Your credit history is vital to your future; it is crucial to ensure its accuracy. Any time you apply for a loan or credit card, your lenders look at your credit history to determine your risk of defaulting. Many employers conduct credit checks on potential employees to decide if they are appropriate hires. Regular maintenance of your credit is a must. Follow these guidelines to ensure your credit remains on target.

1. Examine your credit report regularly and know your credit score.

You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report every 12 months. Reports are available from www.annualcreditreport.com. Look at your history in detail; if you see anything erroneous, notify the bureau and the creditor immediately. To find out your official credit score, when requesting a credit report, you can also ask for your FICO score for a nominal fee. Anything above 700 is considered good, out of a range of 300-850.

2. When using your debit card, choose “credit.”

Either way, it comes directly out of your bank account, but if you select the credit option, you will have more liability protection, since the transaction is processed through the credit card system.

3. Pass up that store credit card.

While stores dangle offers such as “10 percent off your first purchase” for opening a line of credit with them, those few dollars you save can translate into points off your credit score. Typical annual interest rates can reach 20 percent, which completely counteracts that 10 you just saved.

4. Pay off outstanding debt.

Missing payments damages your credit. While massive credit card balances can seem overwhelming, try to pay more than the minimum balance every month—even if just by $20. Paying down your balance will improve your credit score.

5. Ask your credit card company for a higher limit.

The key is NOT to spend it! A higher limit will lower the size of your debt as a percentage of overall borrowing capacity.

While masive credit card balances can seem overwhelming, try to pay more than the minimum balance every month- even if just by $20.

6. Freeze your credit.

This prevents identity theft as well as discouraging you from opening any new accounts. You will be able to lift the freeze if you need a loan.

7. Never give out your Social Security Number (SSN).

With the exception of your employer and other businesses that need to do a credit check, be suspicious of anyone that asks for your SSN, even if the person says he or she is calling from a reputable business. Con artists have very polished credit scams. If the request seems legitimate, say that you will call the company back and do so with the phone number you have on file—NOT the one the caller gives to you.

8. Ask your bank to be on alert.

Have your bank contact you if there is any suspicious activity on your account. The earlier you detect problems, the faster you can take care of them with minimal damage to your reputation.

9. Create complicated passwords and PINs.

Devise a combination of letters and numerals if possible. Do not use your maiden name, repeating letters or numbers (i.e., AAA, 111) or consecutive numbers (i.e., 1234). Also, do not use one password for everything—although it makes things easier for you, it also makes it easier for others to figure out.

10. Keep a written list of all your credit cards and their associated phone numbers.

If your cards are misplaced or stolen or your home is burglarized, you will need that information to cancel the cards immediately.