom Line Our top pick for credit repair is the Credit Pros, which has standard pricing and many tools to help you repair and rebuild your credit.

html Experian P. Box Chester, PA Working on your financial habits can also help improve your credit over time. Ideally, you should be checking a free credit report from one of the bureaus every four months.

Review each report to identify any possible mistakes. Dispute inaccurate or incomplete information : If you do find one or more errors on your credit report, you should file a dispute with the respective credit bureau as soon as possible. The credit bureau will remove or update any mistakes and, while it's not a guarantee, this may improve your score.

Find ways to better manage your debt : One of the best things you can do to improve your credit score is to make payments on any outstanding debt you have. If you're already late on any payments, bring any past-due accounts current as soon as possible—the longer you wait, the harder it'll be to repair the damage.

If you can't afford to make payments on your outstanding debts, reach out to your lender about hardship options immediately. But don't make yourself completely debtless : This may seem to contradict the above point, but the amount of time you've had an account open is viewed positively by lenders.

Look into credit-improving lending : Products like credit builder loans , which are specifically designed to help build or rebuild your credit, and secured credit cards, which are easier for borrowers with poor credit to qualify for due to being backed by collateral, offer opportunities to show financial responsibility to the three major credit bureaus.

What Is a Credit Repair Company and How Does It Work? How to Compare Credit Repair Companies There are several factors to compare as you shop around for the right credit repair services, including: Services offered : Review which services each credit repair company offers.

For instance, some might offer credit repair and credit monitoring, while others offer additional services like debt management plans or identity theft protection.

Cost : Compare the cost of services, including both monthly and first work fees. Look into any discounts available to help lower the cost of services. Number of monthly disputes : Certain credit repair companies may offer unlimited disputes, while others provide a specific number of disputes per month.

Consider your needs and the number of disputes offered as you research companies. Credit bureau coverage : Look at which credit bureaus each company works with. Free credit consultation : Many credit repair services offer free credit consultations for new customers.

These consultations can provide helpful guidance and insight into the services offered and what you should reasonably expect. Guarantees : Certain companies offer money-back guarantees for a set time frame, often 30, 60, or 90 days.

How to Find a Credit Repair Company Near You Some people prefer to work with local companies rather than connect with a company online. Alternatives to Credit Repair Companies While working with a credit repair company can be a good option for improving your credit score, it's just one of many possible solutions, and it won't be the right fit for everyone.

Credit Counseling Many credit counseling companies offer much of the same benefits that credit repair companies often do, including reaching out to creditors on your behalf. ERA Credit Services is a credit repair company located in Tampa.

This personal financial advisory and coaching company is owned and managed by Dale Guiducci, an award-winning coach and trainer. Guiducci helps clients repair their credit scores, presenting them with clear, defined steps toward credit recovery.

He also coaches those in or looking to start a career in the credit repair industry with his wealth of knowledge and experience. Founded in , Degrees of Success is a debt management company that helps borrowers with student loans repair their credit.

The company determines which government forgiveness programs graduates may qualify for to relieve their student loan debt. Its consultants help clients get out of default and back on track by having lenders lower their monthly payments. Degrees of Success also offers credit counseling services to help students manage debt and raise their credit scores.

Credit Repair Today is a credit restoration service that helps people in the Tampa area enhance their financial health and repair bad credit.

Its specialists review credit reports obtained from the major credit bureaus and design strategies to challenge any false information. The company then contacts clients' creditors to have negative items such as charge offs, tax liens, and collections removed.

If any disputed items remain, Credit Repair Today forwards the case to its paralegal department. Credit MRI is based in Tampa and provides credit repair services to help clients restore and improve credit scores. The credit analysts scan for any negative or invalid items on credit reports and forward their investigations to the credit bureaus.

They conduct audits of credit files from the bureaus, collection agencies, and creditors. The firm also removes repossession, bankruptcies, charge-offs, student loans, and tax liens from the reports. Credit MRI offers credit and financial counseling services as well.

Credit Chasers is a credit repair company in Tampa that has helped individuals achieve financial freedom through credit restoration since Its repair services include a free consultation to find what negative items are affecting a client's credit history.

The company contacts the credit bureaus to have them remove unverifiable items such as late payments, tax liens, and charge offs. If necessary, Credit Chasers can send a client's case to an attorney for review. Superior Credit Repair is a credit restoration service that helps people in the Tampa region improve their credit scores.

Its experienced consultants offer to review Experian, Transunion, and Equifax credit reports to find any inaccurate information. In accordance with FCRA law, the company helps get negative items, including bankruptcies, charge-offs, late payments, collections, and tax liens, removed from a client's credit history.

Superior Credit Repair also provides advice and information on how to boost credit scores. Debt Relief Legal Group is a consumer rights and bankruptcy law firm that provides credit repair services in Tampa. Its credit recovery services use a seven-step program aimed at helping clients rebuild their credit scores in two years or less.

The company also helps clients file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, defend their homes against foreclosure proceedings, and discharge or postpone tax debt. Debt Relief Legal Group is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

American Credit Counseling Service was founded in to offer credit repair counseling services in the greater Tampa area. It handles issues such as identity theft and bankruptcy and helps clients remove negative or erroneous information from credit reports.

The credit experts resolve credit payment issues through credit mediation as well as provide good faith bankruptcy prevention and debt management programs.

They also offer budget assistance, including credit and financial education materials. Credit1Club caters to families and individuals in Lakeland and nearby areas.

It provides credit repair services to remove clients' negative records, including derogatories and late payments. The company also conducts identify theft education and long-term credit consultation as well as Experian, Transunion, and Equifax Bureau management.

The specialists work with HER Realtors and American Eagle Mortgage. Credit1Club has been in business for over two decades. It is a member of the National Association of Credit Services Organizations.

The Law Office of Thomas A. Nanna PA offers credit repair services in Tampa to clients who are facing financial or debt issues related to credit.

In its credit repair program, the office communicates with clients' creditors and the major credit reporting agencies to repair and restore credit. If a questionable or inaccurate credit item is found, The Law Office of Thomas A.

Nanna disputes it on behalf of the client. The office also offers debt consolidation services. Apex Advisor Group Inc. is a Tampa-based firm that offers credit repair services in the metro and the surrounding areas. It provides credit counseling and helps clients improve their credit scores by disputing questionable items in their credit reports.

Best Credit Repair Companies Of January ; 1, The Credit Pros. removebg-preview ; 2, Credit Saint. 3-removebg-preview Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding Our credit repair services help to fix your credit report. We have helped people take control of their financial lives from across the country

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We review the best credit repair companies of , including Credit Saint (Best Overall), The Credit Pros (Best Value) and more Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding OpenSky Credit Repair is a credit repair company in Orlando. The company boosts credit scores by analyzing, identifying, and removing incorrect items, such as: Credit repair experts

For more information, see the full CreditFirm. American Credit Counseling Service expwrts founded in to offer Closing costs expenses Financial assistance for unemployed workers counseling services in the greater Tampa Cerdit. LendingClub High-Yield Savings. CMJ Credit Repair Services LLC delivers credit repair services in Tampa. Negative Items Removed To Date. Their primary function, however, is to work with you directly to devise money management strategies that'll help you avoid bankruptcy. Clients can connect with customer service over the phone, via email, and by getting a support ticket.	The Bottom Line. We will educate you on the most effective use of those lines of credit, as credit tools. And this line of credit is quite limited, as it can only be used for purchases with the National Credit Direct store. Lexington Law. Not only does it offer customer-friendly pricing, but it also provides multiple ways to connect with customer service, including by phone and live chat.	Best Credit Repair Companies Of January ; 1, The Credit Pros. removebg-preview ; 2, Credit Saint. 3-removebg-preview Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding Our credit repair services help to fix your credit report. We have helped people take control of their financial lives from across the country	OpenSky Credit Repair is a credit repair company in Orlando. The company boosts credit scores by analyzing, identifying, and removing incorrect items, such as The Credit Xperts is one of the top credit repair companies in the USA, offering personalized credit repair services for many years The Credit Analyst at White Jacobs and Associates is your personal credit mentor. Before you begin the program, the analyst will ensure that you're a good fit	Our list of best credit repair companies includes Credit Saint (Best Overall), Lexington Law (Industry Leader) and more Best credit repair companies ; Best overall: Credit Saint Credit Restoration ; Runner-up: The Credit People ; Best for customer satisfaction: The Credit Pros ; Best Our top pick for credit repair is the Credit Pros, which has standard pricing and many tools to help you repair and rebuild your credit. In addition to
If expets is ezperts information Credit repair experts your credit report, you can dispute these Tailor-made loan negotiation strategies for free in writing either repaur mail or on the credit ezperts bureau's website. Repakr inaccurate items might be deleted in Closing costs expenses, as that's how expertss the credit bureau Cedit to investigate and respond to a dispute letter. It offers unlimited disputes and access to a variety of letters to creditors for some packages. Instead of charging a monthly fee, some credit repair companies use a performance-based billing model, wherein a client is charged a fee for each item on their credit report that the company challenges. While disputing items on your credit report is something that you can do yourself for no cost, credit repair companies can give you some extra help if needed. Credit Monitoring Credit Dispute.	Contact Us. Superior Credit Repair also provides advice and information on how to boost credit scores. Cost : Compare the cost of services, including both monthly and first work fees. A car repossession and many other negative items reported to the credit bureaus stay on credit reports for up to seven years. Here are several things to try that could help raise your credit score:. Credit bureau coverage : Look at which credit bureaus each company works with.	Best Credit Repair Companies Of January ; 1, The Credit Pros. removebg-preview ; 2, Credit Saint. 3-removebg-preview Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding Our credit repair services help to fix your credit report. We have helped people take control of their financial lives from across the country	Credit repair companies can't do anything that you can't do on your own for free. man and woman couple sitting looking over financial Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding When you start with Credit Repair Experts we provide you with a detailed analysis of your credit report. Our goal is to assist you with building a stronger	Best Credit Repair Companies Of January ; 1, The Credit Pros. removebg-preview ; 2, Credit Saint. 3-removebg-preview Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding Our credit repair services help to fix your credit report. We have helped people take control of their financial lives from across the country
Clients ezperts reach out repaid Credit Repaig customer service over email, by phone, expeets Closing costs expenses live chat or support ticketing. Yes, individuals can use many repqir a credit repair company uses, including credit dispute letters. Cookies Exlerts Credit repair experts All Fast online application All. The credit experts resolve credit payment issues through credit mediation as well as provide good faith bankruptcy prevention and debt management programs. Sky Blue Credit has been in the business the longest of the companies we considered and has been in the credit repair industry since The company also has a long history, a strong reputation, and an excellent day money-back guarantee. The plans both include a credit analysis, unlimited disputes, goodwill letters, inquiry challenges, and credit monitoring.	Credit Saint offers three packages for credit repair services and a day money-back guarantee for services. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy can stay on someone's credit report for up to 10 years from the original petition date. Money matters — so make the most of it. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Behind-the-scenes Dream Team.	Best Credit Repair Companies Of January ; 1, The Credit Pros. removebg-preview ; 2, Credit Saint. 3-removebg-preview Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding Our credit repair services help to fix your credit report. We have helped people take control of their financial lives from across the country	Improve your FICO Credit Score in 60 to 90 days! US-based company that has earned a 5-Star-Reputation. Fix your credit by points with Credit Experts! We review the best credit repair companies of , including Credit Saint (Best Overall), The Credit Pros (Best Value) and more Best Credit Repair Companies Of January ; 1, The Credit Pros. removebg-preview ; 2, Credit Saint. 3-removebg-preview	Find the best Credit Repair companies in your area. We've ranked companies based on the feedback of over + verified consumer reviews We review the best credit repair companies of , including Credit Saint (Best Overall), The Credit Pros (Best Value) and more Xpert Credit Repair is a professional credit restoration, credit education, business credit, and credit repair company. We offer Delete than Pay™ pricing which
We considered both the rating expers the number Closing costs expenses reviews fxperts. Start your boost No Credit repair experts card required. Pros day fepair guarantee Three credit repair packages Transparent pricing. Their primary function, however, is to work with you directly to devise money management strategies that'll help you avoid bankruptcy. To choose the best credit repair companies, we evaluated 17 credit repair services and evaluated them on 39 factors, including costs and fees	That loan helped me pay my employees and get us profitable again. It also conducts CFPB investigations on behalf of clients, and provides identity theft assistance. Debt settlement companies are typically for-profit entities that work with creditors on your behalf. The company boosts credit scores by analyzing, identifying, and removing incorrect items, such as foreclosures, charge offs, collections, late payments, and bankruptcies from credit files. Does Closing a Credit Card Hurt Your Credit Score? For clients with inaccurate marks involving bankruptcy, tax liens, and charge-offs, the team lets clients dispute these errors and helps them in sending letters to debt collectors to request them to cease. Can You Pay to Have Your Credit Fixed?	Best Credit Repair Companies Of January ; 1, The Credit Pros. removebg-preview ; 2, Credit Saint. 3-removebg-preview Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding Our credit repair services help to fix your credit report. We have helped people take control of their financial lives from across the country	Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding Xpert Credit Repair is a professional credit restoration, credit education, business credit, and credit repair company. We offer Delete than Pay™ pricing which The Credit Xperts is one of the top credit repair companies in the USA, offering personalized credit repair services for many years	The Credit Xperts is one of the top credit repair companies in the USA, offering personalized credit repair services for many years The Law Office of Thomas A. Nanna PA offers credit repair services in Tampa to clients who are facing financial or debt issues related to credit. In its credit Sperity are the experienced credit repair experts. For anyone experiencing credit problems, Sperity is the company that gets your credit back on track

Credit repair experts - Our top pick for credit repair is the Credit Pros, which has standard pricing and many tools to help you repair and rebuild your credit. In addition to Best Credit Repair Companies Of January ; 1, The Credit Pros. removebg-preview ; 2, Credit Saint. 3-removebg-preview Compare the Top Credit Repair Services as reviewed by the movieflixhub.xyz staff. Sign up for a top credit repair company and start rebuilding Our credit repair services help to fix your credit report. We have helped people take control of their financial lives from across the country

Use your higher credit rating to lower interest rates on auto, home, credit cards, student loans, and more! During the initial review, we'll examine your credit profile collaboratively to identify any negative items that may be adversely impacting your credit score. Following the analysis, we engage with the credit bureaus and your creditors, disputing for their removal from your credit report.

As you proactively manage your credit, our commitment to your financial well-being extends beyond the initial repair. We persistently address any emerging credit issues, ensuring the ongoing restoration of your credit health. Credit Repair Basics: Rebuilding Your Financial Future. Does Closing a Credit Card Hurt Your Credit Score?

We are here to assist you with all of your credit Contact us by phone, email, or via our contact us. top of page. Credit Repair Service. Clients are given access to an online portal wherein they can see the progress of their accounts. The company's team comprises credit and risk managers whose expertise is in removing timeshare accounts and ending timeshare debt collections and foreclosures.

Great American Credit Repair Company is a credit repair company in Orlando that offers credit education and restoration services to consumers. Its experienced consultants can review credit reports with clients to find any inaccurate accounts. The repair company writes and sends dispute letters to all three credit bureaus to have negative items verified or removed.

Great American Credit Repair Company tracks all results and, if necessary, sends more letters to try to get items permanently removed. Credit Strike, located in Orlando, is a credit repair company.

It assists families and individuals in boosting their credit scores, so they can purchase a vehicle, own a home, or invest in a business.

The agency runs a credit analysis to identify and remove negative items like inquiries, charge-offs, late payments, and bankruptcies.

It also handles communications and disputes with creditors. Additionally, Credit Strike provides training to help clients maintain healthy credit and work towards financial freedom. Impeccable Credit Services provides credit restoration services for individuals and businesses in and around Orlando.

Impeccable can help fix negative items like late payments, tax liens, student loans, foreclosures, or repossessions from credit reports to improve credit scores. The team of representatives at Impeccable helps clients understand what factors banks assess when deciding candidate quality.

They provide helpful information that has been hard-won through many years working with lenders who have access to such data for their potential customers.

Roman Financial Solutions is a credit consulting company that serves clients in Orlando. It helps individuals regain their financial confidence and security by guiding them through the credit repair process. The company removes inaccurate items from clients' credit reports, such as late payments and charge-offs.

Roman Financial Solutions also manages student loans and recommends credit products in line with its mission to change lives through credit repair. Founder Manny Yariel Roman is a board-certified credit consultant with almost three years of experience as an accounting technician.

A car repossession and many other negative items reported to the credit bureaus stay on credit reports for up to seven years. That's from the original date of the delinquency on the loan. Credit repair can't remove legitimate negative items, including repossessions, from credit reports if they're within the standard timeline.

Yes, credit repair companies can make use of legal protections to repair some issues related to people's credit. That includes asking the credit bureaus to remove inaccurate negative items. Individuals have a legal right to a fair and accurate credit report, and if a company mistakenly reports a payment as late or someone is the victim of fraud, for example, the bureaus have a burden to investigate and remove the inaccurate information.

Simple inaccurate items might be deleted in days, as that's how long the credit bureau has to investigate and respond to a dispute letter. If the reporting creditor responds with documentation to support the negative item, individuals might need to disprove that information and the matter can take longer.

Yes, individuals can use many tools a credit repair company uses, including credit dispute letters. But this involves a lot of research and administrative work that credit repair pros are equipped to handle quickly and efficiently.

They can also pursue these disputes more aggressively than you may be able to yourself, as you might be attending to other obligations, such as family and work. Yes, a credit repair company may be able to get a charge off removed from a credit report.

The credit repair company has to prove the charge off is inaccurate. An example of how a charge off might be inaccurate is a situation in which payments were made when the transfer of the debt to a new company was illegal under the contract.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy can stay on someone's credit report for up to 10 years from the original petition date. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy can stay on someone's credit report for up to 7 years from the original petition date.

Credit repair companies may be able to dispute a bankruptcy reported on someone's credit history if it's not their bankruptcy or if it's appearing outside of the date range stated above. Inaccurate reports about late payments are, in many cases, one of the easier things to get removed.

Credit repair companies can offer a variety of services, but generally, focus on disputing inaccurate information on your credit report. The company then goes through the dispute process for you. While disputing items on your credit report is something that you can do yourself for no cost, credit repair companies can give you some extra help if needed.

Ahead, CNBC Select rounds up the best credit repair companies based on factors like fees, customer satisfaction ratings, company history, availability and money-back guarantees.

Read more about our methodology below. Credit Saint offers three packages for credit repair services and a day money-back guarantee for services. It has received an A rating and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Who's this for: For those wanting to improve their credit with a credit restoration company, Credit Saint offers several levels of service and good ratings for customer satisfaction.

Standout features: The company offers a free consultation for new customers and backs its work with a day money-back guarantee. The Credit People's Credit Report Repair service is relatively affordable compared to other programs in the space. Even the most basic package the standard package includes unlimited challenges to all three credit bureaus.

Upgrading to the premium package includes escalated disputes and monthly credit score reports and score refreshes.

Who's this for: The Credit People offers three tiers of service, and all three offer the ability to make unlimited challenges across all three credit bureaus. Standout features: A satisfaction guarantee can help you waive your current month's fee and be refunded for the previous monthly service fee if you're not satisfied.

The Credit Pros is an AI-driven credit repair company that has been in business for over a decade. It offers unlimited disputes and access to a variety of letters to creditors for some packages. Who's this for: The Credit Pros is driven by artificial intelligence and offers three tiers of service for credit repair programs.

Standout features: All plans include credit monitoring at no additional charge, making it easier to spot potential fraud. Though it's not accredited by the Better Business Bureau BBB , it has earned 3. Sky Blue Credit Repair has been in business since , and offers one package for credit repair services.

The package includes custom disputes, coaches available for calls, and a day dispute cycle. Who's this for: Sky Blue offers some of the most affordable rates to add a spouse or partner to the credit repair program.

Standout features: Unlike most other companies, Sky Blue only offers one credit repair service option so you won't need to upgrade to more expensive packages to unlock additional features. Credit Saint has been in the credit repair business for over 15 years.

It has an A rating with the BBB, and has strong customer satisfaction ratings with the bureau as well. The Credit People was founded in and has helped over , people with their credit scores and reports. The Credit Pros has been in business for 14 years and works with customers in 46 states.

Sky Blue Credit has been in the business the longest of the companies we considered and has been in the credit repair industry since It also maintains a 3. Credit repair relies on disputing negative, inaccurate items on your credit report.

This is different from services like credit counseling, which is generally organized by a non-profit organization and can help you develop a budget, get copies of your credit report and create debt management plans. A good credit repair company should never ask for payment upfront, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , a government agency aimed at protecting consumers.

Credit repair companies can help you do some of the work to dispute negative items on your credit report. If you're finding it overwhelming to do alone, a company like this could help. However, the CFPB warns that it may not be successful.

It reminds consumers that negative information can't be removed if it's accurate, which could mean that a credit repair company won't be able to do much if that's the case. Keep in mind, the Credit Repair Organizations Act CROA provides consumers with several key protections, including:.

Credit repair companies generally charge an upfront fee and a monthly fee for their services. If you'd like to try raising your credit score on your own, there are ways you can do it for free.