With the average FICO credit score estimated at 690 (the highest possible score is 850), chances are most Americans wouldn’t mind some advice on how to improve. Of all consumers, just 25 percent have managed to achieve a score of 785 or higher.

So, you can get your TransUnion Credit Score for free? You can get absolutely free credit monitoring? These are services that people pay good money for and Credit Karma, a company that isn’t affiliated with any of the credit bureaus, is giving it away for free. Does this sound too good to be true or is Credit Karma a scam?

If you don’t have an established credit history, or if you do have an established credit history but it has some dings, you may need a co-signer to get approved for a loan or credit card. By co-signing a credit application, the co-signer is agreeing to assume responsibility for the debt should you, the primary borrower, default on your agreement to pay the debt.

Sometimes, people make bad decisions and they end up losing their house, car and credit cards that ruin their credit history.

Your credit score can have a major impact on your life. Not only do creditors typically check your score when deciding whether or not to approve your application and what interest rate to charge you if you are approved, but landlords, insurance companies, and even employers often check it as well.