The Truth About Credit Repair Companies (And What to Do Instead)
Published by Speed Credit
Table of Contents
- What Credit Repair Companies Claim to Do
- What They Can *Actually* Do
- Red Flags to Watch Out For
- How to Repair Your Credit Yourself (Free & Legit)
- When It’s Worth Getting Help
- Next Up: Credit for Gen Z—How to Start Strong at 18
What Credit Repair Companies Claim to Do
Most credit repair services promise to:
- Remove negative items from your credit report
- Boost your score fast (sometimes “guaranteed”)
- Handle all disputes on your behalf
- “Clean” your credit history
Some even claim they have “insider” connections with the bureaus. Spoiler: they don’t.
What They Can *Actually* Do
Credit repair companies can only do what you can already do yourself—which is:
- Request and review your credit reports
- Dispute inaccurate or outdated items
- Communicate with the bureaus via mail or online
That’s it. They have no legal power to erase legit items or “force” a score increase.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
If you see any of these, run:
- They charge **upfront fees** before doing anything (illegal under federal law)
- They guarantee specific results or fast score jumps
- They ask you to **lie** on credit applications or “start a new identity”
- They won’t explain your rights or give you a written contract
Pro Tip: Check with the FTC or CFPB if you’re unsure about a service.
How to Repair Your Credit Yourself (Free & Legit)
You don’t need a company—you need a plan. Here’s how to get started:
- Pull your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com
- Dispute any errors with the bureaus directly
- Pay down revolving balances under 10% utilization
- Set up autopay to protect your payment history
- Add positive tradelines like Experian Boost or secured cards
When It’s Worth Getting Help
Sometimes, guidance helps. You might want legit help from:
- Nonprofit credit counselors (like NFCC)
- Financial coaches or advisors who teach, not just “fix”
- A lawyer—only if you’re dealing with identity theft or collections lawsuits
But you never need to pay hundreds a month just to dispute errors.
Next Up: Credit for Gen Z—How to Start Strong at 18
New to credit? Or raising someone who is? In the next article, we’ll kick off the Gen Z credit series and show how to build credit *without* debt in Credit for Gen Z: How to Start Strong at 18.
