Similar to dentists, credit repair businesses have a negative reputation. People don't want anyone messing with them, and the idea of having to deal with them is unpleasant. Unfortunately, anyone with the ability to persuade and a heartbeat can start a credit repair business, which has led to the industry becoming saturated. Credit repair companies are ubiquitous, much like McDonald's.Drawing on my experience of running one of the largest credit repair businesses in the country for the last 15 years, I understand the criticisms and scrutiny our industry receives. Regrettably, much of it is justified. Bad credit is becoming an epidemic that is only getting worse. The proliferation of credit repair businesses in the last year alone highlights how many options consumers have. As a result, you must conduct extensive research to ensure you do not become a victim of an opportunistic company.Having helped over 20,000 people as credit repair business owners and changed their lives, I feel it is time to provide transparency and clarity about how our industry functions. I want to provide you with the tools necessary to make an informed decision when choosing a credit repair company and give back to the community.
Table of Contents
How to Find the Best Credit Repair Company in Garland?
Different Credit Repair Companies in Garland, TX: Understanding the Differences
The Credit Repair Process in Garland
Personal Finances and Credit Repair
Free Credit Repair Services in Garland
My Final Recommendation on Credit Repair
How to Find the Best Credit Repair Company in Garland?
When someone asks me for the best credit repair company, I don't recommend my own company right away. I encourage them to conduct their own research and make their own assessment. Though online reviews can be helpful, they are not always trustworthy. Instead, I suggest that they create a list of potential companies through a quick Google search. Once they have a list, they need to consider several factors to narrow down the choices before making the final selection.
Gather a List of Potential Companies
- Conduct a quick Google search and list down companies with good or acceptable Google reviews in Garland.
Reputation Matters
- Choose a company with good online reviews and reputation.
- Check if their website has been online for at least three years through https://archive.org/web/.
- Verify if reviews are legitimate and accurate before considering them.
Contact the Shortlisted Companies
- Call the companies and ask some essential questions to help you gauge if they are the right fit for your needs.
- Ask about the company's experience, physical location, consultation fees, money-back policy, fee structure, and average process duration.
Going through this process may take time, but it's a worthwhile investment. It allows you to make the best decision possible, and it saves you money. Don't hesitate to take all the necessary steps to ensure that you are working with the best credit repair company in Garland.
Different Credit Repair Companies in Garland, TX: Understanding the Differences
The credit repair industry is home to over 1 million active companies in the United States. This gives consumers a wide selection to choose from, but it can be challenging to identify experienced and inexperienced companies. To help you understand how credit repair works, let us walk you through the three different types of credit repair companies you will encounter in Garland, TX.
Flat Fee Companies
Only 5% of companies follow this structure, but in our opinion, this is the most efficient way to get quick results and save money in the process. Flat fee companies charge only for the accounts they dispute, asking for a one-time fee for their service. Since they are incentivized to finish the job fast, they are generally quicker than other companies. The credit repair company will look at your credit reports when you consult with them to determine if you are eligible and give you a quote based on the accounts in question. Most mortgage companies referred to flat fee companies because they could close deals for clients who were pre-approved quickly.
Monthly Fee Companies
This is the most common model in the credit repair industry. However, they usually do not look at your credit report to determine if they can help you, which can hamper their effectiveness. Monthly fee companies have no motivation to fix your credit fast because the longer you are in the program, the more fees they collect. Also, they dispute a few accounts at a time, meaning that it can take 6-8 months to get full results if you have ten negative accounts. While you may pay less each month, prices can add up over time, making it an expensive model.
Pay for Delete
Fewer companies follow this model, but it presents an appealing way to pay for credit repair. You pay for the results only, making credit repair companies responsible for performing. However, most pay-for-delete companies hook their customers by asking them to pay a high fee for every item they remove. For example, getting one item deleted from all three credit reports could cost you $524 if an account reports on all three bureaus. Hence, it's important to ask the credit repair company about their pricing structure and accounts to be deleted.We always recommend choosing a flat fee company as they have more experience and are more efficient. However, it's essential to conduct your research, including calculating the costs involved, so you can make an informed decision.
The Credit Repair Process in Garland
When it comes to credit repair, there is a ton of advice out there, but much of it is outdated or not helpful. As someone with 15 years of experience in this industry, I can attest to the fact that the process is always changing, especially with new regulations and laws. However, credit reporting agencies are always trying to keep the consumer from using an effective dispute process by putting processes and procedures in place. Staying up-to-date with changes is important to provide the best results to clients.
Let's Talk about the Process
In 2015, many individuals found success with a dispute process called "not mine disputes." However, credit reporting agencies put in more refined processes, such as e-OSCAR, to limit inaccurate dispute letters. Today, it's essential to use new and unique dispute tactics to get items corrected or deleted from your credit report.
The New, Effective Credit Repair Process
It's your legal right to contest the validity of any account on your credit report. Rather than only disputing errors, request that the data furnisher provide proof of the account’s validity. Once you have determined an error is present, use any available proof to ask for the error to be deleted or fixed.
What Account Documentation Should I Ask for?
To determine what documents to request, call a non-customer to inquire about the documents necessary to authorize a new loan. A quick Google search can also provide more information on this. Stay tuned for a blog post with links to all the documents you can request.
Personal Finances and Credit Repair
Your credit score is influenced by your personal finances. If you want to fix your credit, you need to get your finances in order first. Much like the stock market, your credit score fluctuates based on your economic situation. Credit repair is just one tool in a collection that can help you fix derogatory accounts. To maintain sustainable credit, you must take control of your personal finances. People who do not pay attention to their finances struggle to keep their credit scores steady. Rather than investing, pay off your revolving credit balances, and stop relying on credit cards. Small balances may be necessary to keep the account open, but emergencies are the only reason to use it. Fixing your finances is the best way to create a sustainable credit situation. However, credit repair can become an endless cycle for repeat offenders. If you are serious about fixing your credit for good, put all your effort into getting your personal finances in line.
Free Credit Repair Services in Garland
Many people wonder if they can fix their credit for free. The good news is that it's possible to do so with a little effort on your part, and without spending much money. You can find helpful guides on how to repair your credit on my blog at no cost. However, be aware that anything free usually comes with a time cost. Therefore, if you don't have the time or simply don't want to put in the effort, hiring a professional credit repair company might be the best option. Alternatively, if you're willing to spend 2-4 hours a month to dispute your credit report for free, you can check out my blog post on "Repair your Credit like the Pros" for guidance.
Leave a Testimonial or Review for Free Credit Repair
In the early 2000s, I used to offer free credit repair in exchange for a testimonial or review. It was an effective way to build up my business since I didn't have any reviews or testimonials initially. If you're looking for a similar opportunity, you may join credit repair groups on Facebook and post a simple message that you're looking for help with your credit in exchange for a detailed 5-star review. While there might be some criticism, it won't be difficult to find someone who is willing to do your credit repair for free. Just keep in mind that it's always a good idea to do your due diligence and research before trusting any company with your credit repair needs.
My Final Recommendation on Credit Repair
- Conduct thorough research when searching for a reputable credit repair company to help you improve your credit score long-term.
- Do not hesitate to reach out to various credit repair companies to ensure that you will not waste your time or money.
- Additionally, it is essential to focus on your personal finances since they are typically the root of most people's credit issues.
- An individual's poor spending and saving habits are frequently the cause of their inability to maintain good credit standing, and they squander their earnings on credit repair, blaming a lack of success on credit repair companies.
- I have personally seen credit repair change the lives of more than twenty thousand clients—it really works.
- Make sure to start with yourself; learning how to manage your finances is the first step towards quickly, easily, and permanently resolving credit issues.
- Do not lose hope; you have the power to improve your credit standing.