| Many people know if they are having financial | | | | There are several companies that offer to do credit |
| difficulties or not. They are able to go online and check | | | | reports and ratings. Many of them work with credit |
| their account balances or are able to call someone to | | | | agencies and formulate a number that ranks you |
| see how they are doing at paying off their loans and | | | | among the best or the worst loan payers and |
| mortgage. Many people do not even have to do these | | | | creditworthy people. There are only three companies |
| things because they just know if they have been | | | | that most banks look at for their scores, however. |
| paying the bills on time or have been paying off their | | | | These are known as the big three companies and are |
| loans in full. There is one bit of information that many | | | | always the ones that come to mind when thinking |
| people do not have written down, and most people do | | | | about rating people based on their credit. |
| not even know where to find it. This piece of | | | | The companies are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. |
| information is a credit score. | | | | These companies all work to get your report out there |
| This score is very important for ensuring financial | | | | for people to view and for you to reference. They |
| security and stability in a person's life. Having a good | | | | often sell your report to other agencies that need to |
| score can show banks and lenders that you are a | | | | know your numbers. Getting these reports online is |
| very trustworthy person that always pays things on | | | | easy and friendly. There are several web sites that |
| time and has a good source of income. A bad score | | | | offer to sell you your report from each of the three |
| can have the exact opposite effects. A bad score will | | | | companies. These smaller companies will them pay |
| show lenders that you are not trustworthy with your | | | | back the big three and make a bit of a profit on their |
| money and often have a hard time paying people | | | | own. All of these sites offer very safe and friendly |
| back. It can also show that you are not a trustworthy | | | | online access to your report. It is very important to look |
| person. This is why having a good score is so | | | | at this report at least once a year to make sure that |
| important. | | | | you are up to date on your payments. |