Credit Score Archives

Debit Card vs Credit Card: What Affects Your Credit Score?

Are you confused between a debit and a credit card? Although they look identical, their uses and features like reward points, EMI option and impact on credit score are distinctly different. Read on to know more about these differences.

Debit Card:

A debit card is directly linked to your savings account and can be used to make purchases. As long as there are funds in your bank account, you can use the card. The different types of debit cards are:
● Standard Debit Card: The money is directly withdrawn from your bank account.
● Prepaid Debit Card: It can be used to make purchases up to the amount pre-loaded on the card. It allows you to withdraw money without access to a bank account.
● Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT): This card is issued by federal & state agencies to allow specific users to use some benefits to make purchases. Common benefits provided are food stamps and cash benefits.

Credit Card:

Credit cards are issued by financial institutions, typically a bank. The credit card holder is assigned a pre-determined credit limit to use money as a short-term loan by the credit card issuing company. When you apply for a credit card, you agree to pay the money back on a certain date according to the institution’s terms. There are four major types of credit cards:
● Standard Card: This a simple type of credit card offered by the bank.
● Secured Credit Card: It requires an initial security deposit to be placed on the card. The deposit you pay here is equal to the transaction limit of the card.
● Reward Card: It offers travel points, cash back, and other benefits.
● Charge Card: This card doesn’t have a preset spending limit, but the complete balance amount must be paid at the end of each month.

Major Differences Between Credit & Debit Cards:

The only similarities between credit and debit cards are they are almost identical in appearance. Both have 16-digit card numbers, an expiration date, and CVV codes. But, the objective and usage of both cards are different. Let’s look at the differences between them.
1) Impact on Credit Score: A credit card affects your credit score in 3 ways
–Builds your credit history
–Displays your repayment intent
–Shows your credit behaviour

Building a credit history is a hidden benefit of using a credit card. Credit history is an important factor in your credit report and score. The simple logic is if you don’t have a history, how can you have a score? There are simply no parameters to judge you. Debit cards, since they rely on the amount actually in your account, do not count towards credit. So, using a credit card is a good way to build your credit history provided it is managed well. A well-managed credit card has a good payment history. This means that you don’t default on any of the monthly payments.

And, last but not least is your credit behaviour. Do you constantly maximise your credit limit? Is your credit utilisation ratio very high? This ratio is the percentage of actual credit usage out of your total limit. E.g, if your limit is Rs.1 lakh and you regularly use Rs. 80 k, your credit utilisation ratio is 80%. This shows a “credit hungry behaviour”, also viewed negatively.Such factors lower your credit score, create a negative impression in the eyes of lenders, and subsequently, such consumers will struggle to get a loan approval.

2) EMI Option: In debit cards, there is no concept of EMI because the entire amount is directly debited from your savings account. However, a few e-commerce sites and some banks are offering a debit EMI option, wherein you need to maintain a fixed/recurring deposit to avail this facility. When you purchase, your money is first debited from your bank account and subsequently reversed in two working days. This means you need to maintain the necessary balance at the time of the initial purchase. The debit card EMI starts after 30 days from the date of reversal.

Credit cards give you the facility to convert your purchases into EMI. But, you have to pay interest every month on the outstanding amount until your EMI is fully paid. You might also have to pay service tax and other additional charges. You may have an idea of using multiple credit cards to fund different purchases and increasing your total credit limit. But, before you hit apply, wait! Multiple credit cards, with high utilisation, will negatively affect your credit score. When you apply for a loan, banks check your credit history of each credit card you use.

3) Protection on Purchase: Both debit and credit cards have a PIN; hence, they are secured. A majority of credit cards have a liability protection feature, which makes them safe & secure from any unrecognized transactions or frauds. In addition, many banks provide a charge back feature, wherein an unauthorised transaction on a credit card is paid back to the cardholder. These features are not offered on debit cards. If you want such security, you can apply for the Card Protection Plan (CPP) and secure your debit card from any fraud or misuse. Unlike debit cards, credit cards offer‬ cashback and rewards such as ‭‬fuel points, air miles,‭ and ‬free gifts‭.‭

Conclusion: Credit cards can come with huge financial benefits if used wisely. They build your credit score and ease loan approval to fulfil your financial goals. But, before you swipe your next credit card, check your CRIF credit score here and monitor it regularly.

5 Major Ways Credit Cards Affect Your Credit Scores

Every transaction on your credit card affects your credit score. One of the factors that affects it is not paying your credit card dues on time. But, did you know applying for a new card or closing an old account can also negatively affect your score? Read on to understand how such common credit card habits can hurt your score:

● Use Credit Card to Create Credit History:
You can use credit cards not only to make purchases but also to establish a good credit history. If you have never availed a loan or used a credit card, you won’t have a credit score. Your credit report will give a score of -1 or NH (no hit). This means that lenders cannot determine your credit behaviour. Using a credit card is one of the simplest ways to start your credit history.The caveat is to build a good history. Pay off all your credit card dues on time every month to establish yourself as a responsible borrower.

● Delay in Credit Card Payments:
Your payment history is the most influential factor of your credit report. It makes up 35% of your credit score. If you are in the habit of missing out on paying your card dues, then you may be damaging your score. Moreover, any delays in payment are reported to credit bureaus like CRIF. To avoid the repercussions of late payments, and boost your credit score, get into the habit of paying your credit card dues fully every month.

● Credit Utilization Ratio:
It is an indicator of the amount you have used out of the credit limit available to you. If you haven’t used your credit card and there is no balance, your credit utilization would be counted as zero. If you are applying for a loan, you need to carry some balance on your card. As a rule of thumb, you should maintain a credit utilization ratio of 30-40%. Anything higher than this may cause a dip in your credit score as lenders can attribute this as credit hungry behaviour. If you think you can efficiently manage your credit card dues, you can ask your bank to give you a higher credit limit on your existing card. Or, you can even apply for a new card with a higher limit. But, ensure that you don’t exceed your credit limit even if you are tempted to spend more.

● Applying for a New Credit Card:
Every time you apply for a new card, a hard enquiry is initiated on your credit report. This temporarily drops your credit score. Your score will recover after a few regular payments. Applying for multiple credit lines like credit cards or loans at the same time can hamper your score. Hence it’s always advisable to keep your credit card applications to a minimum. Apply only when it is really required. Whenever you apply for a credit card, draw a comparison between 2-3 cards. Based on your current credit score, pick the one that suits you the best. For example, if you shop a lot, then look for a card that offers good cashback. Similarly, if you travel constantly, a credit card that offers good air miles can be your choice.

● Closing a Credit Card Account or Discontinuing a Credit Card:
As your scores get affected while opening a new account, similarly, discontinuing an old credit card may hit your credit score badly. This is because credit history makes up to 15% of your total score. If you close an account that has been there for a long time, you are erasing all your credit life. Credit history is an important factor in your credit score.

Additionally, as you no longer have access to the credit limit of your card you closed, your credit utilization ratio will also drastically drop.So, make a wise decision before closing any old credit card. Instead of closing it, you may simply lower the usage of the card or keep it safe. This will not hamper your score. If you have multiple cards, you can close the most recent one.

To conclude, your credit card and other loans have a great impact on your credit score. Make sure you stick to the credit limit of up to 30-40% and adopt the aforementioned credit habits. If you haven’t checked your scores lately, make sure you review your credit report with CRIF.

How The Length of Credit History Affects Your Credit Score?

Your credit score is a significant determinant of your creditworthiness. The credit report contains a comprehensive record of your payment history, your credit age, and other factors which eventually determines your credit score. Among other factors, the length of credit history plays a meaty role. It accounts for 15% of your credit score. Hence, whether you’ve had credit for 6 months or 10 years can make a big difference in your credit score. You’re a much better candidate for credit cards and loans when you’ve had a long and positive credit history.

What Determines the Length of Credit History?

The credit scoring model looks at the age of your oldest and newest accounts to determine the average credit age. The age of credit history refers to the length of time you’ve been using credit. The length of time since your newest account was opened and the average age of all your accounts are also factored into the length of credit history. Several recently opened accounts can lower your average credit age and hurt your credit score.

How the Length of Credit History Affects Credit Score?

When making lending decisions, lenders review your credit history to determine how likely you are to repay your loan on time. A longer history shows you have more experience using credit and longer track record of repayment. In theory, the longer your credit history, the more accurate lenders can be in determining the level of risk they take on when lending to you. Do not stress out if you are just joining the league as the essential elements of a credit score is not just the length, but to pay your dues on time.

So How Do You Improve Your Credit History?

Do you know that you can check a free credit score on credit bureau websites such as that of CRIF High Mark? Well if you haven’t checked yet, you can do that first. In case you have never applied for a credit card or a loan in your name, your most likely reaction after viewing your score would be “why is my credit score -1 or NH or not available?”. Well don’t worry, it shows -1 or NH because you don’t have any credit history yet. This is your step 1 of building your credit score.

1. Start Early
You will have a good credit age only if you have enough credit history. Hence, although you may be in a position today where you seldom require a credit card, it would be advisable to own one. In this way, your credit history will be established at an early age and would help improve your credit score. Later, when you are actually in need of a loan, you can use this to your benefit.

2. Pay Your Dues on Time
Good credit history is what lenders are looking for. So, if your credit history indicates that you’ve missed payments or over utilized credit cards, a long credit history might not help. On the other hand, if you have a long history of timely payments with a low credit utilization ratio, it shows that you are responsibly managing credit and are worth the risk for lenders. This means that when a lender performs a credit check, you could be more likely to be approved for credit cards and loans at a better interest rate.

3. Retain Older Credit Accounts
Since credit age is all about how old your payment history dates back to, It’s worth considering old credit accounts with a decent track record before closing them. Generally, the longer an account has been open and active, the better it is for the credit score. That’s particularly true for an account with positive payment history, without any delinquency. They surely add to your overall creditworthiness. Having said that, Even when you close a credit card, it will stay on your credit report and continue to reflect for around 7 years.

4. Limit Loan Applications
Applying for multiple loans with multiple banks indicates credit hungry behavior. Also, each time you apply for a loan, the bank conducts a hard inquiry on your account, a number of which hampers your credit score. It also does not help with your credit history length as the average age is reduced due to the opening of simultaneous accounts.

5. Check Your Credit Score Every Once in A While
Regular checking of your credit score is known as a soft inquiry. It does not affect your credit score in any way and is rather a good and harmless practice to keep a track of your progress. Although, overdoing the same is not recommended as it may lead to anxiety and worry. You can check your Credit score for free from CRIF services.

NO-HIT Or -1 Or No Score: Is It Bad? What’s The Best Way To Get Build A Credit Score?

If you have never ever availed any loans or possessed any credit cards in India, you will not have your records with any of the credit information companies – therefore no credit history. As such, when you will try to check your credit score from any of the four credit bureaus, you will get a score of -1 or no score (also called No Hit or NH cases).

Is -1 or NH bad? If one doesn’t have any credit history, a bank or a NBFC lacks information from one credible source so it becomes difficult for them to take a decision on your loan application. The lender, in absence of a credit score, will use alternative mechanisms to assess your application and therefore may take longer to decide or may even reject an application. Having a -1 or NH score isn’t bad by itself, it is a genuine condition for a youngster who is starting with the first job or a housewife who is looking to be a co-applicant for a housing loan with her husband.

For a person with no credit history in India, what’s the best way to get started?
If you would like to build your own credit history and get yourself a credit score, you will have to begin by taking a loan or a credit card and use it effectively over some time. Here are a few simple ways by which you can build a credit history:

1. Apply for a Credit Card with your Existing Bank: You can apply for a credit card with the bank with which you have an existing relationship like your salary account. As the banks are generally inclined to offer additional facilities to its existing customers, the absence of a credit history may not bother much to them. Go for the most basic credit card on offer to begin with. However, you may get a lower credit limit in such cases, but nevertheless, your credit card is there and so is your credit history. Further, once you have a credit card, make sure to pay off the credit card dues well in time as regular repayments will translate into a better score for you. Do not spend too much, limit your utilization to 30–40% of the card limit.

2. Apply for a Secured Credit Card: if the first option doesn’t work out for you, you can deposit a small amount say 30K into a Bank FD, and apply for a “secured” credit card against the deposit. The bank will assign you a credit limit of up to 80% of the deposit amount. This is generally a good starting point for even self-employed and professionals.

3. Apply for a Small Ticket White Goods Loan: You may also purchase your next smartphone, TV or laptop on EMI by applying for a small consumer durable loan/ EMI loan. The financiers are available on most large format electronics retail stores as well as on the online e-commerce websites. Consumer Durable Financiers are more comfortable approving loans for customers with no credit history, and the approvals are also almost instant. The good news is that these loans are usually zero cost EMI loans.

4. Apply for a Secured Personal Loan: Most of the banks can offer you a personal loan against the security of your existing term deposits (loan against deposits). Since the term deposit is generally enough to cover the personal loan amount along with interest for a reasonable period, banks may not check your credit report and sanction you a personal loan. Usually, such personal loans may be lighter on your pockets too, as such loans typically carry an interest rate of your FD rate plus 1-2% and FD rates are presented in the range of 6-8%. So, the effective interest rate can be 7-10%.

As they say, ‘Rome was not built in a day, neither will your credit history be.’ It may take six months or even a year depending on how well and often you use and handle credit. However, ensure regular repayments of your loans and credit cards, so that you have a good credit score, reflecting good credit habits. Further, once you have a credit history and a credit score, make sure that you manage your loans and credit cards smartly.

Become A CRIF Credit Score High Achiever – An Infographic

Uh oh…remember when a 650 credit score was deemed sufficient to secure the best rates and terms on credit cards, auto loans, home loans, and so on?Well, not anymore! You can also the join the club of high credit score by simply following the practices listed on our infographic and climb all the way to become an achiever.

Credit Utilization Ratio: How it Works & How to Improve It?

The Credit utilization ratio is one of the key ingredients in determining your credit score, so it’s crucial to understand how it works. After all, a good credit score can qualify you for higher loan amounts and lower interest rates, while a low credit score can make it difficult to reach your financial aspirations. In this blog, we’ll try to cover everything you need to know about credit utilization, including:

• What is the credit utilization ratio?
• How is the credit utilization ratio calculated?
• What is a good credit utilization ratio?
• How to improve the credit utilization ratio

Let’s Begin With What is Credit Utilization Ratio?

Your credit utilization rate, sometimes called your credit utilization ratio, is the ratio of your credit card outstanding to your credit limit. They can impact up to 20-30% of a credit score, depending on the scoring model being used. If you never use your credit cards and there’s no balance on them, your credit utilization would be zero. If you typically carry a balance on one or more cards, you are ‘utilizing’ some of your available credit—lenders and credit bureaus will take note. While a one-off higher utilization rate for your credit cards may not really impact your credit score, your credit score will certainly be impacted adversely if the credit utilization rate continues to be higher on a regular basis.

How is the Credit Utilization Ratio Calculated?

Credit utilization ratios can be calculated for each credit card (card balance divided by card limit) and on an overall basis (total balance on all cards divided by the sum of credit limits). For instance:

	Balance	Limit	Credit Utilization Ratio
Card 1	₹0	₹5,000	0%
Card 2	₹8,000	₹10,000	80%
Card 3	₹1,000	₹7,000	14%

Total Credit Card Balance / Total Available Credit = Credit Utilization Ratio

Total credit utilization ratio in this case will be 40%.

What is a Good Credit Utilization Ratio?

The general rule of thumb with credit utilization is to stay between 30-40 percent. This applies to each individual card and your total credit utilization ratio. Anything higher than the above-mentioned percent can cause a dip in your credit score as lender relate this to a credit hungry behaviour. This doesn’t mean that one cannot ever cross 40% of the credit utilization on any card. The impact on credit score is more only if high utilization seems to be a common pattern over last 6-12 months.

Finally, improve your credit utilization rates and eventually your credit score through these smart moves:

1. Paying credit cards on a more frequent basis – While you may be using your credit cards for availing the card benefits on different transactions, try to reduce your credit card outstanding by more than minimum each month and paying more frequently. For example, even while the credit card statement is generated on a monthly basis, you may keep paying your credit card outstanding every 10 days. As such, your credit limit will keep getting replenished and thus, your credit utilization rates will be visible as low.

2. Availing a Higher Credit Limit – Just in case you believe that you can effectively toggle between credit card dues and your regular payments, you can ask for a higher credit limit from your bank. Given the current credit card usage remains to be the same, the credit utilization rate will automatically reduce as the usable limit has increased. However, in such times, you should be careful that having a higher credit limit may also tempt you to spend more.

3. Using Multiple Credit Cards for Managing the Limits effectively – In case you are holding multiple credit cards, try to use different cards for different transactions instead of using a primary credit card for all the transactions. Accordingly, you will have a lower credit utilization rate across all the credit cards, instead of having a very high utilization rate for one card and very low/ nil utilization for the other cards.

4. Leave cards open after paying them off- By paying off the card, you’re reducing your total balance. By keeping the card open, you’re maintaining your total credit limit—thereby lowering your credit utilization ratio.

You should keep monitoring your credit score on a regular basis and strive to maintain a good credit score with the help of better credit habits. To check your score from CRIF, click here

How To Find Your CRIF Credit Score – An Infographic

There are four credit bureaus in India from where you can download your credit report and find out your credit score. By law, you are entitled to a free credit report from all the four credit information companies at least once a year. Alternatively, you can also check your credit score either free of cost from online websites which have tied up with one or more of these credit bureaus. Let’s find out how you can get your CRIF credit score in 3 easy steps!

How & When to Dispute Your Credit Information Report?

An error on your credit report could lead to lower credit scores and impact your chances to open a new credit account or get a loan. Errors can occur surprisingly easily on your credit history. It may be that your handwriting was hard to read on a loan application, that a lender mixed up account information, or that you were a victim of identity theft. With so many ways an error can occur, it is indispensable to check your free credit score for accuracy periodically ― not just when you need a loan.

However, due to a lack of understanding of credit, it can be difficult to determine what factors may affect your credit score and the steps you need to undertake to dispute your credit report. This is also one of the reasons to educate yourself with the concepts of credit score and credit history. Once you’re familiar with your score, if you do find an error in your credit report there is thankfully a way to dispute the inaccuracy.

The fastest way to start a credit report ‘dispute’ and check your status is by applying online. Disputes are 100% free and require no fee. However, credit reporting agencies are used to receiving many disputes on a daily basis, mostly from people who are just trying to get something legit removed from their reports. Hence, you must be sure about your point and support your dispute with documents.

Following these steps, you may be able to win your credit dispute and get your credit history back on the right track:

Step 1: Download your credit report
First off, you need to download the detailed credit information report from any of the credit bureaus in India such as CRIF High Mark. You are entitled to download one free credit report each year.

Step 2: Inform the credit bureau
Once you are sure about the discrepancy in your report, you have to make it known to the 4 credit bureaus on their respective websites and postal addresses. This information has to be shared in the form of online appeal and in writing via a letter. The letter should clearly contain each item in your report that you dispute. You need to state the facts and explain why you dispute the information and wants it removed or rectified. The letter should be supported with copies of documents verifying your dispute. Always ‘request read receipt’ for your letters.

Step 3: Contact the Lenders
To ensure the errors are resolved at the source, it may also be a good idea to contact the lenders who supplied the incorrect information to the bureaus. Lenders, also known as furnishers, are the companies that provide the information to the credit bureaus. They include banks and credit card issuers. You can go to the furnisher and ask them to correct the mistake in case it is apparent that the mistake is rectifiable at their end. But if the error is an identity-related mistake made by a credit bureau, it may not necessary to contact your lenders, you can to the bureau directly.

Step 4: Count 30 days
The credit information companies are required to investigate your claim of dispute which generally lasts at least 30 days. During this time, the item on your credit report which is under dispute will be temporarily removed from your credit report. After they have finished their investigation, the bureau is also required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report if it has now changed. While the process can be time-consuming, it is important to continue to dispute incorrect information on your report that negatively impacts your credit score. You can also ask the credit bureau to include information summarizing the dispute on your credit report so future lenders can see your claims and assess them for themselves.

Step 5: Check your credit report:
Updates to your affected credit reports may take some time to appear. It is dependent on the specific credit bureau’s update cycle and when the lender sends the new information to the credit bureau. If the update doesn’t appear on your credit reports within several months, contact the credit bureaus and the lender to verify it’s reporting your account information to the bureaus.

Common Errors On Credit Reports That One Should Be Careful About!

Credit bureaus aggregate the credit information provided by various banks and financial institutions on a monthly basis and records them in an individual’s credit report. This report has a complete history of your loan and credit card repayments, account usage and outstanding balances. It serves as a basis for the calculation of the credit score. Since banks use credit score and credit report to assess the intent and capacity of a loan applicant, it is necessary for every individual to ensure that the information in the credit report is up to date and accurate.

It is likely that the data reflecting on your credit report is not accurate or not up to date. The bank may have missed sharing all updates on your loan account with the credit bureau. Even if the bank has reported data properly, the credit information company may have missed updating or is yet to update it in your credit report. Such errors or misses on your credit reports can lower your credit score, which could hurt your ability to get new lines of credit or even make the terms of credit more expensive for you. Ultimately, these errors could be costing you money and may force you to postpone your aspirations.

You can begin reviewing your credit report by getting a copy of it yourself from the website of any of the four credit bureaus in India. Checking your own credit report or credit score doesn’t impact your score, so check it without any worry. Further good news is that you can request a free copy of your credit report once in a calendar year from any of these four RBI approved credit bureaus. And if you find errors, you can dispute the errors at no cost to you. Read more about How and When to Dispute Your Credit Information Report here https://blog.crifhighmark.com/how-when-to-dispute-your-credit-information-report/

Once you get your credit reports, review them carefully. You can use the list below to check for common errors and make sure your credit reports are accurate and up to date.

Are Closed Accounts Still Open?

A closed account means you have positively paid back all the loan or credit card dues, and the account is not going to see any future activity. While an open account is an indication that you still have some amount to be paid back or you have the credit line still available to you for use. Having old lines, those which should have been closed otherwise, on your credit report showing as open will show higher number of lines and higher credit amount available to you. This can impact your credit score and therefore your eligibility for a loan. So, if the closed accounts are being shown as open, it is time you report this error with documentary proof so that you can get it rectified at the earliest.

Are All Accounts up to Date?

Do check the last reported date on all your accounts. If the account is marked closed, the last reported date will be same or closer to date of closure. If the account is marked open, the last reported date should be within last 30-60 days. If any of the records are not updated, contact the credit bureau as well as the bank concerned. An out of date record will not present correct picture to another bank and may also impact your credit score.

Is There an Account That Does Not Belong to You?

If you notice any credit account under your name that you are unaware of, report immediately and get it removed from your credit report. This could be because of wrong reporting by the bank or an error at the credit bureau. Take it up with the credit bureau, and it will help you get it resolved.

Is There a Record of an Account Being Shown as Delinquent?

Delinquent accounts are those accounts which are way past their dates of payment. Typically, delinquency is reported as number of days past due date (DPD) which are shown for last 36 months for every credit line. For credit card accounts, delinquency is reported when the minimum amount due is not paid. Lenders might give you a leeway of a few days before reporting the delinquency. More than 3 months of missing repayments will automatically declare your account as NPA (non-performing asset or non-performing loan). Such accounts can bring a major drop in your credit score and distrust in the eyes of all the lenders. If any account is showing overdue or delinquent (if more than 30 days), review them more carefully. If you have already made the repayment, you must inform the bank to report it to all credit bureaus as well.

Is the Same Debt Being Recorded More Than Once?

Did you know that 30% of your credit score is made of the debts you have taken? The number of debts you have taken matters a lot when it comes to your credit score. More debts in your name will result in difficulty in getting further credit. If your loan account or credit card has been reported twice then you will have fewer opportunities to avail credit. It is also likely that while 2 credit lines are shown, only one is being reflected with good credit history and another one as delinquent. Make sure to check your credit report every time you take a loan from the bank so that there are no such errors on your report.

Is it About Incorrect Credit Limits?

To maintain your credit score, the credit utilization ratio should be a point of significance to you. When it goes high it shows an individual’s higher dependence on credit. Makes sure the credit limit on your credit card is accurate and not lower than the actual limit. Report to Credit Bureaus like CRIF to rectify in case if it is reported wrongly.

Incorrect Balances in your Loan Accounts?

If a higher outstanding balance than actual is shown, you may lose out an opportunity to avail credit since the bank may assume you to have higher credit available with you than actual. Make sure correct loan account balances are reported in your credit report.

Are there any Identity Errors on your report?

Identity errors may lead to many more errors on your credit report and credit score. These occur because of wrong information reported by the bank, the mismatch between PAN and your name or due to identity theft.

• Wrong Information: When there is a mix-up in two customers at the bank end or at the credit bureau end, loan and credit card information pertaining to some other person may have been reported against your name. The mix up could be due to same phone numbers, or mix-up in PAN or similar names/addresses etc.

• Mismatch: This could be particularly possible if you have undergone a name change in your PAN account or use different forms of a name like only with initials for certain accounts and expanded forms in other accounts.

• Identity Fraud: Fraud on your report is the most serious concern. Fraud means that someone is using your personal information to open accounts in your name. If you suspect identity fraud on your report, you will need to alert the bank concerned and the credit information company. Once it is established as a fraud, it should also be reported to the local police.

Let’s Answer 5 Frequently Asked Questions About Credit Score!

Three digits that have the power to shape your world: your credit score. The higher the score the better are your chances of dreams becoming true. Not only you will have easy access to loans but will also be offered lower interest rate, which means taking the loan will cost you less overall and you could save a substantial amount over the course of a lifetime.

And when something impacts your life that much, don’t you think you should be familiar with it? The sad story is that tens of millions of Indians are taking a blind approach to their money. Everyone wants their finances to be in good shape, but only a few tend to work towards maintaining a good credit history.

Here we list down 5 important and basic questions about credit score to get you started:

1. What is on a credit report?
The short answer to that question is: A lot! A typical credit report will include personal identifying information: a list of credit accounts (including credit limit), type of account (credit card, home loan, auto loan, etc.), and your payment history on those accounts. Each of the four major credit reporting bureaus compiles data from sources such as banks, NBFCs etc that extend you credit. Based on all this data, companies may calculate a credit score to reflect your creditworthiness. Since each of the credit reporting bureaus provides a score, you may have at least four scores. Bits and pieces of your credit history may vary slightly among the four companies because not all businesses supply information to all three agencies. However, the broad picture of your credit history should be relatively consistent.

2. What Types of Information Can Impact Your Credit Scores?
The two most crucial factors that affect your credit score is your repayment of the loan and how timely you pay your EMIs and card dues. If you are a month late in paying your dues, then your credit score might drop by 80 points. Next up is, credit inquiries. They can affect your credit score in a major way. There are two types of credit inquiries, soft and hard. Soft Inquiries are harmless to your credit score but the hard inquiries that are often done by lenders before lending money to you can bring a change in your credit score even if you do not get the loan in the end.

Opening new credit accounts can or taking new loans also affect but it can be fixed with regular and timely repayments. Lenders evaluate the credibility of the borrower at their own discretion. They may use whichever scores they’d like and measure those scores on a scale that is unique to them. It’s also possible that they may not even consider credit scores at all but just the contents of the credit report.

3. Your Score Is Less Than 700. Now What?
Check your credit score yearly, at least to avoid surprises! With CRIF you are entitled to one free credit report every year. And no, your credit won’t take a blow if you do this – it’s considered a “soft” inquiry. If your credit score is lower than 700 then you should dig deep in your credit report and find out the reasons for bad credit score. Look at your credit card balances and credit utilization ratio. The closer you are to hitting your maximum limit, the more it may lower your score, so pay down those balances if you can. Check out for errors/information listed in the credit report not undertaken by you, in that case, you should immediately report to the credit bureau or the banks to update your information.

Abruptly closing your credit cards with a long credit history can affect your credit score in a negative way. How long you’ve been borrowing affects your score. The longer the better.

4. How long does a bad credit rating last?
Debts have a finite duration, and so does negative information that appears on your credit report. All negative information on the credit information after 7 years often start to value less for the credit score. Make sure all your payments and your credit activities are timely and regular to show stability in your credit behaviour and eventually pushing your credit score towards the good side.

5. Who Can See Your Credit Report?
Your credit report information is not available to the public and can be accessed only you’re your permission. When you apply for a loan and credit card then your permission is required as the lenders and banks need to investigate the information to determine your creditworthiness and your potential and ability to pay back the borrowed amount.

Now that we have explained the basics of Credit Score, wait no longer, follow these steps and start building a good credit history now!