Repairing your credit doesn't cost anything if you do it yourself. If you hire a credit repair company to assist you, however, you'll have to pay fees, which can range widely. This article provides a guide to the costs and what you get for your money.
Key Takeaways
- Credit repair doesn't cost anything if you handle the process yourself. If you hire a credit repair company to assist you, you'll typically pay fees of $19 to $149 per month.
- The services a credit repair company provides are ones you can generally do for yourself.
- Be aware of scam artists posing as legitimate credit repair businesses.
- Inaccurate information can be removed from your credit reports, but accurate information cannot.
- You can find step-by-step instructions for disputing errors on the three major credit bureaus' websites.
How Credit Repair Works
Credit repair is the process of removing inaccurate, unfavorable information from your credit reports. That may, in turn, raise your credit score. You can take steps to repair your credit for free or pay someone to help you.
The first step in repairing your credit is to get copies of your credit reports. By law, you're entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—at least once every 12 months. To get your reports, visit the official website, AnnualCreditReport.com.
Note that the information on your credit reports is likely to be similar from one bureau to another but not necessarily identical. That's because some creditors don't report your transactions to all three bureaus.
The next step is to review your credit reports for inaccurate information, such as late or missing payments that you believe you made on time. You'll also want to make sure that there are no accounts listed on your credit reports that you don't recognize. If there are, that may be a sign of identity theft, or that someone has opened credit accounts in your name.
If you find errors, you can challenge them. The major credit bureaus explains the steps you'll need to take on their websites.
If the information in a credit report is accurate, you typically cannot change it. You will likely have to wait until enough time has passed that the information is no longer included in your credit report, which can take several years.
What Credit Repair Companies Do
A credit repair company doesn't do everything for you. Its primary role is to develop a plan for repairing your credit and helping you, or acting on your behalf, to dispute inaccurate information. Some also offer a package of related services, such as credit monitoring.
While some credit repair companies are national, others operate only in certain states.
Each company has its own pricing structure. In general, the companies bundle their services into packages and charge monthly fees. Prices can range from about $20 to $150 per month, depending on the services you sign up for. There may also be set-up or enrollment fees, as well as cancellation fees. Some, but not all, companies offer a money-back guarantee.
Once you sign up with a credit repair company, it may be several months before you see results. It usually takes up to six months, or longer, for your credit to be totally repaired. What's more, errors that have been corrected may reappear on your credit report for various reasons, so you should check your reports periodically even if you believe they have been fixed and challenge that information again.
Important
Any credit repair organization that claims it can get negative, but accurate, information removed from your credit report is probably a scam.
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Beware of Scam Credit Repair Companies
While there are legitimate credit repair companies, the field also attracts scam artists. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a list of red flags to watch out for. Those include:
- Pressuring you to pay upfront. Some legitimate companies do require set-up or enrollment fees, but in general, forcing you to pay before any services have been performed is illegal, under the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act.
- Promises to get rid of any negative information on your credit report. Remember, only information that is in error can be removed from your credit report. No one can get accurate information removed.
- Telling you not to contact credit bureaus. Disputing inaccurate information with the credit bureau that reported it is one of the essential steps to repairing your credit. When a so-called credit repair company recommends otherwise, it is hiding something.
Is Paying Someone to Repair Your Credit Worth It?
Paying for someone to fix your credit may not be worth it because you can typically take the steps to repair your credit yourself for free. And even if you do hire a reputable credit repair company, you'll still have to do some of the work yourself. You have the legal right to dispute information on your credit reports if you don't think it is correct.
How Long Does It Take to Repair Your Credit?
The amount of time it takes to fix your credit will depend on how soon you report errors to the relevant credit bureaus and how quickly the bureaus act to investigate and correct them. That might mean at least two or three months. Apart from any errors, you can improve your credit fairly quickly by making sure you pay all of your bills on time. However, if your credit is damaged because of bankruptcy, it could take up to 10 years for that to drop off your credit history.
Why Is Repairing Your Credit Important?
Your credit history and the credit scores that are derived from it are important factors in whether you qualify for credit in the future and at what interest rate. When you have better credit, you can get lower interest rates and save money in the long term. Monitoring your credit reports periodically can help ensure they are accurate and give you an opportunity to challenge any damaging errors you find.
The Bottom Line
Repairing your credit doesn't have to cost you anything. You can handle the process yourself by following the step-by-step instructions on the three major credit bureaus' websites. If you want help, you can hire a credit repair company to assist you. They generally charge anywhere from $19 to $149 a month for their services. But beware of scam credit repair offers, which may leave you in worse financial shape than before.
Given my extensive knowledge in finance and credit management, let me break down the key concepts in the provided article:
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Credit Repair Overview:
- Definition: Credit repair involves removing inaccurate and unfavorable information from credit reports to improve credit scores.
- DIY vs. Hiring: DIY credit repair is free, while credit repair companies charge fees ranging from $19 to $149 per month.
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Credit Report Access:
- Entitlement: Consumers are entitled to a free credit report annually from each major bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) via AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Discrepancies: Credit reports may differ slightly between bureaus due to variations in reported transactions.
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DIY Credit Repair Steps:
- Identification of Errors: Consumers review reports for inaccuracies (e.g., late payments, unrecognized accounts) that may be disputed.
- Challenge Process: Credit bureaus provide step-by-step instructions on their websites for disputing errors.
- Accuracy Caveat: Accurate information cannot be changed; one must wait for its natural removal over time.
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Role of Credit Repair Companies:
- Primary Function: Credit repair companies develop plans, dispute inaccuracies, and may offer additional services like credit monitoring.
- Pricing: Monthly fees range from $20 to $150, with variations in packages, setup/enrollment fees, and potential cancellation fees.
- Results Timeframe: Results may take several months, with potential reappearance of corrected errors.
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Scam Warning Signs:
- Upfront Payments: Paying upfront before services are rendered is often a red flag.
- Unrealistic Promises: Companies claiming to remove accurate negative information are likely scams.
- Avoiding Credit Bureaus: Legitimate repair involves contacting credit bureaus; avoiding this step may indicate a scam.
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Is It Worth Paying for Credit Repair?
- DIY Advantage: DIY credit repair is highlighted as a cost-free alternative with potential benefits.
- Partial Involvement: Even with professional help, consumers are advised to be actively engaged in the process.
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Timeframe for Credit Repair:
- Error Reporting: Time to repair credit depends on how quickly errors are reported and acted upon by credit bureaus.
- Impact of Actions: Timely bill payments can contribute to faster credit improvement, while bankruptcy may take up to 10 years to drop off credit history.
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Importance of Credit Repair:
- Financial Impact: Credit history and scores influence future credit qualification and interest rates.
- Long-Term Savings: Better credit allows for lower interest rates, resulting in long-term financial savings.
- Monitoring Benefits: Periodic credit report checks help ensure accuracy and provide opportunities to challenge harmful errors.
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Conclusion:
- Cost Consideration: Emphasizes that credit repair can be handled personally at no cost or with professional assistance at a fee.
- Scam Awareness: Warns against fraudulent credit repair offers that may worsen financial situations.
As someone deeply versed in these matters, I hope this breakdown provides a comprehensive understanding of the article's content. If you have any specific questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!
