How to Improve Your Credit Score

If your credit score is bad, you could face several challenges when qualifying for loans, be charged high-interest rates, have a hard time finding a job, etc. What you need to know, however, is that you have the chance to improve your credit score either by yourself or with the help of credit repair companies! Continue reading to find out how.
 

Do-it-Yourself Methods to Improve Your Credit Score

1. Pay your credit card balances strategically

Your credit card utilization, which is the portion of your credit limits that you are using, is the second biggest factor that can affect your credit score after paying on time.

It is recommended that you use less than 30% of your limit on any card so when your balance is reported to the credit bureaus by the card issuer reports, your score can improve.
 

2. Get higher credit limits

As we mentioned earlier, the lower your credit utilization rate is, the better your credit score will be. When you ask for a higher credit limit, and you keep your credit utilization low, your credit score will instantly improve.
 

3. Pay your bills on time

Paying your bills on time is the best way to improve your credit score. Setting up calendar reminders is the best way to ensure that.
 

Hiring a Credit Repair Company

If your credit score is still not drastically improving after using the methods we previously mentioned, we recommend you hire a credit repair company. Credit repair companies will review your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus; they will challenge the bureaus on your behalf to dispute and remove any negative items and inaccurate information.

Credit repair companies can dispute several negative items, some of which include:

• Late payments
• Charge offs
• Collections
• Repossessions
• Judgments
• Inquiries
• Foreclosure
• Liens
• Bankruptcies
   

Best Credit Repair Company Recommendations

We did all the heavy research so we could present you with the best credit repair companies in the market. Now, you can choose the one that offers the services you need and fits your budget.

1. Lexington Law

Lexington Law is our top recommendation for the best credit repair company on the market. It is also a law firm that offers a range of legal services, which include:

• Litigation
• Child Custody
• Bankruptcy
• Divorce
• Criminal Defense
• Property & Water Rights
• DUI Defense
• Pro Bono Cases

Lexington Law offers three plans for its credit repair services, and each covers certain services. The three plans are as follows:

Concord Standard: $95.95 per month

This is the basic credit repair plan, and it offers a full range of services that small credit repair companies offer, such as:

• Credit disputes
• Creditor intervention
• Inquiry assist
• ID theft insurance
• Debthandler
   

Concord Premier: $119.95 per month

The Concord Premier plan covers all the services in the previous plan, in addition to the following:

• Credit score analysis
• Credit monitoring
• Alerts when the score changes
   

Premier Plus: $139.15 per month

This is the most comprehensive credit repair package from Lexington Law. Besides all the previously mentioned services, you also get the following:

• Cease and desist letters
• Access to FICO
• Score tracker
• Financial planning tools
• Lost Wallet Protection
• Junk Mail Reducer

2. Credit Saint

As for our second recommendation, we present you with Credit Saint. Credit Saint is one of the most highly rated credit repair companies in the market; it maintained an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and earned a 4.4/5 star rating from Google Reviews.

Credit Saint offers three subscription plans for its credit repair services as well:

Credit Polish: $79.99 per month + $99 first work fee

This plan will provide you with:

• Challenges to the 3 Credit Bureaus
• Score Analysis
• Creditor Interventions
• Score Tracker
   

Credit Remodel: $99/month + $99 first work fee

This plan will give you all that is offered with the Credit Polish plan, in addition to:

• Inquiry targeting
• Experian monitoring
   

Clean Slate: $199.99/month + $195 first work fee

This is the full-service plan offered by Credit Saint. It offers all of the following:

• Unlimited Challenges to the 3 Credit Bureaus
• Score Analysis
• Creditor Interventions
• Score Tracker
• Inquiry Targeting

3. The Credit Pros

Lastly, we present you with The Credit Pros. The Credit Pros offers credit repair services in addition to various financial services that help people further fix their credit. Such extra services the company offers are:

• One-on-one action plan with a certified FICO Professional
• ID Theft restoration and insurance
• Cease and desist letters to collection agencies
• 24/7 access to the client portal
• Debt validation letters to creditors
• Goodwill letters to creditors
• Unlimited dispute letters

As for its service pricing, you are offered three plans:

Money management: $69/month + $119 first work fee

This plan will provide you with:

• One-bureau report and scores
• ID Cover® Darkweb monitoring
• TransUnion® alerts
• Real-time account sync
• Bill reminder
• Budgeting system
   

Prosperity Package: $119/month + $119 first work fee

This plan offers everything provided in the previous plan, in addition to:

• Credit bureau challenges
• Creditor interventions
• Cease & desist letters
• Letter of Reference
   

Success Plus Package: $149/month + $149 first work fee

This plan is the full-service package from The Credit Pros. It will provide you with all the previously mentioned services, plus:

• Credit Builder Loan
• Three-bureau reports and scores