A FORMER Bury student is one of the two founders of the credit information website checkmyfile.com, which has made it into the pages of the latest edition of the prestigious Good Website Guide 2006.

The checkmyfile.com website, which rubs shoulders in the guide with the web pages of Jamie Oliver and the Financial Times, provides consumers with internet access to credit files and is described as 'very useful and informative' by the best selling guide.

Peter Kent, who attended the Derby School in Bury between 1962 and 1969, is joint managing director of checkmyfile.com. He said: "It is great to get an entry in the Good Website Guide, which is a reflection of our team's hard work and our commitment to customer service."

The ex-Bury schoolboy, who has wide experience in consumer and corporate credit, as well as information technology, was also behind the implementation of the egg.com website.

He continued: "We launched checkmyfile.com to help consumers understand their credit reference and score which touches many aspects of our daily lives, such as applying for a credit card, buying and renting a home, and even applying for a new job."

Checkmyfile.com now has more than a million customers, in excess of 20,000 visitors every day and ranked within the top one per cent of all websites in the world. The company is currently expanding to the US and Australian markets.

Mr Kent, who set up the company alongside business partner Barry Stamp, added: "We were the first company in the world to provide consumers with free access to their credit score.

"What was once a closed subject, kept securely in a 'black box', is now explained in plain English and is freely accessible to all consumers."

Users can also find out how their home area is rated by checking out the free information held about every postcode in the UK.

Checkmyfile.com helps to combat identity theft and credit fraud; as well as providing a free search facility to allow consumers to find suitable credit card and loan lenders matched to their credit score.