Credit Score

A credit score or CIBIL score, is a 3-digit numerical score representing your creditworthiness. CIBIL score ranges from 300 – 900, where 900 is the highest.  This score indicates how well you manage your credit. In simple terms, this score helps lenders determine whether you will be able to repay the loan in the given tenure or not. Higher the score, higher are your chances of loan or card approval.

A credit bureau calculates this credit score depending on your credit history and mix, among other factors. The most common bureau in India is TransUnion CIBIL. Apart from that, CRIF High Mark, Experian and Equifax are a few other bureaus responsible for calculating credit scores in India.

How to Check My CIBIL Score

You can check your CIBIL score through Bajaj Markets for free. You simply need to follow these steps to check your free CIBIL score:

Steps to Check Free CIBIL Score Through Bajaj Markets

• Step 1: Visit the CIBIL Score product page. You will find a form at the top of the page.

• Step 2: Enter a few personal details, such as your employment type, name, PAN, mobile number, date of birth and more

• Step 3: Agree to the terms and conditions.

• Step 4: Click on 'PROCEED WITH OTP'.

• Step 5: Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.

Upon verification of details, you will be able to view your free credit score. You will also receive a free credit report.

What are the Details Required to Check CIBIL Score

To check your CIBIL score, you must provide some basic details. These include:

• Your personal information, such as name, address, date of birth, mobile number and more

• Type of employment, i.e., whether you are salaried or self-employed

• Your monthly income or annual turnover

• Your PAN

Why is your CIBIL Score Important

In a nutshell, your credit score provides a snapshot of your credit health. It indicates the lenders and lets them understand whether you are a responsible borrower or not. Considering these parameters, knowing your credit score is crucial because:

1. It helps you know your credit status

When you receive your credit report, you get to know your standing pertaining to your credit. It is a summary of your past and present credit transactions. By checking this score at regular intervals, you can avoid any discrepancies and work towards improving your score.

2. It makes you eligible for loans

This is yet another importance of credit score. Lenders usually consider a good CIBIL score as one of the primary eligibility factors for loans. In this regard, a credit score of 750 and above is considered ideal. Thus, if you maintain a good credit score, your chances of availing a loan become higher.

CIBIL Score Range 

*Note that the CIBIL score range in the above-mentioned table is indicative and may vary from one bureau to another.

Click to check more details about different CIBIL Score Range.

Will Repeated CIBIL Inquiry Affect my CIBIL Score

There are two types of CIBIL inquiries, namely:

• Hard inquiry

• Soft inquiry

When you check your credit report, it is considered a soft inquiry, whereas when a credit card issuer or a lender checks your credit report, it is called a hard inquiry. Typically, soft inquiries do not hamper your credit score. However, if done over a short span, multiple hard inquiries can significantly hurt your CIBIL score.

What are the Benefits of a Good Credit Score?

Maintaining a healthy credit score is beneficial for borrowers due to the following reasons:

• One of the primary advantages of a good credit score is that it increases your eligibility to avail of loans. Some financial institutions might even offer you pre-approved offers if you have a high credit score.

• With a high credit score, lenders might offer you a loan with a lower interest rate. This is because you have already established that you are a responsible borrower.

• Apart from the lowered interest rate, you might ask your lender to increase the loan tenure.

How is Credit Score Calculated?

Credit bureaus consider several factors before calculating your credit score. Here are a few factors that affect your credit score:

• History of loan repayment

Timely loan repayment can boost your credit score significantly. At the same time, if you default on your loan repayments, your credit score will fall. 

• Age of credit history

The age of your credit history is another crucial factor affecting your CIBIL score. If you have availed of credit cards or loans for a long time and have repaid them consistently, you will have a high credit score.

• Credit utilisation ratio

It is the percentage of the credit limit that you use every month. Ideally, you should not use more than 30% of your credit card's limit to maintain a healthy credit score.

Other factors affecting your CIBIL score are:

• Hard inquiries

• Credit mix

Why is your Credit Score Low?

Your credit score might be low due to various reasons, such as:

• Irregular credit card or loan repayment

• Missed EMI payments

• No credit history

• Too many unsecured loans

• Multiple hard inquiries

• The discrepancy in credit report

How to Improve Your Credit Score?

If you have a low CIBIL score, you do not need to worry, as there are a few ways through which you can improve it. They include:

• Pay your dues

This is the most important step to improving your credit score. Consider paying all your debts on time to improve your credit score gradually.

• Review your credit report at regular intervals

Checking your credit report at least once a year helps you keep a tab on your open and closed credit accounts. In addition, it also helps you address any discrepancies.

• Avoid taking too many loans at the same time.

Such behaviour depicts that you are credit hungry and negatively impacts your credit score.

• Maintain a good credit mix

A mix of unsecured and secured loans shows that you can handle both types of loans. This increases your creditworthiness.

Why Do Lenders Check Credit Scores?

The credit score is a common eligibility parameter when you apply for loans. Having said that, when lenders run a credit check, they try to assess what kind of a borrower you are. In this regard, your credit history helps them know how well you have managed loans and credit cards in the past. 

Thus, irregular debt payments and maxed-out credit cards might pose you as a risky borrower, hampering your creditworthiness.

How do you Check your CIBIL Score with an Aadhaar Card?

While you can provide your Aadhaar Card for checking CIBIL score as an ID proof on the CIBIL website, at present, it is not possible to check your CIBIL score using Aadhaar Card only. Since your credit score is linked to your PAN card, you need to provide your PAN to check this score.

Difference between Credit Reports, Credit Scores and CIBIL Scores

Credit score and CIBIL score exhibit the same definition. However, the credit score that TransUnion CIBIL provides is called the CIBIL score. Apart from that, you can check your credit score through other bureaus, which include Experian, Equifax and more. 

Now, a CIBIL score is different from a report, given the fact that CIBIL or credit score is just the numerical representation of your creditworthiness. On the other hand, a credit report contains comprehensive credit details.

Why Should You Check Your Credit Score via Bajaj Markets?

Bajaj Markets allows you to check your credit score for free by following a few simple steps. You simply need to visit the official website and navigate to the check your CIBIL score section. The process is extremely simple and convenient.

Moreover, since TransUnion CIBIL powers the function, you can stay assured of the data being authentic.

List of Credit Bureaus in India

The RBI provides licences to four credit bureaus to operate in India. They are:

• TransUnion CIBIL

• Experian

• Equifax

• CRIF Highmark

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