The current financial-reform bill that is being debated in Congress right now will allow consumers to actually get their credit scores along with the free credit reports that they can now get.
Previously, a consumer could pick up a free copy of their credit report but they had to pay a fee of $15.00 in order to actually get the score.
Knowing your actual credit score could make your credit repair efforts easier as you will know and be able to see immediately the effect on the number that all of the lenders look at and depend on.