hen you need to borrow money, your first thoughts likely are, "How can I tell if my credit is any good? What if they turn me down?" While financial institutions generally want to lend you money, applying for credit can be unsettling even if your record is outstanding. The process is straightforward, really.       Most lenders use credit scoring, an objective system that predicts credit risk. Basically, scoring uses credit report data to evaluate your credit history based on experience with similar borrowers. Computerized scoring speeds up the loan underwriting process and eliminates human bias. But it doesn't have the human capacity to detect personal factors that can affect someone's credit history. That's why we at the credit union sometimes consider other factors in the case of low-scoring applications. We also may find situations that override a poor score.       Score your own credit rating to tell how likely you are to be approved for a loan by answering these questions. This self-test is not guaranteed to match your lender's, but it can relieve your credit anxiety. Question 1: Do you pay your bills--on time?             Yes                  No