Best Credit Repair Companies in Chicago
Updated on : August 20th, 2021
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You probably just did a Google search for “best credit repair companies near me.” If you simply want our number one pick, then it’s Credit Saint. With a 90-day money-back guarantee, an A+ rating from the BBB, and fast customer service, Credit Saint is our top pick.
Home of The Bean, Willis Tower, and deep dish pizza, Chicago is one of the largest and most iconic cities in the US. In fact, it’s the third most populous city in the country, behind only New York City and Los Angeles.
While Chicago is a popular tourist attraction for many, the Windy City faces its fair share of issues financially. Chicago is affected by some of the most glaring income disparity in the nation, and one look at the statistics confirms this:
- Around 21% of people in Chicago live below the poverty line. The top 1% of Chicagoans earn more than $600,000 annually.
- Two in five Chicago residents have delinquent debt (defined as debt that is 60 days or more overdue or in collections).
- Only 57% of Chicagoans have access to credit, compared to 62% nationally (access to credit means a credit card or other readily available loans that allow someone to meet financial needs).
All of these stats are disturbing. Another way to measure the financial health of a city is by looking at credit score statistics. As you might expect, these don’t look great for Chicago either:
- On the VantageScore 3.0 scale, the average credit score in Chicago is 671. This is lower than New York City (697), Los Angeles (683), and the national average (689).
- 35% of Chicago residents have subprime credit scores (defined as a credit score lower than 600).
Having a lower credit score can hurt you in all areas financially. For example, it will be much harder for you to secure a loan, especially on a bigger purchase like a car or a home.
Even if you are able to get a loan, you may have to take on a larger interest rate than you’re comfortable with. To illustrate this, consider the average home price in Chicago, which is $299,929 according to data from Zillow. We’ll round this up to $300,000 for simplicity.
Assuming you put 20% down and take out a 30-year mortgage for $240,000, here’s how a difference in credit score can affect your monthly payments.
- With an excellent credit score, you may qualify for a 3% interest rate. In this case, your monthly payment will be $1,012 and your mortgage will cost $364,266 in total.
- With a fair or poor credit score, you may qualify for a 5% interest rate. In this case, your monthly payment will be $1,288 and your mortgage will cost $463,814.
As you can see, an improved credit score can save you close to $100,000 on a typical mortgage in Chicago. A great way for Chicagoans to fix their credit is through credit repair.
In this article, we’ll list the best credit repair companies in Chicago, including 3 online-based services and 10 local offices. We highly recommend choosing a company from this list if you’re looking for credit repair in Chicago.
Is Credit Repair Legal In Chicago?
Yes, credit repair is legal in Chicago. Under Illinois law, the Credit Services Organizations Act dictates how credit repair companies must conduct business. This includes registering with the Secretary of State as well as providing all customers the option to cancel services within three days for a full refund.
In addition, all credit repair companies in the country must abide by the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Among other things, these laws prohibit companies from demanding payments upfront and making agreements that aren’t done in writing.
How Does Credit Repair In Chicago Work?
Credit repair services in Chicago will generally have the following three steps:
- Free consultation: A representative will teach you how to read your credit report and explain how their services can help fix your credit.
- Dispute errors on your behalf: The company will then come up with a plan to fix each error on your reports and write dispute letters to the three major credit bureaus.
- Recommendations going forward: During or after credit repair, the company may offer additional resources to help continue building your credit.
For a deeper dive into each step, check out our article about how credit repair companies work.
Best Credit Repair Services In Chicago
The following three recommendations are online-based services that accept clients in Chicago. All of them offer a free consultation over the phone, so it’s really easy to get started.
Credit Saint
Since 2004, Credit Saint has been one of the most popular credit repair companies in the industry. They have successfully helped thousands of clients get credit score increases of 50, 100, and sometimes even more.
Credit Saint is one of those rare credit repair companies that are actually BBB-accredited, which is always a huge bonus. In addition, they have gotten a BBB rating of A or higher since 2007.
With Credit Saint, you’re almost guaranteed results. That’s because they offer an industry-leading 90 day money back guarantee, which ensures a full refund if you see no results after 90 days. Those who may be skeptical about spending money on credit repair will find extra insurance with this refund policy.
We also recommend Credit Saint because of the following:
- Reasonable Prices
- Flexible Cancellation
- Efficient and Transparent 45 Day Dispute Cycles
- Private Dashboard
- Highly Rated on BBB, Good Track Record
- No Fees When Requesting Credit Reports
Learn more about Credit Saint in our full review.
Lexington Law
Also having been in business since 2004, Lexington Law is another top company for credit repair. Lexington Law claims they have sent over 220 million dispute letters since opening its doors.
The lack of an initial setup fee makes Lexington Law an attractive option for those with tighter budgets. There is still a monthly fee, but even those are slightly lower compared to average.
Also, Lexington Law is equipped with staff with lots of verified legal experience. Everyone either has previous paralegal experience or a law degree from university. In addition, they publicly display their staff profiles on their site; this level of transparency is always a good sign for a credit repair company.
We also recommend Lexington Law because of the following:
- Experience & Popularity
- Reasonable Pricing
- Offers Mobile App
- Free Resources On General Credit Improvement
- Flexible Customer Service Hours
We go into detail about all of these points in our full review of Lexington Law.
CreditRepair.com
We recommend CreditRepair.com as our third online-based credit repair company for Chicagoans. Since 2007, CreditRepair.com has successfully disputed over 1.8 million errors from credit reports.
As CreditRepair.com fixes your credit, they strongly encourage you to get educated about your own credit as well. In their Credit Education tab, you’ll find a variety of resources that teach you good credit habits. Following these suggestions will surely increase your score long-term.
We also recommend CreditRepair.com because of the following:
- Ongoing Credit Education and Support
- Simple Process: Check, Challenge, Change.
- Reasonable Pricing
- Offers Mobile App
Credit Repair Offices Near Me In Chicago
Anyone looking for credit repair in Chicago should start with Credit Saint, Lexington Law, or CreditRepair.com. However, we understand that not everyone may want to hire an online-based company. Here are 10 local offices in Chicago that run highly-rated and legitimate credit repair operations.
850 Credit Club Consultation
850 Credit Club Consultation considers themselves as a financial education company with credit repair services. Among 140 Google reviews, they have a 4.8 out of 5 average rating.
At 850 Credit Club, all of their credit consultants are FICO Pro Certified, so they have full knowledge of how to increase your scores. After your initial consultation, 850 Credit Club will craft a custom plan to dispute negative items on your behalf.
As 850 Credit Club is a financial education company, they offer a program called Elite University. This course teaches you best practices towards increasing your score, hopefully all the way until that perfect 850!
Contact Information:
- Address: 4747 Lincoln Mall Dr Ste 103, Matteson, IL 60443
- Phone: (877) 205-7771
- Email: support@the850club.com
Credit Geeks
Credit Geeks is an agency with over 10 years of credit restoration experience. Among 18 Google reviews, they have an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Credit Geeks offers a bunch of different services, ranging from beginner programs to more aggressive ones for those looking for faster credit repair. In addition, they also have a monthly credit monitoring subscription which allows you to track any changes to your credit reports.
If you sign up with Credit Geek, you’ll have access to your own online portal to track your case progress.
Contact Information:
- Address: 1200 N Ashland Ave Suite 202, Chicago, IL 60622
- Phone: (773) 292-2722
- Email: info@creditgeeksllc.com
Credit Rx
Credit Rx is a credit repair agency that advertises their ability to take you from bad credit to home ownership. Among 24 Google reviews, they have an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.
According to their website, Credit Rx has enabled some of their clients to be able to purchase a home within 90 days. They have partnered with many banks and other lending institutions, so choosing Credit Rx may make it easier for you to secure a home loan.
Of course, Credit Rx also offers repair services, focusing on credit cleaning, restoration, and establishment. If Credit Rx is unable to delete items from your credit report, you’re entitled to a full refund.
Contact Information:
- Address: 3209 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60641
- Phone: (773) 647-1112
- Email: johanna@credit-rx.com
Excellent Credit Solutions
Excellent Credit Solutions is a credit repair agency based in Chicago. Among 12 Google reviews, they have a perfect 5 out of 5 rating.
Excellent Credit Solutions promises that your score will increase within 60 days. If you choose them for credit repair, make sure this shows up in your contract. This gives you leverage in case they are unable to meet this promise.
Another great feature of Excellent Credit Solutions is that they’ll dispute any errors that resurface for free. They offer all this at a very reasonable rate of $99 per month, so we highly encourage reaching out.
Contact Information:
- Address: 5113 Harper Ave Ste 2C, Chicago, IL 60615
- Phone: (800) 821-1412
- Email: dennis@myexcellentcredit.com
FLYY Credit
FLYY Credit Solutions is a membership-based credit organization that offers education and repair services. Among 24 Google reviews, they have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.
FLYY Credit is not a credit repair agency. Instead, once you become a member, you’ll gain access to Flyy Credit University, which will teach you how to dispute credit reporting errors on your own. The attractive part of this is that there is only a one-time $397 payment for a one-year membership, which is a lot cheaper than most credit repair programs.
However, this does mean it may take you more time to fix your credit on your own. Still, the guidance, education, and support from Flyy Credit University could help you further down the road when managing your overall finances.
Contact Information:
- Address: 15941 S Harlem Ave, Tinley Park, FL 60477
- Phone: (888) 708-9171
Illinois Credit Services
Illinois Credit Services is one of the larger credit repair agencies in Illinois. Among 133 Google reviews, they have a 4.9 out of 5 average rating.
Illinois Credit Services offers individual credit repair at $99 per month, with a $189 first work fee. In accordance with federal laws, they will only charge you monthly after the work for the previous month is complete (first work fee is billed 14 days after enrollment).
Some client testimonials reveal stellar results, with many people seeing significant credit score increases and thus being able to get a loan.
Contact Information:
- Address: 16143 S Lincoln Hwy #201, Plainfield, IL 60586
- Phone: (630) 427-8500
- Email: info@illinoiscreditservices.com
Nationwide Credit Clearing
Nationwide Credit Clearing is an agency with many years of experience in credit repair. Among 329 Google reviews, they have an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
While their website is a little outdated, there’s no question that Nationwide Credit Clearing is one of the best credit repair agencies in the Chicago area. Dating as far back as 1985, many realtors, mortgage lenders, and auto sales reps have entrusted their credit files with Nationwide Credit Clearing.
Nationwide maintains open and clear communication when you sign up for their services. You’ll get a welcome letter, periodic emails, and formal updates every 35-40 days.
Contact Information:
- Address: 2336 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
- Phone: (773) 862-7700
Prime Credit Advisors
Prime Credit Advisors is a highly-rated credit repair agency in Chicago. Among 186 Google reviews, they have a perfect 5 out of 5 rating.
Prime Credit Advisors offers credit repair services aimed at getting you noticeable results within 45 days. However, like all credit repair agencies, you should give them at least 3-6 months for full results to show.
You can get started immediately with their live online chat system, or schedule a free consultation. Based on some Google reviews, many clients were able to see score increases of 100 points or more within 6 months of service.
Contact Information:
- Address: 9525 S 79th Ave Suite 216, Hickory Hills, IL 60457
- Phone: (708) 761-4844
- Email: info@primecreditadvisors.com
Pro Credit Repair
Pro Credit Repair is one of the best credit repair companies in Chicago. Among 23 Google reviews, they have an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.
With their credit specialists, Pro Credit Repair claims they can get you to start seeing results in as little as five business days. In addition, they say the average time it takes to boost a client’s score and secure a loan is between 2 to 4 weeks.
Pro Credit Repair’s services cost between $200 to $2,000 depending on the work required. We’re generally not fans of this sort of pricing, but the speed and effectiveness of their credit repair still makes them well-worth considering.
Contact Information:
- Address: Equitable Building, 401 Michigan Ave #1200, Chicago, IL 60611
- Phone: (312) 423-6700
- Email: info@procreditrepair.com
TreeLife Financial Solutions
TreeLife Financial Solutions is a credit repair agency that understands how a low credit score can prevent you from achieving your goals. Among 132 Google reviews, they have a perfect 5 out of 5 rating.
Under the tagline “helping branch your financial tree together,” TreeLife has successfully helped many boost their credit scores. Their staff is fully trained on the latest credit reporting laws, so rest assured your credit file is in good hands.
Contact Information:
- Address: 6242 S Kolmar Ave, Chicago, IL 60629
- Phone: (773) 717-5487
Which Office Should I Pick?
Upon receiving these 13 recommendations for credit repair in Chicago, you may be overwhelmed by your choices. How do you know which agency is right for you?
Since all of these companies do offer a free initial consultation to introduce you to their services, be sure to take advantage of that. During your consultation, ask about pricing and how the company plans to handle your report. This can give you a better idea of which one is right for you.
In general, you can’t go wrong starting with Credit Saint, since it’s very convenient and easy to schedule a call. There’s absolutely no obligation to sign up for services. Even if you do, you’re backed by their 90 day money-back guarantee.
How Do I Tell If A Credit Repair Service Is Legitimate?
We only ever recommend legitimate credit repair services at Credit Help Info. If you decide to choose your own company not on this list, be sure that they have the following features:
- Verifiable Physical Address
- Registered with the Illinois Secretary of State
- Proven Track Record
- No Lofty Promises Unless Made in Writing
- Transparent Pricing Provided Through Website or Free Consultation
How Much Is Credit Repair In Chicago?
On average, a reasonable budget for 6 months of credit repair in Chicago is around $1,000. This includes all costs, including monthly fees, initial setup fees, and any additional fees related to repair.
This price also applies to various different pricing models you may come across. Many repair companies use a monthly subscription model, but some others use a pay-per-deletion model. In either case, you should be able to stay under $1,000 over 6 months.
What Do I Need To Do During The Credit Repair Process?
Many companies will advertise that you don’t need to do anything on your end during the credit repair process. However, for the best results, you should never leave everything up to the company.
For starters, be sure to check in regularly with your company to monitor case progress. If your company uses an online portal or mobile app, check it frequently. Reach out about anything that looks like it’s not being actively worked on.
In addition, you should also continue working on paying down debts and building up positive credit. Repair companies can help dispute errors, but only you can make your payments on-time. Our article on fixing your credit score yourself may provide additional insights.
How Long Does It Take To See Results?
Usually, it will take at least 3 to 6 months of active credit repair for you to see meaningful results. Many companies may claim that you’ll see results faster than that, but this is highly dependent on how much work your credit needs.
In 3 to 6 months, you can reasonably expect to see a 50 point increase in your score. However, it’s possible to see even better results. Consider the following review of Credit Saint from Consumer Affairs by Yvonne:
Yvonne
They really do try their best to bring your credit score up. I started with a 546 in Nov and I’m up to 652. I’m going to see how far up I can get with them. They also promised to let me know when they were no longer able to do anything more.
Yvonne started with a pretty low score. In these cases, credit repair can often help you achieve exceptional results, as it did for Yvonne. She saw a score increase of over 100 in just 5 months of work. Credit Saint may be able to help you get similar results as well.
Conclusion and Next Steps
We introduced 13 of our top recommendations for credit repair in Chicago, with 3 online-based and 10 locally-based companies. If you’re in Chicago and looking for credit repair, we hope you use this list to begin your research.
As a next step, we highly encourage reaching out to Credit Saint for a free consultation. After you learn about their services, you’ll get a better idea of if they can help you significantly improve your score in the long-run.
When doing research, Credit Help Info relies on credible and authoritative sites. These research sources are provided so that you can see exactly where we get our information.
- https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2019/11/05/the_financial_health_of_chicago_residents.pdf
- https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2365&ChapterID=67
- https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/statutes/credit-repair-organizations-act
- https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act
About the Author
Chris Morgan
Chris Morgan is a credit expert and founder of Credit Help Info. He has been featured in Addition Financial, GOBankingRates, MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, and many other publications. He has read hundreds of books and resources on finance and the credit industry. Because he did this, you don’t have to. As a school teacher for over 20 years, Chris enjoys taking complicated material and breaking it down into manageable information that’s easy to understand.
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