About the free vs paid thing: You can also get free reports from Experian and Equifax directly (once a year each). So you can check 3 different bureaus for free every year. Banks report to all 3, so sometimes you'll find errors in one that don't show in others.
After seeing so many confused posts about credit scores, I decided to write a detailed guide on how to actually READ your CIBIL report. Most people just check the score number, but the report has so much more important information.
I'm sharing this because I was confused too when I first got my report, and understanding it helped me improve my score from 680 to 785 in one year.
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How to Get Your Report
- Go to CIBIL website (www.cibil.com) or use their app
- Free report once a year, or pay ₹550 for instant access anytime
- You can also check via Paytm, OneScore, etc. (they show CIBIL/Experian/Equifax)
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Understanding Your CIBIL Report - Section by Section
1. Personal Information Section
This shows your name, DOB, PAN, addresses, phone numbers, emails.- What to check:
- [YES] Is your name spelled correctly?
- [YES] Are all addresses yours? (Old addresses are okay, but check for unknown ones)
- [YES] PAN and DOB correct?
Why it matters: Errors here can cause report mixing with someone else's data. I once found an unknown Bangalore address on my report - raised dispute, got it removed.
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2. Account Information Section
This is the most important part. Shows all your credit accounts:For each account, you'll see:
Account Type: Credit Card / Auto Loan / Personal Loan etc.
Ownership: Individual / Joint / Guarantor
Date Opened: When you got the card/loan
Current Balance: How much you owe right now
Sanctioned Amount / Credit Limit: Original loan amount or card limit
- Payment History (Last 36 months): This is CRITICAL - shows payment pattern with codes:
- [YES] 000 or STD = Paid on time (good)
- [NOTE] 030 = 30 days late
- [NOTE] 060 = 60 days late
- [NOTE] 090 = 90 days late
- [NO] 090+ = More than 90 days late (very bad)
- [LOCKED] XXX = No data for that month
- SUB = Substandard account
- DBT = Doubtful account
- LSS = Loss account (worst - written off)
Account Status: Active / Closed / Settled / Written-off
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3. Inquiry Section (Hard Inquiries)
Shows every time you applied for credit and the bank checked your report.- What you'll see:
- Date of inquiry
- Bank/NBFC name
- Type (credit card, loan, etc.)
Why it matters: Too many inquiries in short time = desperate for credit = lowers score. Each inquiry stays for 2 years but impact reduces after 6 months.
Red flag: 5+ inquiries in 6 months
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4. Score Summary
Finally, the actual score (300-900 scale).- Score ranges:
- 300-549: Poor (high risk, very hard to get credit)
- 550-649: Average (limited options, high interest rates)
- 650-749: Good (most cards/loans accessible)
- 750-900: Excellent (best rates, premium cards, instant approvals)
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Key Metrics That Affect Your Score
1. Payment History (35% of score)
Most important factor. Even one 30-day late payment can drop score by 50-80 points.What I learned: Those "Days Past Due" (DPD) markers stay for 3 years but their impact reduces over time. A 2-year-old DPD hurts less than a recent one.
2. Credit Utilization (30% of score)
For credit cards: Outstanding balance ÷ Total credit limit- Example:
- Total credit limit: ₹2,00,000
- Total outstanding: ₹1,40,000
- Utilization: 70% (TOO HIGH)
Ideal: Below 30%
Acceptable: 30-50%
Dangerous: 50%+
Pro tip: Even if you pay full every month, high utilization can lower score. Pay BEFORE statement generation to show lower utilization.
3. Credit Age (15% of score)
How long you've had credit accounts.- What helps:
- Older accounts (keep your first credit card forever, even if you don't use it)
- Average age of all accounts
- What hurts:
- Closing old accounts
- Only having new accounts
4. Credit Mix (10% of score)
Having different types of credit (secured + unsecured).- Good mix example:
- 2 credit cards (unsecured)
- 1 car loan (secured)
- 1 home loan (secured)
- Poor mix:
- Only credit cards OR only loans
5. Recent Credit (10% of score)
Hard inquiries and new accounts.- What hurts:
- Multiple applications in short time
- Many new accounts opened recently
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Common Report Errors to Watch For
- Accounts you never opened - Identity theft or reporting error
- Wrong payment status - Showing late when you paid on time
- Closed accounts showing as active - Contact bank to update
- Duplicate accounts - Same loan/card reported twice
- Someone else's data mixed with yours - Name/PAN mismatch issues
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How to Dispute Errors
- Login to CIBIL website
- Go to "Dispute Center"
- Select the account with error
- Choose dispute reason
- Upload proof (payment receipts, statements, etc.)
- CIBIL contacts the bank/lender
- Resolution in 30 days usually
I disputed a wrongly reported late payment last year - bank acknowledged error, CIBIL updated in 25 days, score jumped 45 points.
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Pro Tips From My Journey (680 → 785)
- Check report every 3 months - Catch errors early
- Pay credit card bills BEFORE statement date - Shows lower utilization
- Never close old cards - Hurts credit age
- Keep utilization under 30% - Even if you pay in full
- Avoid multiple applications - Space them 3-6 months apart
- Set up autopay - Never miss due dates
- Maintain credit mix - Don't close loans early if score is a priority
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Free vs Paid Report
- Free (once a year from CIBIL):
- Basic score
- Account details
- Can dispute errors
- Paid (₹550/year):
- Unlimited checks
- Email alerts for changes
- Score simulator
- Personalized tips
- Alternatives:
- OneScore app (free, shows Experian score)
- Paytm (free CIBIL score, limited details)
- BankBazaar (free Experian)
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Common Myths Debunked
[NO] Myth: Checking your own score lowers it
[YES] Truth: Only HARD inquiries (when you apply for credit) lower score. Checking your own is SOFT inquiry, no impact.
[NO] Myth: Closing unused cards improves score
[YES] Truth: Actually HURTS score by reducing credit age and total available credit (increasing utilization %)
[NO] Myth: Carrying a small balance helps score
[YES] Truth: NO. Pay in full always. There's no benefit to paying interest.
[NO] Myth: Income affects credit score
[YES] Truth: CIBIL doesn't know your income. Score is only based on credit history.
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When to Check Your Report
- Before applying for any loan/card - Know where you stand
- Every 3-6 months - Monitor for errors
- After major credit events - Loan closure, new card, etc.
- If rejected for credit - Understand why
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Hope this helps! Happy to answer questions. Drop a comment if you want me to explain any specific part of the report.
- TL;DR:
- Payment history (35%) and utilization (30%) matter most
- Check report regularly for errors
- Dispute mistakes immediately
- Keep old accounts open
- Pay in full, on time, every time
- Don't obsess over the score number - focus on good credit habits
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This is amazing! The DPD codes part especially - I had no idea what those numbers meant. I have a few 030s from 2 years ago, now I know why my score is stuck at 720.