Your credit score is a three-digit summary of how you have handled credit. Lenders use it — along with your income and existing EMIs — to decide whether to lend and at what rate. In India, scores from TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark range from 300 to 900.
What the numbers mean
| Score | What lenders typically see |
|---|---|
| 750–900 | Excellent — best rates and fastest approvals |
| 700–749 | Good — approval likely, rates may be slightly higher |
| 650–699 | Fair — fewer lenders, higher rates |
| Below 650 | Weak — secured loans (e.g. gold loans) are easier |
"NH" or "-1" means no history yet — not a bad score, just no data.
The factors that move your score
- Repayment history — the biggest factor. Even one missed EMI or card payment can hurt.
- Credit utilisation — try to keep credit-card balances below about 30% of your limit.
- Credit mix — a healthy blend of secured (home, auto) and unsecured (card, personal) credit helps.
- Hard enquiries — every formal loan application adds one. Many in a short time is a red flag.
- Length of history — older, well-managed accounts help, so think twice before closing your oldest card.
Your rights
RBI rules give you meaningful protections:
- You can get a free full credit report once a year from each credit bureau.
- Lenders now report data to bureaus every fortnight, so corrections and repayments reflect faster.
- Credit bureaus must alert you by SMS or email when your report is accessed.
- If a complaint about wrong data isn't resolved within 30 days, the bureau and lender must pay compensation for each day of delay.
A 90-day plan before you apply
- Week 1: Download your free report. Dispute any errors — wrong accounts, late payments you didn't make.
- Weeks 1–4: Set up auto-pay so nothing is ever late again.
- Weeks 2–8: Bring card utilisation down below 30%.
- Throughout: Don't apply for new credit. Settle any small overdue amounts in full rather than "settling" for less — a "settled" status hurts more than you might expect.
Checking your own score is a soft enquiry and never lowers it. Kredistar's eligibility checker doesn't touch your credit report either.
This article is for general information only and is not financial, legal or tax advice. Loan terms are set by the lender. Kredistar Finserv Pvt. Ltd. is a DSA and loan aggregator, not a lender.