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.

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From Classroom to Collections: Student Loan Defaults Return to Credit Reports for the First Time since 2020.

Posted on 27 April 2025 by Hatch Staff

After years of federal student loan relief, millions of borrowers are now facing a new reality: repayment is back. And for many, it’s wreaking havoc on their credit.

More than 1 in 5 borrowers have already fallen behind on their student loans since payments resumed in late 2023. After years of stability, the national average credit score is actually dropping, marking the first major decline in over a decade. It’s a clear signal: the aftershocks of paused payments are loud and personal.

At Hatch, we believe credit reports should be fair, accurate, and a full reflection of who you are, not just the hard moments you’ve endured. Here’s what you need to know, and how we can help.

The Spike in Delinquencies. What’s Happening?

After the pandemic-era payment pause, millions of Americans weren’t ready to restart monthly student loan payments. Between rising costs of living, confusing loan servicing transitions, and lack of clear communication, it’s no surprise that delinquencies are spiking.

This moment highlights a key truth: credit reports don’t always capture the full story. And when millions of people are struggling through the same broken system, it’s time to rethink how we measure “financial health.”

The Hit to Credit Scores

FICO scores, which most lenders use, weigh payment history as the single most important factor, making up 35% of your total score. When student loans go unpaid, they often appear as 30-, 60-, or even 90-day late marks, hammering your credit. We’ve seen drops as dramatic as 170 points after just one missed payment.

Millions are already feeling it. 2.7 million borrowers have missed payments since the restart, and we’ve already seen score drops as big as 170 points from just one late student loan payment.

And it doesn’t stop at numbers. Bad credit can slam the door on renting an apartment, buying a car, even getting a job.

At Hatch, we help our people fight back: challenging negative items that are inaccurate, unfair, or unverified. Life happens and your credit report should reflect your resilience, not just your setbacks.

Who’s Getting Hit Hardest?

First-time borrowers and younger adults are feeling the impact the most. With thinner credit files and shorter credit histories, they have fewer positive accounts to offset the damage of a missed student loan payment.

One missed payment? on a thin file? It can feel catastrophic.

That’s why Hatch is committed to educating and empowering borrowers early in their credit journeys to take ownership of their reports and fight for fairness.

Why This Isn’t Just About Money

The impact of student loan delinquency goes far beyond financial statements. Borrowers report feeling overwhelmed, ashamed, and isolated when faced with dropping credit scores.

And the consequences aren’t just emotional: bad credit can mean getting denied for a job, paying higher insurance premiums, struggling to rent an apartment, or losing access to basic financial tools like credit cards.

At Hatch, we stand by the belief that you are more than a score. We’re here to restore dignity to your financial story.

What Borrowers Can Do

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone — and you have options.

Review your credit reports to see what’s being reported today
Explore income-driven repayment plans to lower your monthly payment
Communicate proactively with your loan servicer about hardship options
Work with Hatch to get a grasp of your credit today and to challenge the negative things hurting your score

If you’ve fallen behind and your credit report isn’t telling the full story we’re here to fight for you.

Bonus Insight: How Scoring Models Handle Late Payments Differently

Not all credit scores weigh late payments the same way. FICO treats all late payments equally harshly, while newer VantageScore models weigh mortgage delinquencies more heavily than other types. Either way, a student loan delinquency can severely hurt your ability to access affordable credit.

That’s why Hatch embraces a “More Than Accuracy” philosophy: even if a negative mark is “accurate,” it doesn’t always mean it’s fair — and we work to help ensure your report reflects the truth of your journey.

You’re More Than a Score.

This is just a chapter, not your whole story. A temporary dip in your credit does not define you. With the right tools, the right mindset, and the right people in your corner, you can rebuild stronger than ever.We’re here to help. Let’s get started.