Definition
Your borrowing history as recorded by the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion): accounts, balances, payment history, and applications. You can check all three free at annualcreditreport.com; errors are common and worth disputing.
Why it matters
The report is the raw data your score is computed from, and errors are common enough that checking is worth it: a wrong late payment or an account that is not yours can cost real points and real loan dollars.
Example
Before a mortgage application, a buyer pulls all three reports, finds a paid-off collection still showing a balance, disputes it with documentation, and applies a month later with a cleaner file and a better rate.
Related terms
This definition is educational, not financial, legal, or tax advice. U.S. rules and limits change; verify time-sensitive details with official sources. See our disclaimer.