What exactly is a credit score, and how does your location change how your financial reputation is calculated? In this episode, we break down the complex world of credit scoring—a numerical expression representing a person’s creditworthiness based on their credit files. While many know that banks use these scores to mitigate losses and determine interest rates, we explore how landlords, insurance companies, and mobile phone providers also utilize this data to assess risk. Tune in to discover the fascinating differences in credit reporting systems around the world: • The North American Model: How the United States and Canada rely on major bureaus like Equifax and TransUnion, with scoring models like FICO ranging from 300 to 850 (or 900). • The "Blacklist" Systems: Why countries like Austria and Sweden focus primarily on negative "non-payment records" rather than positive scoring, and how a single unpaid bill can impact your ability to rent an apartment. • The UK Anomaly: Why there is no such thing as a "universal credit score" in the United Kingdom, where lenders keep their scoring algorithms as trade secrets. • Global Variations: From China’s Sesame Credit to Australia’s shift toward comprehensive reporting. We also discuss consumer rights, such as the ability to access free credit reports in countries like Canada and the US, and the specific laws regarding data privacy. Join us to decode the numbers that define financial trust.