Experian vs CRIF High Mark Score

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Credit bureaus prepare credit reports and use them to calculate your credit score. Each credit bureau typically has its own algorithm that it uses to calculate the score. There are four primary credit bureaus in India – CRIF High Mark, Experian, TransUnion CIBIL, and Equifax.

Each of these bureaus has its own credit score as well, all of which are quite widely used in India. Credit card holders should be familiar with the details of both the Experian score and the CRIF High Mark score.

This way, you can compare them with each other from various perspectives and improve your creditworthiness.

Understanding Credit Scores

A credit score is a three-digit number that reflects how dependable you are in repaying borrowed funds. Lenders such as banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) use this score to determine:

Whether they can extend a loan or credit card to you
The amount of credit they are willing to offer
The interest rate applicable to your loan or credit card

This score is based on your credit history, which includes:

Timely repayments
Total outstanding debt
Credit utilisation ratio

Credit bureaus are responsible for collecting and analysing your financial information. In India, the major credit bureaus include:

CIBIL (TransUnion CIBIL)
Experian
Equifax
CRIF High Mark

Each bureau assigns a score, typically ranging between 300 and 900. A higher score increases your likelihood of receiving loans or credit cards with favourable terms.

Experian Credit Score

Experian Score is a credit score that assesses an individual's creditworthiness. Ranging from 300 to 850, a higher score indicates better credit health. Experian utilises diverse data, including payment history, credit utilisation, and account mix, to formulate this score.

Lenders often rely on it to evaluate an individual's ability to manage credit responsibly.

CRIF High Mark Credit Score

CRIF High Mark Score is a credit score provided by CRIF High Mark, a leading credit bureau in India. Ranging from 300 to 900, a higher score indicates better creditworthiness, enhancing the likelihood of loan approvals and favourable interest rates.

Experian vs CRIF High Mark: Key Differences

Each credit bureau has its own network of lenders, banks, and NBFCs that provide credit information to it. Thus, depending on the differences between the networks that Experian and CRIF High Mark have, the raw information they use to calculate their scores can be different. Here are some other major differences between Experian and CRIF High Mark scores you should know about:

Parameters	Experian	CRIF High Mark
Year of Establishment in India	2009	2007
Credit Score Range	300 - 850	300 - 900
Ideal score	800 and above	700 and above
Cost	The first report is free as per RBI regulations. You can get a subscription worth ₹499 and access to your credit report, score simulator, and credit monitoring facilities.	The first report is free as per RBI regulations. Post that, one credit report + credit score costs roughly ₹399, and without a score, ₹117. You can opt for Monthly (₹399), Half-Yearly (₹580), or Yearly (₹900) plans with unlimited access, downloads, and score analysis. A One-Time Report is ₹399, and the Enhanced Pro Report is ₹550.
Dispute Resolution	To raise a complaint, log in to your Experian account online, or send an email to Experian India at support@in.experian.com.	Send your complaints to consumerrelations@crifhighmark.com using your registered email address. Include your Report ID and outline the details of your concern in the email.

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Experian or CRIF High Mark score, which is better?

It is not the case that there is a substantial difference in the importance of these two credit scores:

Both have an RBI licence
Both have a very large network of lenders, banks, and NBFCs that provide them with credit information
Both are widely used on a regular basis
The entities are well-regarded and considered to be trustworthy

Thus, there is no real basis to say that one of these scores is “better” than the other. Both are equally valid, and both are useful for lenders and credit applicants.

Why is my CRIF High Mark score different from Experian?

This variation comes from differences in each bureau’s scoring model and interpretation of your credit history. Each bureau applies its own parameters to assess credit behaviour and assign a score accordingly.

Which credit score is more reliable in India?

Experian and CRIF High Mark are both recognised by the RBI and the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Therefore, both are reliable. However, CIBIL remains the most widely used credit bureau in India.

How often are CRIF High Mark and Experian scores updated?

Lenders report new credit activity to credit bureaus approximately every 30 to 45 days. This reporting schedule ensures credit reports remain updated on a regular basis.

Are Experian and CRIF High Mark the same?

No, they are different credit bureaus, although both perform the same function of generating credit reports. Each bureau uses a distinct scoring model, so the scores may vary slightly between them.