There are many consequences to having bad credit, among them are:

• Higher interest rates when financing a car.
• Higher interest rates when financing a home.
• Higher auto insurance premiums.

Everyone is entitled to a free credit report once every twelve months from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.

To order your report visit annualcreditreport.com, or call 1-877-322-8228.

Go to the Federal Trade Commission's website (ftc.gov) to learn more about protecting your credit.