Your credit score is a measure of your credit risk at a certain point in time. The higher your score, the more favorable lenders may be. A proprietary version of the credit score by Fair Isaac Corporation is the FICO score which ranges between 300 and 900.

If you want to know your score, you can order (for a fee) an online credit report containing your credit score from Equifax and/or Transunion.

If you just want to see what's in your file, you can request a free copy of your credit report be sent to you through the mail. In fact, it's recommended that you review your credit report annually, and dispute/correct/update it as needed. (By the way, your credit report is also known as a credit file disclosure, credit history report, or consumer disclosure.)

How long does it take? (Note: your mileage may vary.) For example:

How do the reports compare?

• Equifax's credit history goes back about 6 years from the last transaction. The report also listed residences from the past 10 years. On my report, seven (inactive) accounts should have been shown as closed. Of the residences, one wasn't -- it was a work address.
• Transunion's credit report is the most comprehensive. The credit history and list of residences goes back almost 20 years. On my report, I had no knowledge of two accounts, in addition to two accounts that should have been shown as closed. Of the residences, one was a work address, one was a PO box, and one I had no knowledge of.
• Experian is the newcomer on the block. While it was the quickest turnaround response, it was also the most incomplete, especially with respect to active accounts.

Both Transunion and Experian provided the more up to date reports on active accounts. While Transunion provides the most comprehensive report, it also raises the most concern. None were 100% accurate or complete.

An interesting pattern emerges. Don't simply let an unwanted credit card lapse. Call the issuer and close it.