What Is Credit Repair?

Credit repair is the process of hiring a company to fix your bad credit through the removal of inaccurate, negative information on your credit reports
But Those Negative Marks On My Bureau Are Accurate!
It doesn't matter. the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) states that in a dispute regarding a negative mark on your credit, you can dispute it, and the reporting agency has a limited amount of time to reply to you, with proof, that the negative mark is either accurate or yours. If they do not respond in that time frame, the mark drops off your credit report, as if it never existed. Credit Repair agencies do this for you. They know the procedures, who to contact, and have the people power to consistently dispute, month after month, those marks on your credit, until the reporting agency does not respond, which is a great majority of the time. At that point, your negative credit line items are removed from your report
BE CAREFUL OF SCAMS
Credit repair services aren’t always reliable or truthful. In fact, national statistics show that more than half of people who submitted complaints about credit repair companies cited “fraud or scam.”  
Thankfully, there are consumer protections. If you opt to use a credit repair company, you’re protected under the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), which regulates how these companies can operate. Some key points include:
  • Consumers have three business days to cancel a contract without charge.
  • Companies can’t guarantee that they can remove information from your credit reports.
  • Companies can’t advise you to make false statements or change your identity to prevent the credit bureaus from associating information with you.
  • Consumers can’t be charged any fee for services that haven’t been fully rendered.
Before signing up for any credit repair service, make sure they follow the CROA rules and look out for possible red flags, such as payments being demanded upfront or results that sound too good to be true. Click on this link, CFPB, to find out more about how to protect yourself

Who Can You Trust?

Below are the Credit Repair Agencies that are endorsed by Money Magazine. Click on the image to visit their site and find out more. 
Wide range of affordable and comprehensive package options
  • The advisory team helps you take the necessary steps to improve your credit health overall
  • Setup or First Work Fee: $99 - $195
  • Monthly Fees: $79.99 - $119.99
  • No available discounts
  • 90-day Money-Back Guarantee
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  • Two decades of experience and availability in 49 states
  • Considerable industry standing with a track record of nearly 20 years
  • Setup or First Work Fee: $89.95, $109.95, or $129.95
  • Monthly Fees: $95.95 - $139.95
  • Discounts available for military, family/household, and referrals
  • No Money-Back Guarantees
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  • Offers a single, low-cost credit repair package
  • ​​Pause and resume your membership at will through your online account
  • Setup or First Work Fee: $79
  • Monthly Fees: $79 - $119
  • Discounts available for couples
  • 90-day Money-Back Guarantee

Fresh Start Credit Cards
​Helpful But Dangerous - Be Careful
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​When you struggle with bad credit, those problems can start to feel like an inescapable part of your life.
Yet even if your credit reports are full of past mistakes, there are almost always ways to improve your situation. Getting a credit card again (and using it the right way) could be a big step in the right direction.
Of course, there is one small catch. You first need to find a credit card issuer that's willing to approve your application in spite of the credit management mistakes you made in the past with your last bank or credit union.
What you need is a second chance.
Here’s what to know about second chance credit cards.
What is a second chance credit card?
A second chance credit card is an account that a credit card company is willing to approve even though you may have poor credit history or low credit scores. Some may approve you for a second chance credit card after a bankruptcy discharge, for example.
In general, these types of credit cards come in two varieties — a secured credit card and subprime unsecured credit cards.
Secured Credit Cards
One tool that could help you rebuild your credit is a secured credit card from a bank, credit union, or other financial institution. Credit card companies are often willing to approve secured credit card applications for people with bad credit or no credit because the risk associated with these types of accounts is lower.
With a secured credit card, you make a deposit with the issuing bank when you open the account. In general, the size of your deposit equals your credit limit on the account. So, if you make a security deposit of $300, a bank might approve you for a credit card with a $300 limit
Aside from the initial deposit, secured cards work like traditional credit cards in most other ways.
For example, as you use the second chance account, the issuing bank will expect you to repay those charges per the terms of your credit card agreement. So, you’ll have to make at least a minimum payment each month and, ideally, you should aim to pay your statement balance off in full.
Many secured credit card issuers will report your account to all three major credit bureaus - Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. But be sure to verify this fact with the card issuer before you apply for a second chance account.
If the card issuer doesn't report the account to the major credit bureaus, it can't help you rebuild your credit.
Subprime unsecured credit cards
​Looking for a second chance credit card with no security deposit? If so, you may want to look at unsecured credit card options. An unsecured card is a type of account where the lender doesn't require you to put up any cash as collateral to open it.
Of course, it's not wise to just randomly start applying for an unsecured card without a plan. If you do, your applications may be denied. With damaged credit history, your best bet may be to consider subprime credit cards — in other words, credit cards for people with bad credit.
Keep in mind that subprime unsecured credit cards are often expensive when compared to credit cards designed for good to excellent credit ratings. Annual percentage rates on these accounts are often 20% or higher. Subprime credit cards often come with annual fees as well.
Some subprime card issuers also have a reputation for poor customer service. So, if you’re interested in this type of second chance credit card, it’s wise to do your homework and compare multiple offers before you start filling out applications.

Best Second Chance/Subprime Credit Cards (click on image to visit site)

The Continental Finance Company sponsors several subprime credit cards in association with the issuers Celtic Bank and Bank of Missouri. They cater to a wide range of challenged credit people, doing it since 2005.
​Contenental Finance also works with numerous other banks, providing the service for the card. This allows Continental to be close to a 'One Stop' place for this part of your life

Secured Credit Cards
Consumers with bad credit or no credit sometimes find themselves unable to receive approval for a credit card at all. Secured credit cards provide a path for nearly anyone to receive an approval and start building a credit profile. With a secured credit card, consumers are required to put down a cash deposit normally equal to the card’s credit limit into a bank account (known in these cases as a collateral account). With responsible behavior, many cardholders can upgrade their secured card to a non-secured counterpart and see the deposit returned. Similarly, when a secured account is closed and in good standing, the deposit will be returned.
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The CITI secured card offers the benefit of being a name recognition card, the limit established by ow much you deposit in their account. Over time, CITI is known for offering their secured customers a non-secured card. One of the major factors for CITI is their loyalty. Treat them right, and they'll treat you right in return
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Want another name brand card in your wallet? It doesn't get much better than Discover. Click on the image and see what they have. We feel it's one of the best options out there, a world wide company that's interested in keeping you as a customer.