How to check your CIBIL score for free

Your credit score is a three-digit number, from 300 to 900, that lenders use to decide whether to give you a loan or credit card and at what rate. In India, four credit bureaus calculate it: TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark. "CIBIL score" has become the common name for all of them.

Your right to a free report

RBI rules entitle you to one free full credit report, with your score, every calendar year from each of the four bureaus. That means up to four free checks a year if you use each bureau once.

How to get it, step by step

1. Go to the bureau's own website: cibil.com, experian.in, equifax.co.in or crifhighmark.com. Look for "free credit report" or "free CIBIL score".
2. Enter your name, date of birth, mobile number, email and PAN.
3. Verify with the OTP sent to your mobile, and answer any identity questions.
4. Download your report. Skip paid plans unless you want frequent updates; the free yearly report is enough for most people.

Many banks, card issuers and finance apps also show your score free. These are convenient, but check that the app is from a regulated company and read what data you are allowing it to use.

Checking your own score doesn't lower it

When you check your own score, it is a "soft enquiry" and has no effect. A "hard enquiry" happens when a lender checks your report because you applied for credit. Several hard enquiries in a short time can lower your score.

What to look for in the report

• Accounts you don't recognise, which could mean identity misuse.
• Late payments marked as "DPD" (days past due) that you believe you paid on time.
• Loans you've closed still shown as active, or "settled" instead of "closed".
• Wrong personal details, such as name spelling, PAN or address.

How to fix an error

Raise a dispute on the bureau's website, and contact the lender that reported the wrong information. Under RBI rules, a complaint must be resolved within 30 days; if it isn't, you are entitled to compensation of ₹100 for each day of delay. If the problem continues, you can complain to the RBI Ombudsman at cms.rbi.org.in.

What score is good?

• 750 and above: excellent; best rates and quick approvals.
• 700–749: good; most lenders will approve.
• 650–699: fair; fewer options and higher rates.
• Below 650: many banks may decline; work on improving it first.

See how your score band affects how much you can borrow with our loan eligibility calculator, and find quick ways to improve it in our Credit health section.

WealthFeedz does not check credit scores and never asks for your PAN or credit details. Use only the bureaus' official websites or apps from regulated lenders.