CREDIT REPAIR Archives - Hatch Credit

The Real Cost of Credit Repair: What You’re Paying For (and What You Shouldn’t Be)

Posted on 21 May 2025 by Morgan Mortimer

Credit repair isn’t a luxury, it’s often a lifeline. Whether you’re trying to qualify for a home loan, get approved for an apartment, or just feel confident that your credit report reflects your reality, fixing credit mistakes is a deeply personal and often urgent need.

But in an industry that’s historically been filled with fine print, overpromises, and overpriced services, it’s hard to know what you’re actually paying for and whether it’s worth it.

Let’s break down the real cost of credit repair, compare what’s out there, and show you why Hatch was built to be different.

What’s Out There and What They Charge

💸 Traditional Credit Repair Companies

These are the big-name firms that have been around for decades. You’ve probably seen their ads promising to “fix your credit fast.” They typically charge:

$89 to $149 per month
Additional setup fees from $100 to $200

What you often get: generic dispute letters, minimal updates, and customer support that feels more like a call center than a credit advocate.

⚠️ Too-Good-To-Be-True “Fixes”

Then there are the shady operators: companies that promise “guaranteed results” or “instant credit boosts” if you pay upfront. These often involve:

Creating fake credit profiles (which is illegal)
Disputing everything blindly, without strategy
Charging large fees without clear contracts

These aren’t just bad deals, they’re risky. Working with the wrong credit repair service can actually make your credit situation worse.

🛠 DIY Credit Repair

The most affordable path is the do-it-yourself route. You can request your free reports from the credit bureaus and submit your own disputes. This approach costs very little out of pocket, but it costs time, knowledge, and persistence. And it doesn’t help much if you’re not sure what to dispute or how to tell your story.

What Are You Actually Paying For?

Here’s what any good credit repair service should include:

📊 Credit report analysis: Understanding the root causes of negative marks
✍️ Drafting and submitting disputes: Communicating clearly and legally with bureaus
📞 Following up with creditors: Keeping pressure on for resolution
🛠 Personalized support: Crafting strategies based on your story, not boilerplate templates

The question isn’t just how much it costs, but whether you’re getting meaningful, fair, and complete service.

How Hatch Is Different

We started Hatch after working inside the credit repair industry and seeing firsthand how broken it is. We’re not here to rinse-and-repeat what’s already out there. We’re here to rewrite the playbook. Here’s how we’re different:

✅ Transparent Pricing

There are no hidden setup fees. No vague billing structures. We charge a crystal clear $39.99 a month and you can cancel anytime.

🧭 Fairness, Not Just Accuracy

Most services only challenge items that are factually incorrect. We go further. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, even accurate items can be removed if they’re unfair, outdated, or unverifiable. Life is complicated. Your credit report should reflect that.

🧩 All Three Bureaus, Always

Most competitors only focus on one or two bureaus. That’s not good enough. Hatch works with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to make sure your report is clean no matter who’s pulling it.

❤️ Support That Feels Human

You’re not just a case number. We work with you to understand what was going on when those late payments, collections, or inquiries showed up, and build a strategy that’s rooted in your reality.

What to Watch for in Any Credit Repair Service

Before you give your money (and trust) to any credit repair service, ask:

Is the pricing clear and fair?
Do they work with all three bureaus?
Can they help remove accurate items if they’re unfair?
Do they offer personalized support?
Do they avoid upfront promises or guarantees?

If the answer to any of these is no, keep looking.

Conclusion: Credit Repair Shouldn’t Cost Your Peace of Mind

Fixing your credit shouldn’t mean getting scammed. It shouldn’t mean waiting months for vague updates. And it definitely shouldn’t mean draining your bank account just to tell your own story.

At Hatch, we believe that credit repair should be fair, affordable, and built around you. Because credit isn’t just about numbers. It’s about your story and your future.

Let us help you tell that story.

👉 Join Hatch Today and start preparing your credit for the things you want next. No inflated costs. No false promises. Just real results, the right way.

CREDIT REPAIR

I Need Help Fixing My Credit – Here’s Exactly What to Do Next

Posted on 31 March 2025 by Hatch Staff

Let’s face it—bad credit can feel like a life sentence. It holds you back from everything: getting approved for loans, scoring that low-interest rate, or even landing the apartment you’ve had your eye on. But here’s the good news: fixing your credit isn’t as impossible as it might seem. In fact, with the right steps, you can start seeing improvements in no time.

Step 1: Understand Your Credit Situation

Before you can fix your credit, you need to know where you stand. The first step is to take a good look at your credit report. It may sound intimidating, but trust us—it’s the best way to pinpoint what’s holding you back.

Check Your Credit Report

Everyone’s situation is very unique so start by understanding what’s on your credit report today. This will give you an overview of your credit history, including any negative marks like missed payments, collections, or errors. Make sure to look for:

Late payments
Collections
Inaccurate information
Bankruptices

Pro Tip: If you feel overwhelmed, don’t panic. Hatch Credit can help you get copies of each of your credit reports and understand the different items impacting your score. And if you find any errors, you can dispute those mistakes and potentially have them removed. Hatch Credit offers credit repair services where we’ll work with the credit bureaus to ensure that your report is accurate (and fair!)

Know Your Credit Score & What It Means

Your credit score is the key factor in determining whether you’ll be approved for credit or loans and what interest rates you’ll get. It ranges from 300 (poor) to 850 (excellent). Understanding where you fall can help you determine the best course of action to take.

If your score is in the low range, Hatch’s credit repair services can help you take meaningful steps toward improving it, faster than you might expect.

Step 2: Take Immediate Action to Fix Your Credit

Now that you know where you stand, it’s time to get to work. Depending on what you find on your report, here’s what you can do right away to start making positive changes to your credit score:

Get Current on any Late Payments

Your payment history is the most significant factor influencing your credit score—about 35%. If you’ve missed payments in the past, catch up on them as soon as possible. Even if you’re unable to pay the full balance, getting current will have a positive effect on your credit score over time.

As part of our credit repair services, Hatch can even help you negotiate with creditors to potentially remove late payments from your report as a goodwill gesture.

Pay Down Your Credit Card Balances

Your credit utilization ratio (how much you owe compared to your available credit) plays a big role in your score. The goal here is to keep it under 30% of your credit limit. Paying down credit card balances can give your score an immediate boost.

Dispute Inaccurate Information on Your Credit Report

If you’ve found errors on your credit report, dispute them. Hatch can help you file disputes with the credit bureaus to correct any mistakes that are dragging down your score.

Consider Credit-Building Tools

If your credit score is low because your file is “thin” or there’s not a lot of credit history yet, you could benefit from building positive credit as well. Here are a few options:

Secured Credit Cards: These are easy to get and help rebuild your credit.
Credit-Building Loans: They’re designed to help you establish a solid credit history.
Rent Reporters: Use one of the many tools out there to report your positive rent history to the bureaus.

Step 3: Assess What Was Happening in Your Life When Negative Items Showed Up

Sometimes, negative marks on your credit report don’t tell the whole story. The timing of late payments, collections, or defaults might have coincided with major life events—things that were outside of your control. It’s important to reflect on what might have been happening in your life during the period these items appeared.

Accurate Isn’t Always Fair

Just because an item on your credit report is accurate doesn’t always mean it’s fair. Situations like divorce, unemployment, medical emergencies, or even natural disasters can cause serious financial strain, leading to missed payments or other negative marks. If any of these events were happening during the time your credit took a hit, you have the right to explain your story to the credit bureaus.

You Have the Right to Tell Your Story

When life circumstances impact your credit, you can tell your story to the credit bureaus. This could be through a consumer statement on your credit report, where you can explain what happened—whether it was an illness, a job loss, or something else. The credit bureaus are required to consider these details in their evaluation.

At Hatch, we work with you to help explain your story to the credit bureaus when necessary, making sure that factors beyond your control are taken into account.

Step 4: Avoid Common Credit Pitfalls

While you’re working on rebuilding your credit, make sure to avoid these common mistakes that could slow down your progress:

Don’t Apply for Too Many Credit Cards

Every time you apply for a credit card, a hard inquiry is made on your credit report. This can lower your score temporarily. Stick to the essentials, and space out applications.

Beware of Credit Repair Scams

Be careful with companies that promise to “erase” your credit issues for a fee. Unfortunately, many of these are scams. Hatch offers legitimate credit repair services that actually make a difference. We work with you to fix your credit, and we never promise results we can’t deliver.

Take Action with Hatch Today

Improving your credit takes time, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following the right steps, staying on top of your credit report, and using the right tools, you can see a real difference.

If you’re looking for expert help, Hatch’s team is ready to guide you through every step of the process. From credit report disputes to rebuilding strategies, we’ve got you covered.

Start today and see how Hatch can help you take control of your credit.

Don’t let bad credit hold you back any longer. With Hatch Credit, you’re on the path from denied to approved!