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If you thought credit repair was a service you always have to pay for, think again. CreditNerds has provided free credit repair to over 25,000 customers since 2007, helping those with errors on their credit reports navigate the dispute process with the credit bureaus. But the company also offers a number of paid services that can be useful for those who want to improve their credit health or secure their funding. We’ve broken down the various free and paid services that CreditNerds offers to help you decide which option is best.
Benefits explained
- Free credit repair service: The basic credit repair service offered by CreditNerds is completely free.
- Paid credit audit option: Those who want a more in-depth professional analysis of their credit can purchase a credit audit.
- Offers financing services: Whether you need financing for personal or business expenses, education, or the purchase of a property, CreditNerds will help you find the right lender.
- Interactive teaching tools: Free resources include videos, financial calculators, and even fun games for kids.
- Business services available: Small business owners can get help with financing and pay for an audit of their business’s online presence.
Disadvantages Explained
- Does not offer credit tracking: If you want to track the progress of your credit repair with ongoing monitoring, you will need to get it from another company.
- Financing services require paid monitoring from a third party: Those who wish to participate in the CreditNerds financing service must register for credit monitoring with their partner CheckMy3Scores.
- No mobile app: Some of CreditNerds’ interactive tools are not supported on mobile devices.
Types of services
Although CreditNerds is primarily called a credit repair business, it also offers many different services related to financing and managing small businesses. In fact, it is partly thanks to these various paid services that CreditNerds can provide its basic credit repair package for free. While there is no obligation to purchase anything to take advantage of free credit repair, some people may find that they may qualify for additional services after the dispute resolution process is complete.
Free credit repair
CreditNerds’ main claim to fame is its free credit repair service. Through this service, the company reviews your credit report and identifies reporting errors or other discrepancies that can be disputed with the credit bureaus.
CreditNerds explains that instead of collecting payments from customers, they earn money through affiliate partnerships with other businesses. This means that they may have a financial interest in referring you to third party services. Keep this in mind when receiving referrals from CreditNerds representatives; it is always wise to do your own research before purchasing another service based on a recommendation.
Personal and business financing
Whether you are looking for financing options for your education or your small business, CreditNerds can help. The company has relationships with over 200 banks and uses an algorithm to determine which lenders are most likely to give you a loan. Note that CreditNerds does not create or manage any loans directly, but simply acts as a matchmaking service.
Enrollment in the CreditNerds financing program does not include access to your credit report. The company requires that you create an account with its partner, CheckMy3Scores, and provide your login details to CreditNerds for analysis.
Real estate financing
Whatever type of real estate financing you need, CreditNerds will help you choose the right option. The company’s experts can guide you through traditional financing, banking alternatives, property flipping, real estate investments, and more. They usually ask for a minimum FICO score of 650, so you may need to go through the credit repair process or discuss other ways to improve your score before starting this program.
Optional add-ons
In addition to its credit repair and financing services, CreditNerds also features two optional add-ons, one for individuals and one suitable for business owners. They are designed to be used in tandem with a credit repair or finance service, although it is perfectly acceptable to purchase either as a stand-alone service instead.
Credit audit
CreditNerds’ free credit repair service covers litigation and removing incorrect details from your credit report, but it doesn’t include much practical advice on other ways to improve your score. Adding a credit audit provides a complete breakdown of your credit report with step-by-step expert analysis detailing how to achieve your optimal credit score.
Company overview
If you own a small business, your online reputation can make or break your success. The CreditNerds Business Snapshot is a comprehensive report that gathers and analyzes all public information on the Internet relating to your business. It examines online review sites, social media presence, website functionality, paid ad performance, and more, highlighting potential issues and areas for improvement.
Customer service
CreditNerds provides the majority of its online services through its web portal. Customers can log in to view updates on their credit repair report, check financing status, and get referrals to additional services.
In addition to a customer portal, CreditNerds also offers a robust set of resources that anyone can access for free. The company’s website is full of videos, how-to guides, and free online courses. Unfortunately, there is no smartphone app version of these materials and some are not supported on mobile devices.
Aside from the website, CreditNerds is also available by phone and email for those who have a question or need assistance.
Company reputation
Although it has been offering credit services since 2007, CreditNerds does not have much of an online footprint. The company is not accredited or rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) ​​and has no actual customer reviews on the BBB website and only 12 on Google. The company also has no complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
If you have a complaint about the services of a credit repair company, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or call 877-FTC-HELP.
Duration of contract
Contracts are not something you have to worry about with CreditNerds services. Since credit repair is free, you can opt out at any time if you no longer wish to receive assistance. All of CreditNerds’ paid services are billed on a one-time fee basis, so the company doesn’t even offer a monthly subscription that would require a cancellation policy.
CreditNerds may not offer contractual services directly, but the company may refer you to third parties who do. Be sure to find out about contract lengths and cancellation fees before signing up for third-party services.
Cost
As mentioned, CreditNerds’ main credit repair service is free. If you choose to add a credit audit to your credit repair plan, you will be asked to pay a one-time price of $ 97. Business owners who decide to purchase a business snapshot will also be subject to a one-time fee of $ 97.
There is no monthly subscription.
CreditNerds financing services may incur fees depending on the type of loan you require. Both personal and business financing are subject to a 9.99% pass fee, which is pretty steep. However, CreditNerds does not take any fees for real estate financing.
The Competition: CreditNerds vs. Lexington Law
It’s hard to compare CreditNerds’ free service to competitors because no one offers an equivalent without charging some sort of fee.
Lexington Law plans start at $ 89.95 per month and go up to $ 129.95 per month for different levels of service. CreditNerds’ free credit repair service is almost identical to the entry-level plan that Lexington Law sells for $ 89.95 per month. In between, it’s hard to see why someone wouldn’t go for the free equivalent of CreditNerds.
| CreditNerds | Lexington’s Law | |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation year | 2007 | 2004 |
| Offered services | Credit recovery, financing | Credit repair |
| Customer service contact points | Phone, e-mail | Phone, email, mobile app |
| Upfront costs | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Monthly fee | $ 0 | $ 89.95 to $ 129.95 |
Verdict
CreditNerds might not offer the most advanced credit repair service out there, but it’s hard to argue that it’s free. Unless you have a particularly complicated situation or need help with additional issues such as debt settlement or consolidation, CreditNerds should provide all the tools you need to remove legitimate inaccuracies from your credit report. credit. Their $ 97 credit audit is a great addition to consider, providing valuable information for only a fraction of what competitors charge.
How we review credit repair companies
We keep credit repair companies at the highest level in our reviews, taking into account many different aspects to ensure that we only recommend the most respectable services. We analyze each company’s service packages and rates, looking at contract terms, cancellation policies, and hidden charges. We also look at the types of services provided and compare them to similar companies to assess value. Finally, we collect third-party data from customers, BBB and other sources to compare our results against the company’s reputation.
Learn More: Read our full credit repair review methodology here.
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