Whether you want to buy a car, furniture, home electronics or you need to pay off medical expenses, most of us need to borrow money at some point in life. The willingness of lenders to loan you the money you want depends largely on what is inside your credit file. Credit bureaus located in most cities will tell you what information is in your file and give you a copy of your credit report for a small fee. You can find credit bureaus listed in the Yellow Pages under "Credit" or "Credit Reporting Agencies."

If you previously had credit under a different name or in a different location and it is not reported in your file, request that the credit bureau includes it. If you shared accounts with a former spouse, ask the credit bureau to list these accounts under your name as well. Credit bureaus are not required to add new accounts to your file, but many will do so for a small fee. Finally, if you now share the use of a credit account with your spouse, ask the creditor to report it under both names.

When contacting your creditor or credit bureau, it will speed the process if you do so in writing and include relevant information, such as account numbers. As with all important business communications, don