Similar to dentists, credit repair has a reputation that makes people hesitant to trust the industry, and understandably so. Unfortunately, it seems like anyone with basic persuading skills can start a credit repair company, leading to an overwhelming number of options available - much like the abundance of McDonald's locations. As someone with 15 years of experience in the credit repair industry and running one of the biggest companies in the nation, I know firsthand the scrutiny our industry receives. And in many cases, it's valid.Bad credit is a pervasive issue that's only getting worse, as evidenced by the upswing in credit repair companies in recent years. With so many options to choose from, consumers need to do their due diligence and ensure they don't fall victim to scams.As a business owner who's helped over 20,000 people turn their financial lives around, I feel it's important to give back by providing transparency and clarity on how the credit repair industry operates. My goal is to equip you with the tools you need to make an informed decision when choosing a credit repair company.
Table of Contents
How to Find the Best Credit Repair Company in Baton Rouge
Different Credit Repair Companies in Baton Rouge: What Sets Them Apart?
The Credit Repair Process in Baton Rouge
The Importance of Personal Finances in Credit Management
Free Credit Repair in Baton Rouge
Recommendations to Improve Your Credit Score
How to Find the Best Credit Repair Company in Baton Rouge
When people ask me which credit repair company is the best, I never encourage them to use my services. Instead, I advise them to conduct their own research and due diligence. While online reviews are an important starting point, they are not always reliable. Rather than pushing my own company, I have found that clients who conduct their own research tend to come back and hire my firm, as we are often the best option in the Baton Rouge area. To help you determine the right credit repair company for you, I have compiled the following steps:
Make a List
Conduct a Google search and find companies in your area that have a good Google review rating. Consider local companies, as you may feel more secure knowing you can drop into their office unannounced.
Reputation
Only list companies with a good online presence and reputation. Establishing a company website for three years or more is a good indicator. You should also review previous customer comments to avoid being fooled by fake reviews.
Make the Call
After investigating the credit repair company, call them to clarify their terms. Ensure they have the appropriate experience, bond, and guarantees, and ask about costs and processes.
Asking these questions enables you to analyze and make an informed decision. In the following section, we will discuss the factors that determine the most effective and least expensive company.
Different Credit Repair Companies in Baton Rouge: What Sets Them Apart?
With over a million active credit repair and financial service companies in the US, it can be challenging to tell whether a company is experienced or not. To help you better understand credit repair services, let's take a look at the three types of credit repair companies available in Baton Rouge.
Flat Fee Companies
Flat Fee credit repair companies like this are the most efficient due to their pay-per-account structure, which allows you to pay only for the accounts that they dispute. And since these companies want to complete the process as quickly as possible, their services are faster compared to other types.
Monthly Fee Companies
With most credit repair Baton Rouge companies charging monthly fees, they have no incentive to fix your credit quickly, which can take a long time if you have many negative accounts. While you may be paying less out of pocket each month, the fees can add up over time, making it expensive.
Pay for Delete Companies
Pay-for-delete companies offer an interesting and enticing way to pay for credit repair, with the company only being paid if they deliver results. However, the cost of each item removed from all three credit reports can be expensive.In summary, Flat Fee companies offer the best option for quick and efficient credit repair. While it's essential to do your research and make the best decision for yourself, choosing a credit repair company that follows a Flat Fee structure is a wise choice.
The Credit Repair Process in Baton Rouge
Different people have varying opinions about credit repair and the process involved. While there is a lot of advice available on the subject, much of it is outdated or not good advice. As someone who has been in the industry for 15 years, I understand that the credit repair process is ever-changing, with laws and regulations further complicating things. Credit reporting agencies often use processes that may prevent consumers from using an effective dispute process. Therefore, keeping up with changes is crucial to ensure the best possible results for our clients.
Understanding the Process
In 2015, when credit repair became popular, many consumers found success in disputing all negative and derogatory accounts using a process known as "not mine disputes." This approach caused the credit reporting agencies to delete the account as fraudulent instead of investigating it. However, these accounts would often reappear after the secondary legal reinvestigation process. Credit reporting agencies have since established more refined processes, such as e-OSCAR, to prevent frivolous dispute letters. Thus, 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
Although the new credit repair process is not a secret, not many people are utilizing it effectively. It is within your legal rights to contest the validity of any account on your credit report, meaning you can request that the data furnisher provide proof of the account's validity. This entails asking for original signed documents or payment ledgers that show all transactions made on the account to determine whether there is an error on the account or its reporting. Once you've established an error, you can use your own supporting evidence to note the error and request its deletion or correction.
What Account Documentation to Ask For?
The documentation required depends on the original loan authorized. You can call as a non-customer to ascertain what documents are necessary or perform a Google search for more information. A blog post containing a list of documents you can request will also be provided, so stay tuned.
The Importance of Personal Finances in Credit Management
Understanding Personal Finances' Role
When it comes to personal credit, it's crucial to understand that financial habits drive credit scores. This makes sense, given that millions of Americans face credit problems and how their scores fluctuate, like the stock market, based on personal financial behavior. While credit repair can remedy negative accounts, it's not the sole solution.
Prioritizing Personal Finances
While credit repair can improve credit scores, it's only temporary if personal finances are not sustainable. This indicates a lack of control over one's finances that can hinder credit scores from remaining steady in the long run. Therefore, before pursuing credit repair, start by focusing on tackling revolving credit balances, making timely payments, and minimizing credit card use. Getting personal finances in check is the key to credit sustainability.
Breaking the Credit Repair Cycle
Credit repair often puts clients in an endless cycle when they don't have their financial situation in order and spend money on credit repair instead of paying their balances. Although it's possible to work on finances and credit repair simultaneously, this requires available funds that most people lack. Hence, it's best to concentrate on getting personal finances organized to fix credit problems once and for all.
Free Credit Repair in Baton Rouge
Have you been wondering how to fix your credit without spending a dime? It is possible to repair your credit for free by following a few simple steps. Though it may take some of your valuable time, you can achieve the expected result without paying for any expensive services. You have the legal right to dispute your credit report without any cost, but most individuals either don't have the time or the patience to take up the task themselves. In situations where you are strapped for time, hiring professional credit repair services is the best option. However, if you can dedicate 2-4 hours each month to repairing your credit, then our blog post on 'Repair your credit like the pros" can be beneficial.
Leave a testimonial or review
When I began my journey in the credit repair industry, I used to offer free credit repair services to people in exchange for testimonials or reviews without having any reviews or testimonials of my own. Though it costs to send out disputes, the value I received from the review was worth much more than the small cost of the credit repair. This strategy has worked well for many newer credit repair companies, who are willing to provide free credit repair in exchange for detailed reviews. If you are interested, join a few Facebook groups on "Credit Repair" in Baton Rouge and post a simple message similar to the following:"I'm searching for a new credit repair business owner who can help me with some credit concerns in exchange for a 5-star detailed review."You may receive some negative comments, but you should have no difficulty in finding someone to provide you with free credit repair services.
Recommendations to Improve Your Credit Score
Conduct thorough research to find a reliable credit repair company that can help you tackle the root cause of your credit issues. Even though this process may require extensive efforts and consultations with different companies, it is crucial to avoid wasting your money or time on ineffective solutions.
Address the underlying financial habits that are contributing to your credit problems in the first place. Many people tend to overlook their spending and saving behavior and expect credit repair to magically resolve their issues. This approach typically leads to disappointment and frustration with credit repair services that are not able to deliver the desired results.
Keep in mind that credit repair can be successful if you take the necessary steps to improve your financial situation. As a credit repair expert, I have witnessed the positive impact that this process can have on thousands of my clients. However, it all starts with you and your willingness to take control of your finances and work towards a long-term solution.
Finally, don't lose hope or give up on your credit repair goals. With the right mindset and strategies, you can elevate your credit score and enjoy the benefits of better financial stability and flexibility.