<< how do i check my credit rating? >>
Easy, and free if you do it the right way. Simply apply for a loan, a big loan, one that you know you'll get turned down for. Asking for a personal line of credit works well for this purpose. Whenever you are turned down for a loan and/or credit, you are entitled by law to recieve a free copy of your credit report (the one from the major 3, Experian, Equifax, and TRW).
Not only that, since the company that refuses your credit is obligated to pay for it, it's ideal for getting them to stop soliciting you... i don't get nearly as many of those "here's a check for $50,000, just open a home-equity line of credit with us!" Stupid idiots, my address, the one that you sent the solicitation to, shows that i live in an apartment..... needless to say, i haven't been accepted for one of those home equity line offers yet, but since i did do as they asked and applied (and was turned down), got a free credit report out of the deal.