Similar to dentists, credit repair has a negative reputation. Most people don't want anyone meddling with their financial history and would rather not deal with credit repair companies. However, the fact remains that anyone with persuasion skills can open up a credit repair business. Hence, there are many credit repair companies like McDonald's, which is present on every street corner.As someone who has been part of the credit repair industry for 15 years, leading one of the largest credit repair companies in the country, I understand the skepticism that our industry gets, and unfortunately, much of it is accurate. Bad credit has become an epidemic, and things are only getting worse. The surge of credit repair companies in recent times shows that you, as a consumer, need to be diligent to avoid being taken advantage of.As the owner of a credit repair business, I have had the opportunity to help over 20,000 clients correct their financial records and better their lives. As a way of giving back, I want to offer honesty and transparency on how credit repair works, giving you the knowledge you need to decide which credit repair company to entrust your credit history to.
Table of Contents
How to Find the Best Credit Repair Company in Charleston?
Different Credit Repair Companies in Charleston, SC - What Sets Them Apart?
The Credit Repair Process in Charleston
The Importance of Personal Finance Before Credit Repair
Free Credit Repair Services in Charleston
My Final Piece of Advice
How to Find the Best Credit Repair Company in Charleston?
When customers ask me about the best credit repair company, I do not immediately recommend my own. Instead, I advise them to conduct their due diligence and research to find that out themselves. While online reviews can help, they are not always trustworthy. It's essential to make a list of credit repair companies, search for local businesses, and select ones with a good online presence and reputation.
Here are some tips on how to determine the most effective but least expensive company in Charleston:
1. Make a list of local companies based on their acceptable Google review rating.
2. Check the website history of established companies that have been online for at least three years.
3. Look for companies with enough legitimate reviews that make you feel satisfied.
After following the steps above, narrow down your list of candidates and call them to get more clarity on the company's business. Ask the following questions:
A. How long have they been in business, and do they have a bond?B. Do they have a physical office, and can you meet the team?C. Do they offer a free consultation?D. Do they offer a money-back guarantee?E. What's their fee structure, and do they charge a flat or monthly fee?F. How long does the average process take?Asking these questions is crucial to help you make the best decision for yourself and determine the most effective yet least expensive credit repair company in Charleston.
Different Credit Repair Companies in Charleston, SC - What Sets Them Apart?
In Charleston, SC, there are over a million active credit repair and financial service companies in the United States. With so many options, it can be challenging to distinguish experienced from non-experienced companies. In this article, we will explain the three types of credit repair companies you will find, so you can make the best decision for yourself.
Flat fee companies
Flat fee credit repair companies are the most efficient and cost-effective option for credit repair. These companies only bill you for the accounts they dispute, and you pay a one-time fee for their services. Most flat fee services are usually faster because they have an incentive to get your services completed in the quickest amount of time. These companies will assess your credit report and determine if they can help you and then quote you a price based on those accounts.
Monthly fee companies
Most credit repair companies in Charleston, SC, charge monthly fees. This type of structure may not fit all clients because most companies that use it do not ever look over your credit report. As a result, it can take 6-8 months to get full results, and fees can add up over time, making this option expensive.
Pay for delete companies
Fewer companies offer this model, but it can be enticing as you pay only for results. However, most people do not know what they are getting into until it's too late. The way most Pay for Delete companies works is that they charge you a lot for each item removed. It's important to ask for the fee structure and, if they removed all your accounts, what the total cost would be.
Although we recommend choosing a flat fee company, you should research all options and calculate the potential costs of each to make the best decision for your situation.
The Credit Repair Process in Charleston
When it comes to credit repair, there is a lot of outdated or bad advice out there. As someone with over 15 years of experience in the industry, I can tell you that the process is always evolving. To complicate matters, constant legal changes and regulations mean that the credit repair landscape is in constant flux, making it difficult to navigate on your own. Credit reporting agencies are known to put obstacles in place to limit your ability to dispute inaccuracies. At our agency, we stay on top of these changes, so you don't have to.So, what is the best way to approach credit repair? In the past, people often used a process called "not mine disputes" to see immediate results in deleting negative accounts. However, the credit reporting agencies soon caught up to this tactic and started implementing more advanced processes that made it harder for people to see results. Today, it is important to use new and innovative dispute tactics if you want to see results.The new, more effective credit repair process involves requesting validation of any account on your credit report to make sure that the account is both yours and valid. We recommend taking this approach instead of just disputing errors. If you do find an error on the account, you should then respond by stating what the error is and requesting that it be fixed or deleted.If you are unsure of what account documentation to ask for, call the lender as a non-customer or do a quick online search. We'll also be posting a blog on this topic soon to help you navigate the documentation process. At our agency, we use these tactics to provide the best results for our clients.
The Importance of Personal Finance Before Credit Repair
When it comes to personal credit, your credit score reflects your personal finance habits. The millions of Americans with credit issues can attest to this reality. Similar to the stock market, credit scores fluctuate based on your financial situation. Credit repair may offer a solution for derogatory accounts, but it cannot guarantee sustainable credit. To achieve long-term credit strength, fixing your financial situation should be your priority. Prioritize paying down revolving credit balances, paying all your accounts on time, and reducing credit card usage. If you cannot control your finances, your credit score will continue to fluctuate, creating an endless cycle of credit repair. Repeat clients are a major issue in the credit repair industry, and the best solution to break this cycle is to focus on fixing your financial deficit before seeking credit repair. By doing so, you can have sustainable credit that endures economic challenges and job loss.
Free Credit Repair Services in Charleston
The popularity of the question, "Is there a way to fix my credit for free?" has exponentially increased. In reality, you can improve your credit report, or at the very least, for the cost of paper and a stamp, by undertaking the necessary steps by yourself. You have the legal right to file a dispute with your credit report at any time. However, I have noticed that most people are either too busy or unwilling to put in the work required. I have multiple blogs where I have described how one can repair their credit like the experts, but any form of complimentary services usually involves a considerable "time" cost. If you are someone who is not committed to credit repair, then I strongly suggest employing a professional credit repair service to do it for you. If you are willing to dedicate roughly 2-4 hours per month to challenge your credit report for free, then you must read my blog post on "Repair your credit like the pros."
Leave a Testimonial or Review
Free credit repair was something that I offered to a group of individuals as a beginner in the credit repair field; in return, I requested a testimonial or review. Initially, I didn't have any reviews or testimonials, so I would ask people if I could fix their credit in exchange for a positive testimonial or review. As a result, the client would receive free credit repair. Even though it costs me to file their disputes, the overall benefits I got from the reviews were significantly higher than the minor expense of doing credit repair. The bottom line here is that a lot of new credit repair companies would be willing to do the same thing as I did. Therefore, my suggestion is to join different "Credit Repair" groups on Facebook and post something similar to this:"I'm searching for a new credit repair service provider who would be willing to assist me with some credit concerns in exchange for an incredibly detailed 5-star review."You may encounter some individuals with negative responses, but it would be easy to find someone to do your credit repair for free.
My Final Piece of Advice
In your pursuit of finding the best credit repair company to permanently fix your credit, conducting thorough research and consulting numerous credit repair agencies is crucial. Failure to do so might result in a waste of your money and time. Additionally, prioritize working on your financial discipline, as ill-spending and saving habits are the root causes of credit problems for many individuals. Often, individuals who fail to acknowledge their poor financial habits resort to spending their income fixing their credit, only to end up concluding that credit repair is a fraud. On the flip side, credit repair works, and it has drastically transformed the lives of over twenty thousand of our clients. Financial discipline comes first, and only then can credit repair be an effective, expedient, and enduring solution. Stay encouraged!