FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do you sell anything besides repair cycles?
Repair is $199 per cycle, or $349 per household cycle for two adults in the same household. Most clients also start with Fresh Start Monitoring through SmartCredit ($39.99 today including your 3-bureau report, then $39.99 a month, billed by SmartCredit, cancel any time). SmartCredit pays us part of that fee; it is not required for repair. We also offer an optional education and money app for $3.99 a month, which is free for active repair clients, plus optional add-ons billed only after delivery: a $149 Graduation Credit Review (education only) and $299 identity-theft cleanup (requires your IdentityTheft.gov report). Our After your program page has free education on credit builders and nonprofit counseling. We accept no other referral or affiliate payments until a regulator confirms we may.
Will my score go up?
No. Nobody can lawfully promise deletions, score increases, loan approvals, or timelines. We help you dispute information that may be inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated.
Can you remove accurate negative items?
No. Accurate, current, verifiable information can't be removed. Most negative items drop off on their own after 7 years (bankruptcies after 10).
Do I need to give you my Social Security number?
Not on the public form or in chat, ever. Your reports come from you. Letters to bureaus usually include identifying details you add yourself when you sign.
Do you pull my credit?
No. If you enroll in SmartCredit, that enrollment pulls your reports, and you give us written permission to view them. Or you upload free AnnualCreditReport.com reports. We never ask for your bureau passwords or identity-quiz answers.
When do I pay?
A cycle is complete when the letters you approved have been sent by certified mail and we have the proof. After your 3-business-day cancellation window, we mail those letters, then charge $199 3 calendar days after the mailing date. No more than 6 cycles in about 180 days, so the most you could pay us for repair is $1,194 as an individual, or $2,094 at the couples price. If you call in, we email a pay link; we never take a card on the phone.
Do I have to pay for credit monitoring?
No. Most clients start with Fresh Start Monitoring, powered by SmartCredit: $39.99 today, which includes your full 3-bureau report and scores, then $39.99 a month until you cancel. You sign up and pay on SmartCredit's page, SmartCredit bills it (and pays us part of the fee), and you can cancel with them any time. It is not required for repair. If you'd rather not, upload free weekly reports from AnnualCreditReport.com instead. There's no free trial and no surprise charge: the price you see is the price.
What is the free report review?
A free, no-obligation checklist you use on your own free reports to spot possible errors. See Free review. Our item-by-item review with you starts only after you sign a cycle agreement and the 3-business-day cancellation period passes.
Can I sign up over the phone?
No. We never take a sign-up or a card on the phone. If you call in, we'll email you a pay link and you enroll online. Sign-up and payment happen only on this website, in the client portal, or in person by appointment in Arnold, Missouri.
Can I cancel?
Yes. You can cancel any cycle agreement for any reason within 3 business days, at no cost, and we don't start work or mail anything until that window ends. After that you can stop any time: if we haven't mailed yet, you owe nothing for that cycle; if we have mailed, that cycle's fee is due 3 days after the mailing date. See the cancellation notice.
How long does a cycle take?
Usually 30–45 days, because bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate. This is an estimate of our work, not a promise of results.
How will you contact me?
By email, in the client portal, by chat, and by phone for support. If you call, we email a pay link and you enroll online. We never take a card on the phone.
What is the app?
An optional education and money-tools app for $3.99 a month. It is free for active repair clients. It is not a credit repair service and does not generate dispute letters. Learn more.
Do you serve other states?
Yes. We are based in Arnold, Missouri and work with clients nationwide, subject to each state's rules. Some states require us to register before we can help, and we'll tell you if we can't take your case yet. We cannot serve Georgia residents.
Can I do this myself?
Yes, for free. You can dispute directly with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. See your rights.
Are you connected to a mortgage lender?
No. Fresh Start Credit Co. is a separate business, not a lender, and you never need to use us to get a loan.