A free credit report is exactly what you need if you are unsure about your credit rating. It will allow you to find out exactly what is improving or diminishing your credit rating-and also help you to determine how best to react.

There are hundreds of companies that say they can offer you a free credit report, but they will usually have a hidden charge that you won't know about until you realize that some money has been drafted from one of your accounts. Other companies, however, are totally legit and will give you your free credit report without any additional charge.

Your free credit report will let you know why credit card companies keep turning you away. A bad credit rating will mean that you are not suitable for a credit card from that company. They will more than likely require a certain credit score for you to obtain a credit card. A free credit report will let you know where you stand in other companies' eyes; it will also let you know your chance of being approved for a credit card.

If you have taken out a loan within the past year and had some trouble paying it off, then your credit score would have taken a bit of a knock; and you won't know how bad it could be. So applying for a free credit report will let you know where you stand.

There are two ways to apply for your free credit report. One way is through the Internet, which will allow you to have instant access to your credit report; the other way is via telephone and you will receive your credit report within two weeks through the mail.

It is a good idea to keep an eye on your credit score so that you know how bad or good it is. You will then know how likely you will get accepted for a credit card. Or how likely you are to get accepted for renting a property.