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Whether you’re inquiring about a new credit card or applying for a mortgage, you can be sure that potential creditors will take the time to review your credit history.

There are three major national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each collects two types of credit information. The first is how you use credit, from how much you owe in student loans, car loans, mortgages, and credit cards, to the timeliness of your monthly payments. The second is any information that might influence the way creditors may evaluate your credit behavior. This includes anything from previous bankruptcies and foreclosures to court judgments, such as failure to pay local taxes, repossession, and divorce proceedings.

Most of your credit information remains on your report for some time. Damaging activity can appear for up to seven years, regardless of whether your account is closed or inactive. Bankruptcies may stay on your report for up to ten years.

Only those with the legal right to your credit history can view the reports issued by these credit bureaus. That includes creditors, banks, potential employers, insurance companies, and landlords, all of whom pay a fee to review your credit report.