Most people today know that the US government has worked out a deal with the three major credit bureaus of America to each provide an annual credit report for every person with a legitimate social security number.

Originally uploaded by Alec Peden

This is a great thing for everyone. For one, we can all view our credit reports once a year to make sure everything on it is accurate and that there are no credit card and other loans there that we did not authorize. And if we do find something odd on these reports, we can take appropriate actions.

I’ve personally claimed my three credit reports and am very please with the process. Well, technically only two came through because one of them didn’t allow me to get it online at the time and I just didn’t bother with it. The site was easy to use and delivered what uncle Sam promised.

There is one thing missing though. The FICO score. This is a numerical number calculated from the data on your credit reports and is just about the first thing potential creditors will look at when deciding whether you qualify for a loan at a particular interest rate, or your credit worthiness level.

Typically, this is a separate item you can purchase though any of the three major credit bureaus as well through a variety of its resellers. Sometimes it comes bundled with other financial products.

So, when you are looking to check your credit history, be sure to get your three credit reports and your FICO score so you can know the whole picture!