A credit score is a prediction of your credit behavior, such as how likely you are to pay a loan back on time, based on information from your credit reports.

Factors that are typically taken into account by credit scoring models include:

• Your bill-paying history
• Your current unpaid debt
• The number and type of loan accounts you have
• How long you have had your loan accounts open
• How much of your available credit you’re using
• New applications for credit
• Whether you have had a debt sent to collection, a foreclosure, or a bankruptcy, and how long ago

Credit reports list your bill payment history, loans, current debt, and other financial information. They show where you work and live and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. 

Check your credit reports regularly to make sure that your personal and financial information is accurate. It also helps to make sure nobody's opened fraudulent accounts in your name. If you find errors on your credit report, take steps to have them corrected.