...the Credit Report Source

Know your credit history should be the first lesson in life as soon as you are old enough to have credit.  Too many people go through life wondering why they don't have access to credit or good rates on mortgages or loans or credit cards.  The answer is their credit history.  The good news is you can do something about it.  

The fist step is to know your credit history.  You can find out your credit history through a credit report.  These are often free so if you have not done it already there is no excuse not to do it now.  The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies.

Once you know your credit history, if you believe there are items that are not justly reported you can submit a request to have them reviewed.  The more evidence you submit the better.  Also just knowing what is on your credit report can help you manage your own score better.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued or arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.