Can you recommend a credit repair company?
Tried consolidation on my own and am curious about credit repair and credit repair companies.
Do you recommend any particular credit repair company after completion of your program?
—Robert
Short answer
There are not many credit repair companies to recommend, because they do nothing you cannot do yourself. Settled accounts reporting a zero balance is what starts your credit improving.
Key points on this page
- Debts that are settled no longer report a balance owed, which is one of the needed impacts to begin improving your credit
- The effect of zero balance reporting has been immediate for some people and takes longer for others
- There are not many recommendable credit repair companies, because they will do nothing for you that you cannot do for yourself
- You can often do a better job at building credit yourself than by hiring someone to attempt to repair it for you
- Anyone comfortable with do it yourself consolidation will find do it yourself credit repair even easier
- Where you do hire someone, look for a small company that personalizes the experience and does not charge too much or for too long
The CRN program typically does not require credit repair upon completion. The debts that are settled are no longer reporting a balance owed which has one of the needed impacts to begin to improve your credit. The effect of zero balance reporting has been immediate for some of our members and can take some time for others.
You can read debt relief options and your credit score for more details about how your credit reports are impacted from settling for less than full balance.
This site contains many pages of content with an outline of methods to rebuild credit while implementing a debt settlement strategy and credit building tools for after your settlements are complete.
The best resource for credit repair is you.
There are not many recommendable credit repair companies in our view. Sure there are outfits like Lexington Law, DSI Solutions, Sky Blue credit Repair Services, National Credit Fixers and others, but they will do nothing for you that you cannot do for yourself. You can often do a better job at building credit yourself, than by hiring someone to attempt to repair your credit for you.
You indicate that you “tried consolidation on my own”, which indicates to me you are the do it yourself type. If you found DIY debt consolidation not too daunting a task, DIY credit repair will be even easier.
If you were to pin me down about who I would recommend working with a cagey experienced mortgage broker or loan officer when you are trying to bring your score up to buy a home; a small company that personalizes the experience; and someone who does not charge too much or for too long.
Some people are just not up to the task of credit repair on their own, and most of these companies do not charge overly much in a one off situation, but they do try to charge you for too long in my opinion. Be sure to have realistic expectations if you are disputing negative items on your credit that are supposed to be there. It is a long shot to begin with.
If you take up your own credit repair efforts, post questions and updates in the comments below. I can offer feedback and helpful tips and information along the way.
Anyone working through their own credit repair efforts is welcome to post in the comments below for feedback.
About Michael BoveeMichael started CRN in 2004 with a mission to provide people in need with detailed debt and credit help and education. Michael has participated as an expert panelist in federal consumer protection rule making, collaborated on state law changes governing debt consolidation, has worked as an expert witness in court matters related to the debt relief industry. He is available to speak with you about your financial struggle and helps people resolve their debt problems daily.
I need advice on credit repair. I am hoping to purchase a home in the next year. How can I remove negative items off my credit and raise my score?
Can you offer more detail about the negatives you have on your reports? Are they collection accounts that are now resolved, or unresolved? Medical bill related, utility, or something else entirely?