Do you know your personal credit score?

You may not know it, but you have a personal credit score that indicates how likely you are to pay your bills on time. Lenders use it to help decide whether to give you a loan and, if so, at what interest rate.

The facts about you come from credit reports compiled by the three leading credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and Trans Union.

If your credit habits resemble those of people who pay their bills on time, you'll score high. Otherwise, you'll score low. Lower scorers have to pay higher interest rates and may not get any credit at all.

Fair, Isaac, which constructs scoring systems, has partnered with Equifax to sell scores for $12.95. That price gives you access for 30 days, at www.myfico.com or www.equifax.com.

Experian expects to sell scores for $6, starting in late May 2001. Credit reports, sold separately, cost up to $8.50, depending on which state you're in. Go to www.experian.com or call (888) 397-3742. Trans Union soon will give out scores to people who order credit reports that cost up to $8.50.

Once you've checked your credit score, what next?

You don't have to do a thing if your credit falls into the range that lenders deem as excellent.

The report may tell you how to raise your score by a few more points, but that wouldn't make any difference to your life.

You're already being offered credit on the very best terms.

Credit scores generally range from 300 to 850. Here's a general guide:

Excellent -- scores above 730. Good -- 700-729. Needs a closer look -- 670-699. Higher risk -- 585-699. No credit, limited credit, or bad credit -- below 585.

If your record is "good" or toward the upper end of the "closer-look" range, look for ways to improve it. The best and fastest ways are to pay any delinquent bills and lower your total credit-card debt.

But some quick fixes won't work. For example:

- Closing unused credit cards probably won't raise your score. Models looks at how you use the credit you've got, rather than the amount you have available. Individual lenders, however, may feel more better if you cut the amount of credit available.

- Paying off one delinquent bill won't raise your score by very much if your record is littered with other credit blemishes. You have to show yourself creditworthy over a period of time.

- Making all your minimum payments won't make you look good if your cards are maxed out or anywhere close to it. Credit scores look at how much of your available credit you've used. When you're close to the line, you look out of control.

- Opening new, debt-free cards won't make you look better, if your other cards are maxed out. Average debt looks lower compared with to total, available credit. But new credit lines don't weigh as heavily.

- You lose points if you never use your credit cards. Lenders want to see that you can charge purchases and repay on time.

- You don't improve your score by carrying balances, as opposed to paying each bill in full. But lenders may mail more offers to people who carry balances, because they pay more interest.

- If you're comparison-shopping for a mortgage, make all your inquiries within a 14-day period. Those will count as a single inquiry. Spread-out inquiries register separately and look like you're credit needy.

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