Do you know your credit score? For most people, that number is less than perfect.

But for Tom Pavelka, of Westlake, his score is nearly perfect, according to The Plain Dealer.

How does he do it? It's key to pay your bills on time, he told The Plain Dealer. But his advice also includes not buying something on credit unless you know you've got the money to repay it and not charging something without having something to show for it.

It takes a bit of effort just to figure out your credit score. Three different agencies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion -- collect the information that determines your credit score, according to the Federal Trade Commission. They track how you pay your bills, whether you've filed for bankruptcy and whether you've been sued or arrested.

But here's why you need to stay on top of it -- your credit report factors in to many life events including:

• Buying a house
• Insurance rates
• Getting a car loan
• Getting a job

And mistakes can happen without your knowledge.  

You can order a free copy of your credit report every year and you should. That's how you can correct mistakes and protect yourself from identity theft. 

To get a copy of your credit report for free, go to the Annual Credit Report website, do not go to the individual credit reporting agencies, according to the Federal Trade Commission. 

Annual Credit Report is the ONLY site you should go to. Other sites that promise free credit scores could be scams, the FTC warns. They may sign you up for a program that is free for a trial period but may later charge you. Or they could collect your personal information and use it for nefarious purposes. 

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