Big banks, mortgage brokers, credit repair companies, web sites and blogs... seems like everyone is giving advice on how to fix your credit. But what advice is real, and how can you trust it?

This is a difficult question to answer.. after all, I am one of those writers that gives advice. How can you trust my advice?

In this article, I am not going to tell you HOW to fix your credit. Rather I will share WHO to talk to and WHY.

When discussing your credit issues, talk to those that have a history of working with that type of credit. For example, if you walk into one of the "big banks" out there (you know the ones I am talking about) you must keep in mind that the loans they make are to people with excellent credit. They do not go out of their way to help the credit challenged. So when you ask the "advisor" there, the advice you most likely will get is to "clean up your credit and come back to see me." How? Since they don't really know how, they may advise speaking to a credit "repair" company. They "must" know what they are doing.

Credit repair companies are shady at best. I have yet to find one that offered anything beyond what you could do yourself for free... yet they will charge you upwards to $1000 to help you "fix" your credit. Even Fannie Mae says to steer clear of them. (Fannie Mae is the largest lender of preferred credit mortgage loans in America.)

What about the mortgage "brokers?" Well, I must admit right now that this is my field. I am a broker in the mortgage industry. Where I feel you have an advantage here is that a broker can take the time to see what your history really is, and if the broker is experienced in "sub-prime" or "credit issue" loans, chances are they work with credit challenges everyday. This is my profession in a nut shell. I work with people on a daily basis that have major credit issues. Through this experience, I have learned what CHANGES credit and improves scores.. and not by old tricks that don't work.

The best advice I can give to someone seeking advice is to weigh the "expert's" experience in actually helping to turn things around. Ask for referrals... ask for proof that they can make a difference. Their advice might not be the conventional advice, but do you want cookie cutter advice for you?

Good luck in your search. It can be tricky out there, but there are still good professionals out there that can make a difference for you.