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Your credit report score has been affecting your credit history for years and you may not even know you have one or what it is. A credit score is a numerical number that is determined from a mathematical formula based on the information found in your credit bureau report. The formula is complex and looks at many things in your credit report to determine your score, like, how old your credit is, how you have paid your credit in the past and what standings your debts are currently at, how many debts you have, the number and age of inquires, how you utilize your credit, as well as what your balances are in relation to your credit limits. As you can see, there are many things that are reviewed in scoring your credit, and as these things, such as credit card balances, change constantly, so will your credit report scores. Therefore, your report scores are meant to be a snap shot or summary of your credit history at or on that particular date.

There are 3 major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion and Experion. These agencies each have a credit bureau on you as well as their own credit scoring system, and as these credit bureaus do not share information, your credit reports and your credit reporting scores may all be different.

Did you know that there are 3 major credit reporting agencies? Did you know that these companies are independent of one another and do not share information? Therefore, you will have 3 separate bureau reports at each of these credit report agencies, and it is quite possible that each of your reports may be different.

These major reporting agencies are Equifax, Experian and Trans Union, each company is in the business of collecting and distributing your credit history. When you apply for credit, a lending company will use different credit bureaus to make their decisions; some will even use a merged report from the 3 major credit bureau companies.

Are you bills out of control? Are bill collectors harassing you? Are you having trouble meeting all of your financial obligations? Then you can find relief from a credit counseling service.

Credit counseling, is a service available to you to get your credit and payments under control, and reduce your financial problems. These counseling services assign a counselor to you, and they provide you with practical and affordable debt reducing alternatives, regardless of your past credit history. There are many companies that can provide you with credit counseling including non profit credit counseling services and debt consolidation companies.

A credit counseling service has professional counselors who put your debts through a financial workout. Your counselor will design a plan specifically for you, they negotiate on your behalf with your credit card companies, banks, finance companies and other creditors to lower both your payments and interest rates, reduce or eliminate late fees and other service fees, so you are in a better position to pay off the debts. Credit counselors have a go to assist you in developing a budget to meet your living expenses and pay down your debts in a three to five year range.

These credit counselors have a mission to educate and help you to control your debt instead of allowing it to control you. Unexpected events in life, such as, loss of employment, divorce or medical problems accompanied by the excessive debt most consumers have today spells the perfect recipe for financial disaster. Services providing credit counseling, can help you reduce your debts, get you out of the debt trap, steer you away from bankruptcy, providing you with a more prosperous and debt free life.

Before contacting a service providing credit counseling, it is always a good idea to get all your information in order. One of the best ways to get all your financial information is to get a copy of your credit reports online form all the major credit reporting agencies. This way when you meet with your counselor you will be well prepared. Credit monitoring services are also highly recommended. They assist you in monitoring your credit on a regular basis, so you can keep track of trends in spending, balances, delinquent accounts, and also help to prevent fraud and identity theft -- acting as a silent counselor for you.

Michael Anderson writes for http://www.goodcreditreport.info where you can find out more about good credit reports and other topics.