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Every Indian is entitled to one free full credit report per year from each credit bureau. This right is guaranteed under the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act 2005, amended by RBI circular.
Yet the vast majority of Indians have never seen their credit report. They find out their score when a loan is rejected — and by then, fixing the problem takes months.
This guide tells you exactly how to get your report, how to read every section, and what to check first.
Step-by-Step: Get Your Free CIBIL Report
Step 1: Go to cibil.com on any device
Step 2: Click "Get Your Free Credit Score" or look for the "Free Credit Report" option
Step 3: Create an account (email address and basic details)
Step 4: Verify your identity — you will need: Your PAN number Date of birth Basic address details You may be asked security questions to verify your identity
Step 5: Download your full credit report (PDF format)
Important: The free report is the full credit report — not just the score number. Download the full report and save it somewhere safe.
Reading Your Report: Section by Section
Section 1: Personal Information
Verify: Your name (should match exactly as on PAN) Date of birth PAN number Address(es)
What to check: If any of this is wrong — particularly if there are addresses you do not recognise — someone else's accounts may have merged with yours, or fraud may have occurred.
Section 2: Credit Score
Your score (300–900) and the date it was calculated. Scores above 750 are generally excellent; 700–749 good; 650–699 fair; below 650 is challenging for most loan products.
What to check: The calculation date. If it is more than 30 days old, the report may not reflect your most recent activity.
Section 3: Account Summary
A list of all credit accounts in your name — loans, credit cards, overdrafts.
For each account, you see: Lender name and account number Account type (personal loan, credit card, home loan, etc.) Date of account opening Credit limit or original loan amount Current balance Account status (Active, Closed, Written Off, Settled) Date of last payment
What to check: Any account you do not recognise (possible fraud or identity mix-up) Any closed loan still showing as "Active" or "Open" Any "Written Off" or "Settled" status you were not expecting Balances that do not match your records
Section 4: Payment History (DPD)
Month-by-month payment history for each account, typically 36 months. Shows DPD code for each month (000, 030, 060, etc. — see Article 25 for full decoder).
What to check: Any non-000 entries in months when you know you paid on time Any DPD entries on accounts you have already closed Recent months — the last 12 months' payment history is most impactful
Section 5: Enquiry History
Every time a lender has pulled your full credit report (hard inquiry), it appears here with the lender name and date.
What to check: Inquiries from lenders you never approached (possible fraud — someone applied in your name) The count and frequency of inquiries (more than 3–4 in the last 6 months is a concern)
The 10-Point Checklist (Run Through This Every Year)
[ ] Is my personal information (name, DOB, PAN) correct? [ ] Do I recognise every account listed? [ ] Are all closed accounts showing as "Closed" (not "Active")? [ ] Are any accounts showing "Written Off" or "Settled" unexpectedly? [ ] Is my payment history accurate — are there DPD entries for months when I paid on time? [ ] Are my credit card balances accurately reflected? [ ] Do I recognise every inquiry in the enquiry history? [ ] Are there any inquiries from lenders I never approached? [ ] Does my score roughly match my expected profile (good payment history = 700+)? [ ] Have I downloaded and saved this report for reference during future disputes?
What to Do If You Find Problems
Inaccurate information: File a CIBIL dispute online at cibil.com (free, 30-day resolution — see Article 24 for full guide)
Unrecognised accounts: File a "Not My Account" dispute at CIBIL AND file a fraud alert with the lender AND consider filing a police report (identity theft)
Unrecognised inquiries: Contact the lender who made the inquiry and ask why. If you never applied, this may be fraud.
Wrong DPD entries: File CIBIL dispute + lender Nodal Officer complaint simultaneously (see Article 29)
Other Credit Bureaus — Beyond CIBIL
India has four credit bureaus: CIBIL, Experian, CRIF High Mark, and Equifax. You are entitled to a free report from each once a year.
Some lenders use Experian or CRIF instead of CIBIL. If you are being rejected despite a good CIBIL score, check your Experian or CRIF report — errors there could be the cause.
Get your CIBIL report and let HeyZ AI highlight errors, DPD issues, and dispute opportunities — free at www.sahisujhav.com
SahiSujhav's CIBIL Recovery module creates your personalised action plan based on your specific report.
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