How would you judge your own character?
Put yourself in the lender’s shoes: One of the first things you’d look at before lending somebody money is how they’ve treated borrowing in the past. To learn about your financial history, a lender checks out your credit history. You can go to Equifax, TransUnion or Experian to take a look at your credit score and see a snapshot of your creditworthiness. Checking your own credit online is secure and won’t leave a mark on your credit history.
Remember that lenders know only what you’ve included on your application and what’s in your credit report. Set aside any extenuating circumstances and sheer bad luck (if applicable), and look at yourself as a number on the page. Consider the reasons behind any negative information on your application or in your credit report to determine whether they should count against your character. And if there are extenuating circumstances for any late payment or default, you can add a brief note on the line to explain the situation.