How to Answer: What's My Credit Score?

A credit report and a credit score are different things. By law, you are entitled to get a free credit report once a year from each of the three credit-reporting companies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You can get another credit report if you are denied credit for any reason. However, these reports don't usually contain your credit score, which is based on the information in your credit reports. In most cases, you will have to buy your score from one or all of the credit-reporting companies.

Instructions

1

Log on to the websites of the credit-reporting companies and view their services. Each one should allow you to purchase a credit score report. Each company has different criteria for creating your credit score, so the scores may be different. If you can afford it, purchase all three credit scores.

2

Sign up for the service or services that you need. Sometimes, the companies will offer a free credit score as a promotion, so look out for this. You will need to provide all of your personal information and answer some security questions. You'll probably have to create a login ID as well.

3

Log in to the services that you signed up for and view your credit score. Credit scores range from 300 to 850. Higher scores are preferred by lenders. If your score is low, pull up your free credit report and see where you can improve your credit.