Is credit repair worth it? Company vs doing it yourself
Credit repair companies charge every month to do things you're allowed to do yourself. Here's what they actually do, and how to do the same thing on your own.
What credit repair companies do
Most follow the same steps: pull your 3 reports, find negative items, send disputes to the bureaus and creditors, and wait for the answers. Then they send more rounds. That's the core of it.
What it costs
Many charge a setup fee plus a monthly fee for as long as you stay. Some sell "sweeps" or secret letters for thousands of dollars. There's no secret letter. There's a process.
| Credit repair company | Doing it yourself | |
|---|---|---|
| Pulling your reports | They do it | Free, every week |
| Disputing | They send it for you | Free, straight with each bureau |
| Cost | Monthly fee, often for months | $0, or a course to learn it once |
| What you learn | Usually nothing | The whole process, for life |
When doing it yourself makes sense
If you can follow steps and keep track of dates, you can do this. The hard part isn't the work, it's knowing what to do in what order. That's what Standing Skool teaches, every click on the real sites.
Want every click shown on the real sites?
Standing Skool walks you through the whole process on the real Equifax, Experian and TransUnion sites. 46 short video lessons, dispute letter templates, and a live Q and A every Monday. $30 a month.
Join Standing SkoolCommon questions
Can I do credit repair myself?
Yes. Disputing directly with the bureaus is free and you don't need a company.
Do credit repair companies do anything I can't?
The core work, pulling reports and sending disputes, is the same process you can run yourself.
Is there a secret dispute letter?
No. There's a process: pull your reports, find the errors, dispute them, track the answers.
How much does it cost to fix my own credit?
Your reports and disputes are free. Standing Skool teaches the full process for $30 a month.