Susie walks into the bank during her lunch break and wants to get a car loan. What she does not know is she has the number 624 nailed to the center of her back and it will not allow her to get a very good rate on the loan. The numbers 6-2-4 are more than just three digits or a pin number; it represents Susie's entire credit score. A credit score is an important factor in determining a person's creditworthiness and the number can be just as powerful as those bouncing around in a lottery drawing.

The teller gives Susie a pamphlet on credit scores. It reads "The 411 on your Credit Score." On the first page, Susie reads that a credit score is used quite often, and if you want to get a mortgage, car loan, credit card or auto insurance, the rate you received is directly related...