There are three major credit bureaus in the United States, which are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These credit bureaus compile data about individuals into credit reports, which include information such as payment history, public records, and credit usage. The information in each of the credit reports from the three credit bureaus can be different, which is why it is important to review all three reports. Credit scores are based on the information in these reports, and they can vary depending on which credit bureau provided the data to create that score. Lenders and other businesses use credit reports and scores to determine an individuals creditworthiness. Individuals can obtain a free copy of their credit report from each of the three credit bureaus once a year by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.