These agencies are not affiliated with the government in any way.
They are for-profit corporations that sell your personal information for
money. The agencies make money by selling credit reports to credit
grantors who want to see your credit history before they decide to lend
you money (for example, whenever you complete a credit application
for a loan, mortgage or major purchase). If you have shown any
tendency to pay late or to default on paying your financial
commitments, many credit grantors’ computers are programmed to
immediately reject your application.