Writer: Ashley Fricker
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Jon McDonald
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Key Takeaways
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Other credit repair companies offer services similar to Lexington Law, giving people a range of choices when tackling credit issues.
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Some of these alternative credit repair services may be more affordable while delivering similar results.
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Depending on how many negative items you want to dispute, DIY credit repair could be appealing as a low-cost option.
When researching Lexington Law alternatives, you should first consider the overall state of your credit report and what you hope to accomplish on your credit repair mission. We’ve listed Lexington Law as our top-rated credit repair service for quite some time, but just because the firm is rated highly doesn’t mean it’s the right service for you.
You could potentially save both time and money by opting for another credit repair company or even tackling the challenge yourself, depending on how many negative items you need to dispute with each credit bureau.
If you’re ready to get your credit score trending in the right direction, keep reading for our list of the best Lexington Law alternatives.
Top Alternatives to Lexington Law Credit Repair
Often, people glance at best-of lists and only focus on the top choice, overlooking other fantastic options. In this instance, we suggest considering our next-best credit repair companies, which are also experts in assisting you with disputing and removing unjustified negative items from your credit reports.
And, unless you’re a recent victim of an identity theft scam and have lots of items to dispute, you may not need to pay the higher cost of Lexington Law to get the same results. Consider these credit repair service providers to help you achieve a better credit score:
- Best-in-class support
- In business since 1989
- Rapid 35-day dispute cycle, tailored to your situation
- 90-day 100% money-back guarantee
- Low $79 cost to get started, cancel or pause membership anytime
- See official site, terms, and details.
| Better Business Bureau | In Business Since | Monthly Cost | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 1989 | $79 | 9.5/10 |
Sky Blue Credit Repair offers only one tier of service, which guarantees that every client will get the same attention to detail and excellent service. If you want to make credit repair a family affair, the credit repair agency offers a special couple’s pricing that cuts the cost of your partner’s service in half.
This credit repair agency promises a top-notch experience in the industry, even offering clients the convenience of pausing their account with just a click.
Sky Blue’s Pro Analysis service can help you identify which disputable items are holding back your credit score, maximizing your credit repair potential.
- Free online assessment
- CreditRepair.com members saw over 8.8 million removals on their credit reports since 2012
- Free access to your credit report summary
- Three-step plan for checking, challenging and changing your credit report
- Online tools to help clients track results
- See official site, terms, and details.
| Better Business Bureau | In Business Since | Monthly Cost | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| See BBB Listing | 2012 | $69.95+ | 8/10 |
CreditRepair.com offers a no-obligation, free assessment that provides a comprehensive rundown of your current financial health. This includes a personalized credit assessment, a credit report summary, a credit score evaluation, and a game plan to improve your credit rating.
You’ll also get a summary of negative items affecting your credit score, along with a plan to clear these obstacles. CreditRepair.com members saw over 200,000 items removed from their credit reports in 2023.
The credit repair agency offers three tiers of service to meet the varying needs of its clients. Each requires a monthly payment that allows cancellation at any time. All clients receive access to a dedicated portal that allows them to check their repair progressat any time of day or night.
- Credit Firm has helped consumers improve their credit scores for more than 20 years
- No hidden fees — just $49.99/month
- Credit Firm uses every legal tool and procedure allowable by law to remove as much derogatory information as possible from your credit reports to increase your credit scores
- 97% of our clients refer us to friends and family
- See official site, terms, and details.
| Better Business Bureau | In Business Since | Monthly Cost | Reputation Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1997 | $49.99 | 8.5/10 |
CreditFirm.net has been helping customers improve their credit scores for nearly 30 years and offers free assessments for people interested in its services. The company was founded by attorneys who are experts in consumer credit and CreditFirm.net uses a variety of legal tools to dispute erroneous and derogatory entries on your credit report.
This service offers a lower monthly fee compared to many other credit repair tools on the market and doesn’t tack on any hidden charges. You won’t encounter fees for sign-up, initial assessment, credit reports, deletions, or cancellations.
Its monthly plan includes an in-depth analysis of your credit and unlimited credit bureau challenges.
You Can Also Repair Your Credit Yourself
If a monthly fee doesn’t appeal to you — or you have the ingenuity and do-it-yourself spirit — you can consider repairing your credit history on your own.
Remember, this process requires a bit of expertise and a whole lot of patience. But if you only have a few items to dispute, you might just be able to handle it on your own. If the results aren’t what you hoped for, you can always consider reaching out to a professional credit repair service.
How to Dispute Items with Each Bureau
You can only dispute items on your credit report that shouldn’t be there. That means any negative item that should have aged off of your credit history, an account that you don’t recognize, an incorrect debt amount listed on one of your accounts, or any information linked to identity theft or fraud.
Legitimate items on your credit report — such as a late payment or default you’re responsible for — cannot be disputed. There’s nothing you can do other than wait for its impact on your credit score to lessen with time, which begins to happen about a year or later after it is reported to the bureaus.
If you have items on your reports that demand immediate attention and you’re eager to tackle the process yourself, you’ll need to file a separate dispute with each credit bureau.
Each credit bureau accepts disputes online, over the phone, and by mail. Here’s the rundown for each credit bureau:
Experian
Experian provides an online dispute portal that allows you to file an online dispute, check up on a previously filed dispute, or access any information you need to file a hard-copy dispute through the mail.
After you obtain your Experian credit report, you can pinpoint the items you wish to dispute. You can either create an online dispute and upload the necessary supporting documentation (bills, receipts, letters from the lender), or you can fill out and mail Experian’s dispute form to:
Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX, 75013
Experian does not openly publish its dedicated contact number for filing disputes over the phone. Instead, it instructs consumers to contact the number printed on their paid Experian credit report summary.
But if you call the credit bureau through its main customer service line at 1 (888) 397-3742, an agent can transfer you to the dispute department directly.
There’s no charge for disputing an item on your own, and you’ll usually get a response within 30 to 45 days. Don’t send in your original forms and documents. Keep those safe for your records and only send clear copies.
When filing a dispute, also include:
- Your full name, including middle initial, and generation (e.g., JR, SR, II, III)
- Your date of birth
- Your Social Security number (if you have never been issued a Social Security number, please note that in your request)
- Addresses of where you have lived for the past two years
- One copy of a government-issued identification card, such as a driver’s license or state ID card, etc.
- One copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement, etc.
- List each item on your report that you believe is inaccurate, the account number, and the specific reason you feel the information is incorrect.
Equifax
Like Experian, Equifax offers an online portal where you can file a digital dispute for inaccurate credit report information. The credit bureau guarantees a result within 30 days. If Equifax rules in your favor, it will update your credit report and Equifax credit score automatically.
You can expedite the process of filling out your dispute form by signing up for a free MyEquifax account. You can then automatically fill in some of the necessary details, such as your address, Social Security number, and other important details. You can also initiate a credit freeze and sign up for fraud alerts.
If you’d rather send a hard copy of a dispute letter, you should address it as follows:
Equifax
PO Box 740256
Atlanta, GA, 30374-0256
Equifax requires a host of documents to prove your identity before filing a dispute.
These documents include either a copy of your driver’s license, passport, court documents of a legal name change, birth certificate (with current name), marriage certificate (with current name), or a military ID.
You’ll also need to provide your Social Security number along with a copy of a valid Social Security card, a W-2 form displaying your full Social Security number, or a pay stub that includes it. You might require additional documentation related to the items you’re disputing.
To dispute an Equifax item over the phone, you can call 866-349-5191 from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. EST, Monday through Friday.
TransUnion
TransUnion’s dispute portal contains many educational resources to get your documentation ready. You can also utilize the portal to file a dispute or check the status of a previously filed dispute.
The credit bureau currently does not support online disputes or document uploads for updates to personal information, such as Social Security number, date of birth, name, and address.
To file a formal dispute for any inaccuracies related to the items above, you can send a hard copy of a dispute letter to:
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016
Be sure to include all details related to your personal information — including your name, date of birth, address, and Social Security number. You should also include the name of the company that reported the item you’re disputing and the partial account number (from your credit report). Be sure to add the reason for your dispute and any corrections to your personal information (address, phone number, etc.).
You can also file a dispute with TransUnion over the phone by calling a dispute expert at (833)-395-6941. Experts are available from Monday to Friday, from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. EST.
What Can and Cannot Be Disputed
You can only dispute incorrect information found on your credit report. While many people assume this relates solely to loans or financial accounts, inaccuracies might also appear in your name, current address, Social Security number, or other key identifying details. Some individuals even discover their credit report mistakenly lists them as deceased.
The key is that you can’t dispute negatives that are your responsibility and haven’t aged off your reports yet. If you missed a payment a few months ago and want to have its negative effects erased from your credit history, the only thing that might help is a pay-for-delete letter.
Examples of legitimately disputable inaccuracies include:
- Identity errors that place another person’s credit activity on your reports. This happens more often than you think.
- Incorrectly reported accounts, such as a closed account that is still reported as being open or an account that is wrongly reported as being delinquent or defaulted.
- Account balance and credit limit errors, such as your credit card or loan balance showing it to be greater than it actually is, or your credit limit is lower than it is, can cost you several dozen points on your credit score.
- Old items that haven’t fallen off your reports. Most negative items can live on your credit report for up to seven years. This includes late payments, foreclosures, bankruptcies, or defaults. Thankfully, these items lose their impact as they get older and are replaced by new (and hopefully positive) items. If an item on your report is older than seven years, you can request it be removed.
Remember to include all of the required documentation detailed above when filing your dispute, and you’ll need to file each dispute with each bureau that has the information on its report. This means you may need to make up to three separate disputes for the same item, which leads us nicely to our next section.
Drawbacks of DIY Credit Repair
When your financial future feels uncertain, bringing in a pro to manage your credit repair might be a wise decision. Organizing your credit file requires more than just mailing out dispute letters and hoping your score will rise.
What should you do if the credit bureau rejects your request? Are you prepared to take your dispute to a higher level and potentially involve legal actions to advocate for your changes? It might be necessary.
Credit reports aren’t the easiest to read, and you may struggle to identify which items you can dispute and which are legitimate entries. The process takes time and may include some back and forth with each credit bureau as it investigates your dispute and potentially requires extra documentation.
We’ve all heard that time is money, and you might end up spending more than you save by handling disputes on your own. While many people choose this route to save cash, it might not always be the wisest choice.
Lexington Law works with many attorneys throughout the U.S. who have vast experience challenging each credit bureau for their clients. While an attorney is a great ally to have, the attorney-client relationship typically comes with a steep price — in the case of Lexington Law, that price is upwards of $100 a month.
The alternatives above have a track record of success and a history of great customer service. In most cases, the person handling your case will have just as much experience in the field as a trained lawyer — but at a less inflated cost.
Hiring a credit repair agency can help you reduce stress and free up time to focus on what you truly enjoy, all while improving your credit score.
The credit repair industry has a wide range of providers with different levels of experience, prices, and commitment to helping you. If you’re going to invest your money in credit repair or counseling, make sure you receive the value you deserve.
Each service we recommend offers a free assessment and credit score analysis, so you’ll know if you have a valid dispute before you spend any money.
Which is Better, CreditRepair.com or Lexington Law Firm?
This depends on the state of your credit report. If you’ve recently struck out while trying to repair your credit file yourself, or you’re dealing with a stubborn creditor that is ignoring your disputes, you may want to consider Lexington Law credit repair. Basic credit repair will work just fine with the more affordable CreditRepair.com
Lexington Law gets the nod in more severe situations because you’ll have a lawyer on your side. Most creditors tend to pay attention when they receive a letter from an attorney. The service level costs consumers $139.95 per month.
Since most clients can take up to six months to get all of their negative items addressed, you should budget for a minimum total cost of $600 or so with Lexington Law, though it may not take that long (or that much).
Starting at $49.95 per month, CreditRepair.com offers a vast number of features that can not only work to remove inaccurate negative items from your credit file but also lets you track your case progress at any time. Those features include:
- A personal online dashboard that allows you to view your account and credit repair progress 24 hours a day.
- Dedicated member advisors to help you navigate through the credit repair process.
- A monthly online credit score analysis that provides you with the tools and information necessary to continually improve your credit.
- Identity theft insurance protects you in case your credit information is stolen.
- Updated credit reports on a monthly basis
- An updated credit score every 90 days
- Mobile apps and customizable text alerts that allow you to take your credit repair journey with you and receive updates wherever you go.
Lexington Law provides similar features with its Premier Service level that costs $139.95 per month.
Both CreditRepair.com and Lexington Law have an extensive history of successful alternative dispute resolution — be it from traditional dispute letters, more advanced escalation, or good faith letters.
What may separate the two is the customer service experience. As you’d expect from any successful online business, both have a mix of good and bad reviews.
A single snapshot of ConsumerAffairs.com shows Lexington Law with a 2.3 out of 5 rating after 139 reviews. CreditRepair.com, on the other hand, boasts a more respectable 3.1 out of 5 rating after 29 reviews.
The biggest complaint with Lexington Law seems to be its customer service. While many reviewers seem thrilled with the results, most of the 1-star reviews are centered around a bad experience with a member of the Lexington Law team.
“They will continue to bill you after you cancel even if they don’t do any further work. Just FYI. They make it really hard to cancel. Then tell you you never canceled. Then continue to bill you. They told me that because my husband and I both signed up, the payments would be cheaper. But was charged double what I was quoted.” — Shanna of Clarence, MO, Consumer Affairs Reviewer
Some of CreditRepair.com’s reviews touch more on the level of service than the customer support.
“From the get-go, everything took forever to on-board. It took them two months to set up my account, even after badgering them about it (daily) for a month, via chat. In the 6 months that I used them, they removed but a single negative remark off of my credit. 1 out of the 20 (across the three major credit bureaus).” — Lauren of Cranberry Twp, PA, Consumer Affairs Reviewer
This doesn’t mean that both businesses receive only negative reviews from current and former clients. At the time of publishing, CreditRepair.com boasts more 5-star reviews than 1-star reviews in the past year, whereas Lexington Law shows nearly three times as many 1-star reviews as 5-star reviews during that same time.
But despite the imbalance, it’s hard to ignore Lexington Law’s success stories, which vary from clients who saw their credit score rise from the 400s to the 700s in less than a year or others who managed to secure their first mortgage loan and purchase real estate because of an improved credit score.
How Expensive is Lexington Law?
At the time of publishing, Lexington Law offers one service level, $139.95 per month. With this service, you’ll receive : Credit Repair features, Credit Score, Credit Monitoring, Identity Theft Insurance, and so much more.
The biggie here is the cease and desist letters, as they come directly from an attorney on your behalf and work to stop creditors from reporting false information under your name. Most other services cannot provide this service as they don’t employ a lawyer who is versed in the terminology necessary to craft a proper order.
The other trackers and tools aren’t as crucial in this package because you can easily find personal finance calculators and tools for free online, and nearly every modern credit card offers some kind of credit score tracker.
Your overall cost will hinge on the number of items you need to dispute. Typically, resolving a dispute can take up to 60 days. This is because each credit bureau allocates between 30 and 45 days to thoroughly investigate every dispute they receive.
After Lexington Law crafts and sends your dispute letter, you have to wait while the credit bureau processes the request. The more requests you have, the longer it takes.
How Long Does the Credit Repair Process Take?
There’s no such thing as a quick credit fix. Some reviewers of various services in the credit repair industry report seeing results from their dispute letters within 45 days. Others took as long as a year to get to their credit score goal.
The amount of time your case will take will depend on the type and number of items you’re disputing. In 2024, Lexington Law Firm clients saw an average of 5 items removed from their credit reports.
Every situation is unique. The amount of time it takes can vary based on how quickly you respond, how fast the creditor replies, and how busy the credit bureau is at the time.
If the credit bureau requires more paperwork, your credit repair agency will contact you to collect the documentation. The faster you put the files together, the sooner you’ll get to the finish line. Alternatively, if you take your time to respond, you could lose most of your progress.
When a credit repair firm files a dispute on your behalf, the credit bureau has between 30 and 45 days to investigate and rule on the matter. During lighter times, your response could come sooner or at the early end of that time frame. If many disputes are pending, it may trend closer to 45 days than 30.
During the investigation, the credit bureau will contact the lender or debt holder to request more information from their end. If the creditor responds quickly, it could make the process smoother. If not, you could have to wait a while.
The general rule of thumb — although it seems like a really wide window — is that you can see results from your credit repair mission anywhere between 30 days and six months. You can likely expedite the process by employing a credit repair agency that knows the law and can work quickly to get the results you want.
These Lexington Law Alternatives May Be Able to Help
Don’t let a bad credit score keep you from living the life you deserve — especially if your score is the product of wrong information.
On average, 44 percent of consumers who recently checked their credit reports found at least one mistake that could affect their credit situation. Those errors can be small — like the wrong mailing address — or they can be big mistakes that have catastrophic effects on your score and leave you with unmerited bad credit.
You can correct these errors on your own or you can hire one of the Lexington Law alternatives above. Either way, you’ll find yourself on your way to the credit score you deserve.
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