Following the lead of Discover, Barclay’s and Citibank, Chase Bank will begin offering some of its customers their free FICO Score. This access will help consumers determine where they stand before they apply for credit, apartments, cell phones and more. Here’s what you need to know about FICO Scores and how to access them for free.

Free Access to Credit Scores Act — Consumers already have the ability to request their free credit report once a year, but a credit report does not include your credit score. These two items are often confused to be the same, which they are not. You generally must pay to see your credit score — it’s a three-digit grade that predicts how risky you are to a lender.

You can file bankruptcy on just credit cards — you must list all of your credit cards and all of your debts when you file bankruptcy. Some people have gotten the wrong idea that bankruptcy help is no longer available for credit cards, medical bills or other categories of bills. The credit card industry spent millions of dollars promoting an anti-debtor message, which resulted in the passage of the pro-creditor bankruptcy amendments, BAPCPA — the myth grew with all the media stories about the law changes.

A few credit score points can mean the difference between a good mortgage rate, a lousy one or getting a loan at all. But take heart — If errors are dragging down your score, you can get them fixed, just in time for your much-anticipated closing.

Secured credit cards are great for establishing or rebuilding your credit history. Unlike prepaid cards, secured credit cards give you a credit line, and your payment activity will be reported to the major consumer reporting agencies.