Your credit report is a major contributor to the health of your finances. When you’re taking out a loan, credit card, or even a lease on an apartment, one of the first things lenders or landlords will do is look at your credit report. But if you don’t have any idea how a credit report is structured, reading one is daunting.
Let us help you with “How to Read Your Credit Report.”
What Is a Credit Report?
A credit report is a detailed report of your credit history prepared by credit bureaus like CIBIL, Experian, Equifax, and CRIF High Mark in India. It has information about your credit and loan accounts, payment history, credit inquiries, personal information, public records (where required), etc.
It also displays the credit score, which ranges between 300 and 900, and is determined from this report.
Where to Get Your Credit Report
In India, credit bureaus are responsible for rolling out credit reports annually for all credit holders. It can be asked for directly from agencies like CIBIL, Equifax, CRIF High Mark, etc. These agencies are highly reputable and recognized by the RBI (Reserve Bank of India). This report can be received through a registered email address.
Sections of a Credit Report
1. Personal Information
This chapter contains all the personal information of the credit card holder. This information can be sensitive, and hence, precaution is advised while sharing. It includes:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- PAN number
- Contact details
- Employment details
2. Credit Accounts (Trade Lines)
This section comprises of main content on the credit card. It provides a detailed insight into the history of all the credit card accounts held by the user. It includes:
- Credit card and loan accounts
- Lender names
- Account numbers
- Credit limit or loan value
- Current balance
- Repayment history (last 36 months)
3. Payment History
Here you can see a month-by-month record of payments, also known as Days Past Due (DPD) data. The codes represent the duration during which the dues were cleared, starting from one on-time payment. The codes listed have the following meanings:
| Code | Meaning |
| 000 | Paid on time |
| 30 | Payment delayed by 30 days |
| 60 | Payment delayed by 60 days |
| XXX | No data available |
| STD | Standard (regular account) |
| SUB | Substandard |
| DBT | Doubtful |
| LSS | Loss account |
4. Credit Inquiries
This section lists all instances where your credit report was accessed by a lender, usually when you applied for a credit product. In other words, each time you borrow on credit, it has a “hard inquiry” on your report.
Hard vs Soft Inquiry:
- Hard Inquiry: Occurs when you apply for credit (impacts your score)
- Soft Inquiry: Generated when you check your report or get pre-approved offers (does NOT impact score)
5. Credit Score Summary
Your credit score usually appears on the first page of the report. It shows your performance that you exhibited while paying the bills. The range of credit points is:
- 750–900: Exceptional
- 650–749: Good
- 550–649: Fair
- 300–549: Poor
Why Reading Your Credit Report Is Important
- Helps in improving your credit score
- Recognizes identity theft
- Increases the likelihood of loan sanction
- Assists in better financial planning
Tips to Improve Your Credit Repo
- Prompt payment of EMIs and credit card dues
- Keep credit utilization under 30%
- Avoid frequent loan applications
- Do not fully choose secured or unsecured cards; a mixture of both is recommended.
- Proofread for errors regularly
Bottomline
Understanding how to read your credit report places you in control of your financial well-being. Get into the habit of reviewing your report every year, challenge errors, and take an active role in managing your credit health.
A credit report is the representation of your financial health. Fix it up, and opportunity will come knocking on your door.
Written by: Tanya Kumari