Credit Repair
The process of disputing inaccurate, outdated, or unverifiable items on a credit report to improve credit scores. Legitimate credit repair is a right under the FCRA and is free to do yourself. Credit repair companies that charge upfront fees are often ineffective and may be scams.
Full definition
Credit repair refers to actions taken to address negative items on a credit report with the goal of improving credit scores. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives consumers the right to dispute any information in their credit report that they believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable. This right belongs to you and is exercisable for free directly with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). What credit repair can legitimately do: Remove inaccurate information (wrong account, wrong balance, wrong late-payment date), remove unverifiable information (the bureau must verify within 30 days or remove it), and request validation of debts from collectors. What credit repair cannot do: Remove accurate negative information, delete valid late payments or defaults before 7 years, or remove bankruptcies before 10 years. Any company promising to do these things is misrepresenting the law. DIY credit repair process: (1) Pull free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com from all three bureaus. (2) Identify inaccurate, outdated, or unverifiable items. (3) File disputes online at each bureau's website (Equifax.com, Experian.com, TransUnion.com). (4) The bureau has 30 days to investigate; inaccurate items must be corrected or removed. Credit repair companies: Regulated by the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), which prohibits upfront fees and requires a 3-day cancellation right. Many charge $100-$150/month with mixed results, since they can only do what you can do yourself for free. Avoid any company promising score increases they cannot legally guarantee.
- Written by
- Get Advance Loan Editorial Team
- Reviewed by
- Compliance Review
- Published
- January 15, 2026
- Last reviewed
- June 15, 2026
- Credit scoreA three-digit number (typically 300 to 850) summarising your credit history. Lenders use it to predict the likelihood you'll repay.
- FICO scoreFICO is the credit-scoring model used in roughly 90% of U.S. lending decisions. Scores range from 300 to 850.
- VantageScoreVantageScore is a competing credit-scoring model jointly developed by the three major credit bureaus. Also runs 300 to 850.
- Credit reportA record of your credit history maintained by the three U.S. credit bureaus. You're entitled to one free copy per year from each bureau.
- Soft credit inquiryA credit check that does not affect your credit score. Used for pre-qualification and rate-shopping.
- Hard credit inquiryA credit check that may lower your credit score a few points and remains on your credit report for up to 24 months.
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