Ever wonder how a lender decides whether to grant you  credit? For years,  creditors have been using  credit scoring systems to determine if you’d be a good risk for  credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages. These days, other types of businesses — including auto and homeowners insurance companies and phone companies — are using  credit scores to decide whether to issue you a policy or provide you with a service and on what terms. A higher  credit score is taken to mean you are less of a risk, which, in turn, means you are more likely to get  credit or insurance — or pay less for it