Tough economic times make for a lot of hard-luck stories, such as this unfortunate situation in which a desperate consumer writes financial columnist Harry Gross for some much-needed advice on what to do, and who to trust:

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While we at Veracity trust the advice of seasoned experts such as Mr. Gross, we’d like to add our own bit of advice to this situation.

First of all, we agree with Mr. Gross when he says:

The problem of seperating the good from the bad applies to almost every service in some way.

That’s why at Veracity we hate to see one bad apple spoil the bunch. Not all credit repair services are scams and, just like all mechanics are not a scam, either. In fact, many in both industries are accredited, reliable and trustworthy. We suggest that, before committing to any credit repair service, you do your homework by looking for accreditation. You can:

• check out the company’s status with the Better Business Bureau
• read the company’s online testimonials
• compare the company’s policies to YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS: http://www.veracitycredit.com/vu_rights.aspx

Using that previous link, there are a lot of ways to expose fraudulent credit repair companies. But the bottom line is this: If a credit repair company guarantees anything to you they are breaking the law.

Now that we’ve gotten credibility out of the way, let’s talk briefly about whether credit repair is even the right option.

See, while we appreciate Mr. Gross’ insight into finding a credible credit repair agency, Veracity recommends you consult with a credit expert before even beginning to look into credit repair.

Essentially, Veracity’s theory when it comes to credit repair is this: if you’re in a situation where you cannot even pay your bills on time, then credit repair might not be for you. In the case of the couple in question, seeing as they are “behind in our credit-card payments,” there’s a good chance that they have bigger fish to fry right now. Credit repair cannot necessarily help them and, in fact, could add to their frustrations by becoming another bill to pay.

As we’ve always said, too, every credit situation is unique, and there’s no broad, cut-and-dry solutions to credit repair. If you’re in doubt whatsoever, you can always contact us at 1.866.518.2194 for a free consultation. If we don’t think you’re in a position for credit repair, we’ll say so, and offer you some alternative solutions instead. Because, in the end, the sign of a reputable credit repair service is one that puts your best interests first.