What is a credit report and how do I check it?

A credit report is a detailed record of your credit history, including every account you have opened, your payment history, credit limits, and any public records like bankruptcies. You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) at AnnualCreditReport.com. Checking your own report does NOT hurt your credit score (it is a "soft pull").