Credit score and credit report: what they are

When you take a loan or a credit card, the lender regularly sends details of the account and your repayments to credit information companies (often called credit bureaus). From these details each company keeps a credit report about you and can work out a credit score.

Lenders look at your report and score, along with your income and their own rules, when you apply for credit. Knowing what is in your report helps you spot mistakes and understand how lenders may see you.

Last reviewed on 19 October 2026.

Credit report and credit score: the difference

A credit report is the record itself: your identifying details, each loan and card account, the amounts, whether each monthly payment was made on time, and the enquiries lenders made when you applied for credit.

A credit score is a number that a credit information company calculates from the data in its report, to summarise how likely it thinks a borrower is to repay. Each company uses its own model and scale, so your scores from different companies can differ.

Who keeps credit reports in India

Credit information companies are registered with the Reserve Bank of India. RBI's list as on 18 August 2026 names four: CRIF Credit Information Services, Equifax Credit Information Services, Experian Credit Information Company of India and TransUnion CIBIL. A lender may report to one or more of them, so you can have a report with each.

What may influence a credit score

Credit information companies do not publish the exact weight of each factor, and models differ. These are the kinds of information scores commonly draw on:

  • Payment history: whether EMIs and card bills were paid by the due date. Late payments are recorded as days past due, and defaults, settlements and write-offs are recorded too.
  • Credit utilisation: how much of your credit card limits you are using.
  • Length of credit history: how long your accounts have been open.
  • Credit mix: whether you have both secured credit (such as a home or car loan) and unsecured credit (such as cards or personal loans).
  • Recent enquiries: how often you have applied for new credit, especially many applications in a short time.

If you have no credit history

Someone who has never had a loan or card may have no score, or a report with little in it. That is not the same as a bad history, but some lenders may ask for more documents or offer smaller amounts at first.

What the RBI rules say

  • Every credit information company must give you one free full credit report, including your credit score, once in each calendar year, after checking your identity. [1]
  • Credit information companies send an SMS or email alert when a lender or other specified user accesses your credit report, if they have your contact details. [2]
  • Lenders send an SMS or email alert when they report a default or days past due on your account to credit information companies. [2]
  • From 1 January 2025 lenders update credit information at least every fortnight, so a payment or correction can take a few weeks to appear in your report. [3]

Rules referred to

  1. RBI circular: Free Annual Credit Report to Individuals (opens in a new tab) (RBI/2016-17/58, 1 September 2016)
    Each credit information company gives an individual one free full credit report, including the credit score, once a calendar year, electronically, after checking identity.
  2. RBI circular: Strengthening of customer service rendered by Credit Information Companies and Credit Institutions (opens in a new tab) (RBI/2023-24/73, 26 October 2023)
    Alerts when your report is accessed and when a default is reported, reasons for rejecting a correction request, a prominent free-report link on credit information companies' websites.
  3. RBI circular: Frequency of reporting of credit information by Credit Institutions to Credit Information Companies (opens in a new tab) (RBI/2024-25/60, 8 August 2024)
    From 1 January 2025 lenders report credit information at least fortnightly (as on the 15th and the last day of the month).

Finobazaar read these rules on rbi.org.in on 19 October 2026. Rules change: check the current text on the RBI website.

Important limitations

  • Scoring models are owned by the credit information companies and can change. The factors above describe the kinds of information used, not a formula.
  • This guide is general information. It does not promise any change in your credit score, an approval or a particular result.

Official resources

Addresses checked on 19 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Can Finobazaar show my credit score?

No. Finobazaar is not connected to any credit information company and cannot see your report or score. You can get your free annual report, with your score, directly from each credit information company.

Why are my scores from different companies not the same?

Each company has its own data, which depends on which lenders report to it, and its own scoring model and scale. Differences between companies are normal; check that each report is correct.

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