Ask the Readers: Do You Know Your Credit Score?

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Sarah, Elizabeth S., and Jen for winning this week's contest!

Whether you realize it or not, your credit score plays a huge part of your life. From getting approved to rent an apartment to getting a loan, a good credit score can make your life much easier. However, many people have no clue what their credit score is.

Do you know your credit score? When was the last time you checked your score? How frequently do you check your score?

Tell us whether or not you know your credit score and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Mandatory Entry: 

  • Post your answer in the comments below 

For extra entries (1 per action):

  • Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment telling us you did, or
  • Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

  • Contest ends Monday, October 10th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after October 10th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
  • You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
  • This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
  • You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Note: Due to recent changes in Facebook's promotions guidelines, we have restructured the entry format of our giveaways.

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.

Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


Guest's picture
Jen

I have never checked my credit score, so I don't know it.

Guest's picture
Therese

Yes, I do.

Guest's picture
OFG

I just received my credit score after applying to refinance my mortgage.

Guest's picture
lostAnnfound

Yes. I know my credit score. I check it at least yearly through one of the three agencies that report credit scores and I check every month or so at Credit Karma so I can see if there have been any large changes, which would then prompt to check my full credit report/score.

Guest's picture
gieserla

Mine is 766 as of today (we are refinancing our mortgage)

Guest's picture
Christie

Yep, within 50 points or so...we have one of the highest scores our bank had ever seen, so that is a blessing! We've worked really hard to faithfully pay off all of our debts, and right now we have our home and about $750 on a car loan and that's all. So nice! A good credit score is one less worry to consider when arranging a loan for anything. It is hard work, and involves sacrifice, but it is worth it!

Guest's picture
Lani C

I check my credit report 3 times a year using the free credit report website, but I don't pay for my credit score. I'm not planning on buying anything on credit any time soon so I'm not really concerned about the actual number.

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Carson M.

I think it's very important to know your credit score, which is why I check mine once or twice per year: once around the new year, once sometime in the mid-summer. This helps me to keep decent track of what aspects of my life have positively or negatively affected my score. Lately it's been pretty consistent and I haven't had any delinquencies or inquiries that would affect the score so I might decrease my frequency to once per year.

Guest's picture
Irwin

I was able to obtain my FICO score when I applied for an American Express card. Amex sent me some documentation about the card, which also included my score. I don't regularly check my score because of the cost, but I do review my free reports every four months.

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Wilma P

Yes, I check my credit score every year so I can keep on top of it.

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Keith

I recently had to get a credit report when my credit card number was stolen. I usually check it once a year or so.

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Lazygal

Yes, I know mine - I have CreditSecure and can check every month if I want to. I've had this for years, keeping me informed about changes and potential problems.

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Raina

I don't pay for my actual credit score, but I do use creditkarma.com monthly for a free glimpse of what my credit score probably is and a report of inquiries, accounts, etc.

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Guest

Yes, I do know my credit score. It's in the high 700s! I think credit score is a very important thing to know.

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NJJ

Yes, I def. know my credit score I always make it a point to check it yearly for any mistakes so far, so good! :)

Guest's picture
Emily

I don't know my credit score, but I've definitely gotten my free credit reports, and that all looks good and correct.

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Jess G.

I do know my credit score! I check it about once a year.

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Jess G.

I like Wise Bread on Facebook.

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Nicholas

I know my score through Sears Credit Score which is free to all sears card holders (only reason I really keep the card). I use it as an estimate of what my score is and it lets me check to see if there have been any big changes, which would then alert me.

Guest's picture
Kate

I haven't ever checked, so no I don't know it.

Guest's picture
Eric

I haven't checked it in about a year. But I haven't done anything that would harm it either, except maybe applying for credit cards, and it was strong last time I checked it, so haven't seen a reason to lately.

Guest's picture
Eric

I like your Facebook page already.

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Eric

I just tweeted an answer here --

http://twitter.com/#!/starkeee/status/121247991557398529

Guest's picture
Shannon Flowerday

I know mine. I used Credit Karma, which I really liked since they don't charge you or ask for your CC info like FreeCreditReport.com

Money Beagle's picture

We are re-financing our mortgage and just got our scores (both over 800!) as a result of the bank checking our credit.

Guest's picture
KelR1

Approximately, yes. The last time it was officially checked was when I bought a house a couple of years ago and, since then, there shouldn't have been much change. I was very pleased with the number since it was a bit better than I thought it would be!

Guest's picture
Alex

I check my credit score fairly regularly through CreditKarma and Quizzle.

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Garon

I went to the government website and checked it earlier this year.

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Susan D.

Yes, I know my credit score. When I moved my accounts to a local credit union from a major bank, I found out from the C.U. what my credit score was.

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Danesha

Yes and I also look at the report three times a year.

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Rebekah

My husband and I checked our scores recently because we're applying for a mortgage. But usually I don't check it since I have to pay for that. I just use the annual credit report website to check my report for free without getting my score.

Guest's picture
Mandy

Yep. I actually got it a couple of weeks ago from the bank. Prior to that, it had been at least 18 months since I had checked Quizzle for my estimated score.

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Amanda

I keep up to date on CreditKarma about three times a month (different loans have different update days). Its probably a bit over the top... but their tracking software makes it easy to see how things are changing (and what may have the most impact).

Yeah, its not FICO - but I do get my three annual credit reports as well to check for major issues. With those two things I think I'm pretty on top of where my credit score is at any point in time. I was able to say with confidence what I thought my score was when applying for an auto loan, and even got (pleasantly) surprised by their numbers!

Guest's picture
Natalie

Last time I tried to check it (after finding a reputable credit score website) I didn't have any credit at all...which was somewhat depressing. :D

Guest's picture
Megan

Yes, yes I do. :) I signed up with CreditKarma.com and CreditSesame.com, just to see what all the buzz was about.

On top of that, we just bought a house, so we were given our credit scores by the lender.

Guest's picture
Kristy OT

I have no idea. I do pull my credit report for free every year, but I've never been in a situation where I needed to know the actual number.

Guest's picture
Ernest S.

I check my "unofficial" score weekly. I use Credit Karma which I've found to be somewhat accurate. If anything, it tells me whether my score is trending upwards or downwards.

Guest's picture
Ernest S.

"Liked" on Facebook!

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Patti

yes I know it and check it every month.

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michelle

Yup! I check every year!

Guest's picture
Guest

I saw my credit score about a year ago when I refinanced on my mortgage so I figure that I know the general ballpark figure for my current score.

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Sasha W

I checked my credit score the other day for free on creditkarma.com and was surprised at how high it was.

Guest's picture
Sasha W

Liked the FB page :)

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Guest

I do, because I just bought a car....

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Tamara

I do, thanks to CreditKarma.com (free)

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Tamara

I like Wise Bread on Facebook!

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Tamara

Tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/stretchjean/statuses/121334537308487680

Guest's picture
Betty

I know I have good credit, but have never been given a number or "score." I receive the 3 free reports, but no score.

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Betty

I like you and your post on Facebook.

Guest's picture
Betty

Responded on Twitter. http://twitter.com/#!/1bets1/status/121335984083308544

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Guest

No, too depressing.

Guest's picture

Yes, I do!

Guest's picture
Bechego

I do not know it. I ran it in January when I refinanced. My guess us that it's still in the high 700s. I will be running my free credit reports soon at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Guest's picture
Bechego

Here is my tweeted response:
http://twitter.com/#!/bechego/status/121336699417673728

Guest's picture
Elizabeth S.

I Like (love) your facebook page!

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Elizabeth S.

I absolutely know my credit score. We choose to have a quarterly update.

Guest's picture
Scarlett

I haven't checked my credit score in a long time so I have no idea what it is.

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Michael

Yes, I know my credit score and am in the process of cleaning it up!

Guest's picture
Angela Pearson

No I do not know mine. I have a feeling... it's not pretty. :(

Guest's picture
Guest

I just checked it last week, as a matter of fact. Exactly as bad as I thought it was >.<

Already "Liked" Wise Bread on Facebook

Guest's picture
Cathy

Yes I do. I check it every 6 months.

Guest's picture
Tanya Whitner

I check my credit score every quarter using one of the free reports from the credit agencies. I just rotate the agency each quarter so not to experience a charge for the service.

Guest's picture
Sarah

I don't know my credit score... but I do check my credit reports from one of the three agencies every 4 months or so.

Guest's picture
Dee Dee

Yes, I do. Found out about 4 months ago.

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Tomomes

I do know my credit score and check it about once a year. Thanks!

Guest's picture
Sue

I thought I knew it, but the bank came up with a different number

Guest's picture
Kane

Yes, I know my credit score.

Guest's picture
Diana

I know mine!

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Lynda

not sure of the exact score but i know the range. i try to check it once a year but it's probably more like every 2 years.

Guest's picture
Lynda

i like wisebread on facebook

Guest's picture
Lynda

http://twitter.com/#!/oshkoshbgosh123/status/121387171633561600

Guest's picture
Josh

Yes, checked last week!

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Rusty

No clue.

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Rusty

I like you on facebook.

Guest's picture
Leigh

I just checked my credit score last week to see where it was at, and it's still good to go. However, before that the last time it was pulled was when we purchased our home five years ago.

Guest's picture
Selene Montgomery

Yes, I know our score, but it's been about a year since I checked.

Guest's picture
Selene Montgomery

I Like you on Facebook as Selene Montgomery

Guest's picture
Joan

Yes, I do know my credit score.

Guest's picture
Marisa

I don't, but I'd like to assume it's decent since I pay everything off each month and only have a couple cards!

Guest's picture
Marisa

I also like you on Facebook.

Guest's picture
Jennifer Dantuma

Not currently. I know it has been excellent but I haven't checked it for awhile.

Ben Edwards's picture

When we refinanced recently we got copies of our credit scores from all three bureaus but I already knew our Experian score because I follow it on Credit Sesame.

Guest's picture
Rebecca B. A. R.

I checked mine in the last 6 months, and remember the round-about number, but not the exact number. It was actually a lot better than what I thought it would be with all the bad things that have happened to us during this recession.

Guest's picture
Joy

I know what it was last year this time, and i would say its probably pretty close to what it was then

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kristina

I checked it a while ago.

Guest's picture
Sylvia Rajsk

I actually do not know it and need to check!

Guest's picture
Raj J

Checked 5 days ago, and it is a annual tradition for me and my wife.

Guest's picture

Nope. I knew it about 1.5 years ago when we bought a house but haven't had it checked since. I'm kicking the debt habit so I couldn't care less.

I do try to check my credit report annually for errors. You can get your free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com, the FTC-authorized site for this. NOTE: You don't have to pay for this service!!

Guest's picture

YES! I do, and check it monthly as well as scan my credit reports for any changes. Been fighting a long uphill battle with the Reporting agencies to get my accounts cleaned up from mistakes THEY made in attaching derogatories that did not belong to me!

Guest's picture
Alexis

Yes,I definitely know my credit score. I like to check it periodically to see if / how much I've improved.

Guest's picture
Christina

I know it!

Guest's picture
Keri Ritenour

Yes, I know my credit score (and my husband's). It's checked annually. Surprisingly, we found some inaccurate information that we are working on having corrected. I recommend that everyone check theirs annually. We also found that my husband's ex-wife procured credit cards and loans in my husband's name after their separation and divorce. These days, it is too easy for someone to use your information to obtain $$$. Credit Karma is a great resource to check and optimize your credit score.

Guest's picture
Keri Ritenour

I liked and commented on your FB post.

Guest's picture
Keri Ritenour

I tweeted my comment. Check it out at http://bit.ly/p72XES via @KeriRitenour

Guest's picture
Brandon

I checked my score 2 weeks ago because I recently applied for a new credit card and they sent my credit score along with the credit card. This was actually the first time I have ever seen my credit score, granted I'm 22, and was surprised at the number (in a good way!). I know checking your credit score can lower the number so I'll restrict myself to checking it maybe once every 2 years if I really need to.

Guest's picture
Guest

Nope.

Guest's picture
Danielle

Yes I check my scores every year.

Guest's picture
Jennifer

I do not know my score. I print my free credit report from the 3 reporting agencies each year (one per quarter) so I can stay alert to any changes or potential problems. But I have never wanted to pay the $7 fee to get my score. I guess I'm a cheapskate. :-)

Guest's picture
Angie

I haven't checked it in the past year, but last time I did it was good. Yay!