4.5.5 Summary of key messages

• Lenders use your credit report and your credit score to decide whether to lend you money, how much and at what interest rate.
• The higher your credit score, the lower the risk for the lender and the more likely you are to get credit on favourable terms.
• Check your credit report at least once a year from Canada's two main credit bureaus.
• You can improve your credit score by following better credit practices for a period of time.

At the end of the module, you will find an Action plan. This is a tool that you can use to track your progress and take the next steps to manage credit successfully in the future. Use the action plan as a roadmap for financial action!