A credit score is a number that rates your credit risk. It can help creditors determine whether to give you credit, decide the terms they offer, or the interest rate you pay. Having a high score can benefit you in many ways. It can make it easier for you to get a loan, rent an apartment, or lower your insurance rate.

The information in your credit report is used to calculate your credit score. It's based on your:

• Payment history

• Outstanding balances

• Length of credit history

• Applications for new credit accounts

• Types of credit accounts (mortgages, car loans, credit cards)

It's important to make sure your credit report is accurate, so your credit score can be too. You can have multiple credit scores. They're not calculated by the same credit reporting agencies that maintain your credit reports. Instead, they're created by different companies or lenders that use their own credit scoring system.

Your free annual credit report does not include your credit score, but you can get your credit score from several sources. Your credit card company may give it to you for free. You could also buy it from one of the three major credit reporting agencies. When you receive your score, you often get information on how you can improve it.

In Maine, as in other states, a credit score is a numerical representation of an individual's creditworthiness, which is calculated based on the information contained in their credit report. This includes factors such as payment history, outstanding debts, length of credit history, new credit inquiries, and the types of credit accounts held. Credit scores are essential as they influence the terms, interest rates, and approval for loans, credit cards, housing, and sometimes employment. Credit scores are not included in the free annual credit report that consumers are entitled to under federal law, but can be obtained through various means. Consumers in Maine can access their credit scores through their credit card issuer or purchase them from the three major credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Additionally, there are third-party services that offer credit scores. It's crucial for consumers to ensure their credit reports are accurate, as errors can negatively impact their credit scores. Regularly reviewing credit reports and scores allows individuals to manage their financial health more effectively.