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Sunday, March 7th
The Credit People have helped more than 100,000 people to improve their credit history since 2001. Their website is attractive and laid out in a way that is simple to understand, not cluttered with an overload of images and links.
7 day trial period
The Credit People offer a simple way to check out their services: pay an initial fee of $19, which includes your credit report (a service often not provided by credit repair services) and see what you think for the next 7 days. If you choose to continue using their credit repair plan, you'll pay a flat fee of $79 per month. The service can be cancelled at any time, and an "Unbeatable Satisfaction Guarantee" allows you to get a refund for one month's service fees (this is assuming you cancel as soon as you're unhappy, not months after the fact).
Improving your credit score
The services provided by The Credit People are as you'd expect with a credit repair service: disputes, inquiries, interventions and validations. We like that they focus their results not just on removing negative items from your credit history, but also specifically on improving your credit score - so that you can more easily qualify for a loan or be selected as a tenant for a rental. We also appreciate that their approach to working with their clients is "How can we help?" with situations like trying to get interest rates lowered or to get a referral letter, going above and beyond the issues associated with your credit report.
Research leads to questions
Digging around a little more, though, we were left with some question marks. First, several places on the site refer to a 6-month, prepaid package plan that comes with a 6-month guarantee but this isn't listed on the Pricing page. Then, we were happy to see lots of informative articles on the Credit Resource Section - but disappointed to find that the Regulations page was totally blank.
Disappointing grade
Finally, we were puzzled by The Credit People's reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Although their representatives seem to have done a great job of responding appropriately to all of the customer complaints posted on the BBB site, they still had a less-than-inspiring "C" grade at the time of our review.
From our perspective, The Credit People are trying to offer personable and effective credit repair services and have been doing that for several years - but they've got room for improvement to move up in the rankings and compete with the top companies in our review.
Most Americans know that a good credit score and credit history are important. That one number, your credit score, can determine your ability to get a loan for school or for a car, be approved as a tenant, or to qualify for a credit card.
Unfortunately, when your credit history is less than fantastic - because of making payments after the due date, having too many credit inquiries, or even having mistaken information associated with your identity - you'll have fewer options when you need to make a major purchase. You may even have to pay higher than average rates on your car insurance or your mortgage.
Using a reputable credit repair company puts you back in control of your financial reputation. These services work on your behalf to reduce or eliminate any negative factors in your credit history, working directly with collection agencies, creditors, and even with the three primary credit bureaus. With the help of a credit repair company, you can improve your score and even put a stop to negative information being reported on your accounts. Most services take several months before you see measurable results on your credit report, so adjust your expectations accordingly.
With so many services advertised in the media and online, how can you tell if a credit repair company is reputable and effective? As you compare the various providers, here are several criteria to keep in mind:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best credit repair companies available today. We hope this information helps you find the right credit repair program that meets your needs and gets you on your way to an improved credit history!
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