When you apply for credit the lender looks at your credit information. That information includes things such as whether you make payments on other accounts on time, the credit limits on your credit and store cards, and how many applications you've made for credit recently. They use this information, along with what you've put on your application form and details they have if you're already a customer, and give you a credit score. The higher your credit score, the higher the chances you will be accepted for credit. You don't have just one credit score because different lenders use their own scoring systems.