The companies that collect and maintain your credit information—primarily Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion in the United States. Think of them as the record keepers of your financial reputation. They don't decide whether you get approved for credit, but they provide the information that lenders use to make those decisions. Each bureau may have slightly different information about you, which is why your credit scores can vary between them. You have the right to see what they're reporting about you once a year for free by either contacting the companies individually or at www.annualcreditreport.com.