Your credit score is probably one of the most important aspects, if not the most important aspect, of your overall credit and financial profile. Your credit score is the key tool that credit agencies and lenders use to evaluate your creditworthiness, i.e., the type of risk you pose to them if they lend you money. There are three dominant credit bureau currently in existence–TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Fair Isaac developed the FICO score, or credit score, that these three credit bureaus use. Your credit score changes based on many different variables, including the number of open accounts you keep, how diligently you pay your bills on time, as well as many other factors that are good indicators to the type of risk you pose as a borrower.

Improving your credit score means improving the overall health of your credit in general (yes, your credit is a living, breathing animal because it grows and changes as you grow and change).

Your credit score and your credit health in general is reflective and a product of the decisions you make in your financial life, be it loans, debt, savings accounts, and more. There are plenty of companies out there that can help you improve your credit score and credit health in general, but make sure you are seeking that help from a reputable credit repairing agency or company. Some of the help these companies involves advice on how to get out of debt, how to lower your current and future interest rates, how to get credit cards that are good for your current credit practices, as well as ways to consolidate your current loans so that you can get yourself on the right path to improving your overal credit health in general.

The first step to improving your credit score and health is to make sure you even know what your credit score is. There may be issues with your score because of dings you didn’t even know about, or that are not your fault at all to begin with. A good consumer is a smart and informed consumer, so make sure you get your credit report today. Free credit reports are available for you right now, so why waste valuable time. Get your free credit report today.

Below is a list of some of the credit reporting and repair companies that can help you better understand your credit, as well as help improve not only your credit score and purchasing power, but lead you in the right direction for never faltering on your credit needs ever again.

• Equifax
• Experian
• myFICO
• CreditReporting
• ID Watchdog
• Lexington Law Firm
• TrueCredit
• LifeLock Identity Theft Services
• TrustedID
• Veracity Credit Optimization