A credit bureau is an company that collects and maintains individual credit information and sells it to lenders, creditors, and consumers in the form of a credit report. While there are dozens of credit bureaus across the U.S., most consumers are familiar with the big three: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Having a poor credit history or a low credit score can seriously impact you financially. One thing that can happen is you could be denied a line of credit. A low credit score indicates to lenders that you are a high-risk borrower and they may not be willing to lend you money.

You are entitled to a credit report every 12 months from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). You can request a copy from AnnualCreditReport. You can request and review your report through one of the following ways: Online: Visit AnnualCreditReport.