India has four credit bureaus licensed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI): TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark. They collect repayment data from banks, NBFCs and other lenders, and use it to prepare your credit report and credit score. Lenders check these before deciding whether to lend to you and on what terms.
More Indians are checking. As per TransUnion CIBIL, 183 million Indians had checked their own CIBIL score as of December 2025, and the number checking for the first time grew 27% in a year.
This guide shows you how to get your report for free, read it, spot errors and get them fixed.
The Four Credit Bureaus
Credit bureaus are formally called credit information companies (CICs). They’re regulated by the RBI under the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.
| Bureau | Official website |
| TransUnion CIBIL | www.cibil.com |
| Experian | www.experian.in |
| Equifax | www.equifax.co.in |
| CRIF High Mark | www.crifhighmark.com |
Individual credit scores from all four generally range from 300 to 900, with higher scores signalling a stronger credit record.
TransUnion CIBIL, set up in 2000, is the oldest of the four and the one most commonly used by lenders to assess loan and credit card applications. That’s why “CIBIL score” is often used to mean any credit score. Some lenders also check one or more of the other bureaus, so it’s worth reviewing all four reports.
How Credit Bureaus Work
Lenders report details of your loans and credit cards to the bureaus: how much you’ve borrowed, your repayments, any missed payments and your outstanding balances. As per the RBI’s credit information reporting directions, lenders must report this data every week from July 1, 2026. Lenders are also required to report to all four bureaus, so an error from one lender can appear on every bureau’s report.
When you apply for a loan or credit card, the lender checks your report and score with your consent, along with other details such as your income.
Why Your Credit Score Matters
Your score affects:
- Approval: Lenders are more likely to approve applicants with a strong repayment record.
- Interest rate: A higher score can help you qualify for a lower rate, which reduces your total borrowing cost.
- Loan amount and tenure: Lenders may offer higher amounts or more flexible terms to borrowers with strong profiles.
- Credit cards: A good score widens your choice of cards and can help you get a higher limit.
The main factors behind your score are your repayment history, how much of your credit limits you use, the age of your credit accounts and how often you apply for new credit. Keeping card usage below 30% of your limit is generally seen as healthy.
How to Get Your Free Credit Report
As per RBI rules, you’re entitled to one free full credit report every year from each of the four bureaus.
- Go to the bureau’s official website (listed above) and choose the free annual report option.
- Sign up with your name, PAN, date of birth and mobile number.
- Verify your identity with the OTP sent to your mobile, and answer any security questions.
- Download your report.
Checking your own report doesn’t lower your score. You can also check your score for free with Fibe’s credit score check.
Why it’s worth checking regularly: As per the same TransUnion CIBIL report, about 45% of people who monitored their score improved it within six months, and the average score among them was 728.
How often to check: Business Standard suggests reviewing your report every quarter, and at least every six months. You can space out your four free reports, one from each bureau, across the year.
How to Read Your Credit Report
As per TransUnion CIBIL’s guide to understanding your report, a CIBIL report has these main sections.
Credit score
Your score, between 300 and 900, is calculated from the Accounts and Enquiry sections of your report. If you have no credit track record, you’ll see “NA” or “NH” instead. See what NA or NH means.
Personal and contact details
Your name, date of birth, gender, ID numbers such as your PAN, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, as reported by your lenders. Check every detail. Wrong details are a common cause of mixed-up records.
Employment details
Your occupation and income as reported by a lender when you opened an account.
Account information
This is the most important section. For every loan and credit card, it shows:
- the lender and type of account, such as a personal loan or credit card
- the account number and whether it’s held singly or jointly
- the date it was opened and the date of your last payment
- the loan amount, current balance and any amount overdue
- a month-by-month record of up to 36 months of your payments
In the payment record, each month shows whether you paid on time or how many days late you were, along with codes such as STD and SMA. A yellow box above an account means it’s under dispute.
Enquiry information
Every enquiry lenders have made when you applied for credit, with the lender’s name, the date, and the type and amount of loan. Many enquiries in a short period can lower your score.
Errors to Look For
Errors are more common than many people assume. In January 2024, the RBI pointed to a rise in customer complaints related to credit information. Go through your report and check for:
As per CRIF High Mark these are some of the most common mistakes you should check for:
- An account you don’t recognise, which can be a reporting error or a sign of fraud
- A closed loan or card still shown as open, or with a balance
- An account wrongly marked as overdue after you’ve paid
- The same loan or card listed twice
- A wrong credit limit, which can make your card usage look higher than it is
- A loan balance higher than what you actually owe
- Accounts that haven’t been updated recently. CRIF suggests active accounts should show an update within the last 30 to 60 days.
- Wrong personal details, such as your name, date of birth, PAN or address
________________________________________
If You Get an Alert You Don’t Recognise
As per the RBI’s directions on credit information reporting, bureaus must alert you by SMS or email whenever your credit report is accessed. If you get an alert you weren’t expecting, someone may be applying for credit in your name.
- Download your report and check the Enquiry section for the lender named in the alert.
- Contact that lender straight away and tell them you didn’t apply.
- Raise a dispute with the bureau if an account you didn’t open appears.
- If you suspect fraud, report it on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or call 1930.
How to Dispute an Error
- Gather your documents. Keep these documents handy – a no-dues certificate or loan closure letter, bank statements showing your repayments, a highlighted copy of the incorrect report, and your ID and address proof.
- Raise the dispute. Log in to the bureau’s website, select the option to raise a dispute, choose the account or detail that’s wrong, and upload your documents. You can also complain to the lender that reported the error.
- Note the date. Save the date and reference number of your complaint. Any compensation is counted from this date.
- Wait for verification. The bureau checks the details with the lender. Your report is updated once the lender confirms the correction.
Timelines and compensation
As per the RBI’s compensation framework (circular RBI/2023-24/72, October 26, 2023):
| Rule | What it means for you |
| 30-day limit | Your complaint must be resolved within 30 days of when you first filed it |
| How the 30 days are split | The lender has 21 days to send corrected information; the bureau has the remaining 9 |
| Compensation | ₹100 for every day of delay beyond 30 days, paid by whichever of the lender or bureau caused the delay |
| Payment | Credited to your bank account within five working days of your complaint being resolved |
| Escalation | If compensation is wrongly denied, you can complain to the RBI Ombudsman under the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021 |
The rule is enforced. In orders dated August 31, 2026, the RBI fined TransUnion CIBIL, CRIF High Mark and Equifax a combined ₹34.90 lakh for failing to pay this compensation to eligible complainants on time.
Example: The RBI circular illustrates this: if a complaint is resolved two days after the 30-day limit, the complainant receives ₹200 in total.
Why Your Score Differs Across Bureaus
Each bureau uses its own scoring model, and your data can differ slightly between them, so your scores may not match. If you’re applying for a loan, ask the lender which bureau it checks, and fix any errors on that bureau’s report first.
Errors in a Fibe Account
If an account reported by Fibe is wrong on your credit report, you can raise a dispute with the bureau and also contact Fibe directly:
- Call 020-67639797 or email care@fibe.in with your Loan Account Number, the error and supporting documents.
- If it isn’t resolved in time, escalate to grievance@fibe.in.
See Fibe’s Grievance Redressal Policy for details.
FAQs on Credit Bureaus and Credit Reports
How many credit bureaus are there in India?
There are four RBI-licensed credit bureaus: TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark.
Which credit bureau is most widely used in India?
TransUnion CIBIL is the most commonly used by lenders for loan and credit card applications, though many lenders also check Experian, Equifax or CRIF High Mark.
Which is the oldest credit bureau in India?
TransUnion CIBIL, which began as Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited in 2000.
Does checking my own credit report lower my score?
No. Checking your own report is a soft enquiry and doesn’t affect your score. Formal loan or card applications can.
How long does it take to fix an error in my credit report?
As per the RBI, complaints must be resolved within 30 days of filing. If they aren’t, you’re entitled to ₹100 for every day of delay.
Should I dispute with the bureau or the lender?
You can do either. The bureau will check with the lender either way, so contacting both can speed things up.
Why is my score different on each bureau?
Each bureau uses its own model, and your data can differ slightly between them. Focus on the bureau your lender uses.
How often is my credit report updated?
As per the RBI’s directions, lenders must report your data every week, so changes usually show up within days to a couple of weeks.
What’s the difference between a credit bureau and a credit rating agency?
Credit bureaus track the borrowing of individuals and businesses, mainly for lenders. Credit rating agencies such as CRISIL, ICRA and CARE rate companies, governments and the debt they issue, mainly for investors.