Your credit report contains your credit history as reported to the credit reporting agency by lenders who have extended credit to you. The information in your credit report is also used to generate credit scores such as your FICO Scores.

Credit scores are used extensively, and if you've gotten a mortgage, a car loan, a credit card or even auto insurance, the rate you received was directly related to your credit score. The higher the number, the better you look to lenders. People with the highest scores get the lowest interest rates.

There is only one place to get, federally mandated credit reports, also called an "educational credit report. You are allowed a credit report from the three major consumer reporting agencies in the U.S." Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.