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Depending on where you live, one of the three big credit reference agencies will be able to provide your credit rating to any company thinking of lending you money. These three agencies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. For any lender interested in determining your creditworthiness, your credit report is the only documentation required. Containing your past debt and credit history, a credit report indicates any late or default payments, overdrawn bank balances, bankruptcies, tax liens and even your employment history. It therefore pays to be aware of what information is available on the report and how accurate it is. Many times, inconsistencies in reporting by your lenders may result in a lower or negative score. This, in turn affects future loan applications or even employment opportunities. As of September 2005, consumers are eligible to receive a free credit report from each of the three agencies, once per year, so now there is no excuse for not checking up on your credit report.