We here at DebtSteps are committed to helping you find the best credit repair companies for your needs. We know how stressful debt can be, and how tough it is to repair credit that has fallen. That’s why we have a very strict and thorough method for how we rank and review companies.
Beyond the standard protocols like ensuring they are legitimate credit repair agencies, we also ensure that your money is being well-spent by looking at the success they’ve had in the past, their overall value, and much more. Join us as we look at our unique breakdowns that we use to judge the top credit repair agencies.
The 6 Categories of Evaluating Credit Repair Services
To evaluate credit restoration companies, we use a highly detailed model that is composed of six distinct categories. Using this model, we are able to look at every facet of a company and how they are able to serve the needs of their customers.
Let’s take a look at these categories in detail:
1. Services & Features
We start by looking at the company’s offerings. Do they offer simple credit repair, or are there bonus features as well? We also take a look at who they are disputing with. This is important, as credit repair is possible at both the creditor and bureau levels.
We then look at how they compare to other services. For example, Lexington Law may offer disputes for both credit card companies and credit bureaus, but Sky Blue Credit may only offer to dispute items with the bureaus alone.
2. Benefits
We also look at some of the extras they offer to see what value they have for your money. Experienced personnel are a given, but things like free score reports, mobile apps, or even blogs with additional financial information and tips are something we like to see.
We want to ensure that you feel good about the money you’re spending. This is why we also look at discount options for couples and the overall suite of options given to you when you purchase credit repair.
3. Customer Service
Debt and credit are some of the most stressful topics you can discuss with another individual. That’s why customer service is a huge factor for us. Whether you have a question, or you want to know how your personal repair is coming along, we put customer service options through their paces to ensure they are there when you need them.
Furthermore, we also test their knowledge with tough questions that would stump an inexperienced individual.
4. Pricing
Someone who is in need of credit repair probably doesn’t have a lot of money to call their own. We understand this, which is why we like to look for the best-priced options available for your credit repair. If a company charges more than others, we look at them extra hard to see how that pricing is benefiting you in the long run.
Value is the name of the game, which is why we always compare the cost to the ultimate service that you’re getting.
5. Guarantees and Cancellation
While not the most important aspect of a credit repair company, we like to look at the options for guarantees and cancellations. A credit repair service should always allow you to cancel at any time. In some cases, they have a limited money-back guarantee, but in others they will refund you at any point.
We look at these things as a worst case scenario, but also as a measure of how confident they are in their services. It’s a great thing when a credit repair service is so sure that you’ll be pleased, that they offer an anytime money-back guarantee.
6. Prior Results and Success
In the case of credit repair, a company is only as good as their past successes. We always look at prior clients to see how credit repair services have performed in the past. Since credit repair is different for everyone, and the length of time required can vary from person-to-person, we like to ensure the best possible outcome by ensuring they’ve had success in the past.
Our Ranking Formula
This will ensure that their practices are successful and the disputes they send out are accurate.
Our reviews take all of these things into account and pull them into a score between 1 and 5 stars. This final score is determined by weighing all of the above categories and averaging them based on performance and our top metrics.
The exact formula is something we adhere to, but we also encourage our investigators to place themselves in the customer’s shoes when assigning a final score. In the end, how well can this company help people improve their credit? That’s the question we set out to answer.
Be sure to check out our credit repair reviews to see which company is right for you!