Credit Repair Solutions: How to Choose the Best Option to Fix Your Bad Credit

Have you been denied credit when you need it the most? Want to buy your dream home or a new car but can't get approved for financing? You know how important it is to fix your bad credit fast, but don't know where to start? This article will help you determine what credit repair solution is best for your unique situation.

To clean your credit report and improve your credit score you have basically 2 options: (1) do it yourself; or (2) hire someone else to do it for you. There are pros and cons to each approach.

Option #1 - Do It Yourself

In theory, you *should* be able to do everything necessary to improve your credit score and clean up your credit report. It takes (your) time, persistence, and consistent follow-up. You may want to fix bad credit yourself if:

• You are willing to spend some time learning about your legal rights and how to dispute negative items in your credit report, negotiate debt settlements or removal of negative marks.
  


• You have the discipline to act - write letters and make phone calls - and ability to keep good written records.
  
  


• You don't mind communicating with creditors or credit bureaus directly regarding your credit history.
  


• You have very little money to spend on credit repair service.
  


• You only have simple errors or issues to fix that shouldn't
  take much time.
  

You could save a lot of money repairing your own credit. However, you may want to invest $50-$100 on a credit repair guide or software - the right information can save you a lot of time and help you avoid costly mistakes.

Option #2 - Hire a Credit Repair Company

If your credit repair needs are beyond what you're willing or able to tackle yourself, or if you simply want an expert to "hold your hand" through the process, consider hiring a credit repair company. Most credit repair companies charge an initial fee of $50-$100 after they review your case, and thereafter a monthly fee of $50-$100 until you cancel or they've completed the work you agreed upon.

With credit repair scams on the rise, it is important that you do some due diligence (research) on a few credit repair companies before selecting one to work with.

• Check their BBB (Better Business Bureau) records and make sure that they're legitimate and handle any consumer complaints quickly and fairly.
  


• Call and ask for a free consultation (most legitimate companies offer it). Get a sense of how they treat their clients and whether they are able to answer your questions (and back up their answers with references).
  


• Check any testimonials and ask how they've helped people with similar credit problems.
  


• Ask what the credit repair service covers and does NOT cover, and check if there are multiple service levels (upgrades will cost more money).
  


• Make sure they have a fair refund or cancellation policy and that you understand the terms. An unconditional satisfaction guarantee is the best but not every company offers it.
  

Whether you choose to clean up your credit yourself or hire a credit repair company to do it for you, make sure you allow enough time (45-60 days) for the results to show up on your credit report and score.

For more free tips on choosing the best credit repair solution for your needs, reviews of credit repair guides and software, and our list of top rated legitimate credit repair companies, visit http://www.CleanCreditTips.com