15 Top Credit Repair & Debt Relief Companies

What to know before you hire a credit or debt company

People usually look at this category under financial stress, which is exactly when a confident sales pitch is hardest to judge. Slow down and check the terms.

• Do it yourself first. You can dispute errors on your credit report directly with the credit bureaus at no cost. In the US, free reports are available through AnnualCreditReport.com.
• Upfront fees. In the US, the Credit Repair Organizations Act bars credit repair companies from charging before services are performed. Debt relief companies selling by phone generally cannot charge until they settle a debt.
• Debt settlement trade-offs. Stopping payments while a company negotiates can lead to late fees, collections and lawsuits, and damage your credit. In the US, forgiven debt may be treated as taxable income.
• Alternatives. Nonprofit credit counseling agencies offer budgeting help and debt management plans.
• Credit-building apps. Check the monthly fee, which bureaus they report to and how to cancel.

Common problems and how to avoid them

Complaints often describe monthly fees with little visible progress, settlements that took longer than promised, and difficulty getting money back from a dedicated savings account after leaving a program. No company can legally remove accurate, current negative information from your report. Treat any guarantee to raise your score by a set amount as a warning sign.

CandorRated shows who runs each website, how long the domain has existed and what contact details were found, along with reviews from past customers.

Frequently asked questions

How long does debt settlement take?

Programs often run for several years. Ask for a written estimate and the total fees.

Will a credit score app hurt my score?

Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and does not lower it.