The 3 Credit Bureaus
Credit reports are provided by three main credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Whenever one makes a credit transaction, such as paying bills, the lender forwards the information to these three bureaus, who in turn add it to the consumer’s credit profile. The credit score is calculated using a scoring system that takes into account one’s payment behavior, amount of available credit, and legal filings, among other factors. Scores range from 300 to 850, with 680 considered as desirable.