Want a Better Credit Score? Don’t Fall for This Common Scam | by Ben Rothke | Jun, 2026 | MediumSitemapOpen in appSign up<br>Sign in

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Want a Better Credit Score? Don’t Fall for This Common Scam

Ben Rothke

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ChatGPTQuick scam alert #1 — Credit Repair Agencies<br>Hot take: Credit repair agencies (CRAs) that promise to quickly remove negative items and boost your credit score are scams. They take your money while your score stays the same.<br>I have written a lot about scams. You can find all of my articles here.<br>This is a new set of brief, to-the-point articles about various scams.<br>Credit Repair Agencies<br>If you’ve ever searched online for ways to improve your credit score, you’ve probably seen advertisements promising dramatic results in just a few weeks.<br>· Increase your credit score by 100 points!<br>· Erase bad credit forever<br>· Get approved for loans again<br>If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.<br>Many so-called credit repair agencies (CRA) firms charge hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars for services that you can often do yourself for free. While some legitimate companies help consumers dispute inaccurate information, many others make promises they simply cannot keep.<br>I wrote about Credit Veto, a CRA that charges a significant amount for their services. Of which you can do all of it yourself for free.<br>Why Your Credit Score Matters<br>A good credit score — generally 700 or higher — can save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. It can help you:<br>Qualify for lower mortgage and auto loan interest rates<br>Obtain better credit card offers<br>Rent an apartment more easily<br>Reduce insurance costs in some states<br>Improve employment prospects, since some employers review credit reports during hiring<br>Because your credit score affects so many aspects of your financial life, it’s no surprise that people are eager to improve it. Unfortunately, scammers know this.<br>What Credit Repair Agencies Actually Do<br>Credit repair companies claim they can improve your credit score by challenging negative information on your credit reports.<br>Here’s the reality:<br>If information on your credit report is incorrect , anyone — including you — has the legal right to dispute it with the credit bureaus at no cost.<br>If the negative information is accurate , no legitimate company can legally remove it before the law allows.<br>No company can legally remove accurate negative information from your credit history, despite what they claim.<br>Some firms file large numbers of disputes regardless of whether the information is actually inaccurate. Occasionally, this results in a temporary improvement when an item is removed during the investigation. But if the information is verified as accurate, it usually returns to your credit report.<br>You risk paying a lot for nothing — credit repair companies rarely deliver genuine or lasting value.<br>Warning Signs of a Credit Repair Scam<br>Be suspicious if a company:<br>Demands payment before performing any services<br>Guarantees a specific credit score increase<br>Promises to remove accurate negative information<br>Pressures you to act immediately<br>Advises you not to contact the three major credit bureaus yourself<br>Suggests creating a new credit identity or using a Credit Privacy Number (CPN) instead of your Social Security number<br>That last point is especially important. Using a CPN to apply for credit can expose you to serious legal problems.<br>The Truth About Building Good Credit<br>Improving your credit score isn’t complicated — but it does require consistency.<br>In the movie Bull Durham, Kevin Costner’s character, Crash Davis, famously says about baseball: “This is a simple game. You throw the ball. You catch the ball. You hit the ball.”<br>The same philosophy applies to personal finance: “You get the bill. You pay the bill. You build good credit.”<br>The single biggest factor in most credit scoring models is your payment history. Paying your bills on time, every time, does more for your credit than any expensive “credit repair” program.<br>Five Proven Ways to Improve Your Credit Score<br>Instead of paying a credit repair company, focus on the habits that actually work:<br>Pay every bill on time.<br>Keep credit card balances low relative to your credit limits.<br>Avoid opening unnecessary new credit accounts.<br>Review your credit reports regularly and dispute genuine errors.<br>Maintain older credit accounts whenever possible to build a longer credit history.<br>These strategies take time, but they deliver lasting results.<br>Bottom Line<br>There is no shortcut or secret to building a higher credit score.<br>If someone promises a quick fix — for a fee — they’re selling hope, not results.<br>Save your money. Learn how credit really works, dispute legitimate errors yourself, and practice good financial habits. Those habits — not expensive promises — are what build excellent credit over the long term.

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