Money · credit score
Understand your credit report
Every bureau must give you one free full report a year. Open it here to spot what is pulling your score down and whether something is wrong.
Last updated: Reviewed by IndiaDigital editorsSources
1. Open your report
Read on this phone only. Nothing is uploaded.
No report yet? Get one free full report a year from each bureau: TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax, CRIF High Mark
2. Quick factor check
What is helping and what is hurting
- GoodPaying on timeNo late payments in a year: the biggest plus.
- GoodSettled or written offNone: good.
- GoodCard limit usedUnder 30% of the limit: good.
- GoodNew applicationsFew applications: good.
- WatchAge of your oldest accountA short history. It improves with time.
- WatchMix of loansOnly cards or personal loans. Not a problem by itself; never take a loan just for the score.
Something wrong in the report? Dispute it
- Raise a dispute on the bureau’s website for the wrong entry. Keep the dispute number.
- Write to the lender named on the entry too. The lender has 21 days and the bureau 9 days: 30 days in all.
- Not fixed in 30 days? You are owed ₹100 for every extra day. If they do not pay, complain on the RBI Complaint Management System. cms.rbi.org.in
- A loan you never took can be identity fraud: also report on cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
Compensation due: ₹1,000
How it works
- The report is read inside this browser tab and never uploaded. Bureau PDFs are often password protected; the password is used only to open it.
- We look for words that matter: written off, settled, suit filed, wilful default, SUB/DBT/LSS, late payments (DPD 030 and above) and the number of enquiries.
- The factor check explains the usual drivers of a score in plain words. The bureau’s own model decides the score; we do not calculate one.
- A wrong entry is disputed with the bureau. Under the RBI rules of 26 October 2023, the complaint must be resolved in 30 days, or ₹100 a day is payable to you.
Questions people ask
Where do I get the free report?
On each bureau’s own website: TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark. You are entitled to one free full report from each, every calendar year. Paid “score” apps are not needed for this.
A loan I never took is in my report. What do I do?
Raise a dispute with the bureau at once, and complain to the lender named on the entry. It can be identity fraud: also report it on cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
Does checking my own report lower my score?
No. Your own check is a soft enquiry. Only lenders’ enquiries when you apply for a loan or card count.
Sources
Last checked:
Something looks wrong?
No text is sent: we only count reports. Experts in our reviewer network check the reported line; fixes go in the corrections log.