Your mobile number has been verified via secret code.
Please wait while we set things up. This will take less than 60 seconds!
We are fetching your Credit Score
It'll take less than 60 seconds
A CIBIL score is an important factor that helps you get access to credit products like loan and credit cards. Lenders such as banks and other financial institutions prefer a CIBIL score above 750 for lending purposes. There are several factors that may affect the CIBIL score of an individual, such as your income, age, and job stability, among others.Read on to more detail about the considerable factors that affect your CIBIL score.
A CIBIL score is a numerical representation of your ability to repay the credit. It is a three-digit number that falls in the range of 300-900. A score closer to 900 can get you better deals on credit cards and loans. Majority of lenders like banks and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) prefer a CIBIL score of 750 and above.
TransUnion CIBIL credit bureau calculates CIBIL scores after taking into consideration several factors including payment history, credit type, the age of the credit, and other factors.
A CIBIL score is made up of four main factors:
| Payment History | 35% |
| Owe to lenders | 30% |
| Credit Type and Duration | 10% to 15% |
| Credit Mix | 10% |
Let’s take a look at some of the major factors that can affect your CIBIL score negatively:
Your payment history has the biggest influence on your score. It is important to pay your credit card bills and loan EMIs on time every month. As per a CIBIL analysis (reported by the Financial Express), a 30-day delinquency can reduce your score by 100 points. If you have multiple credit cards as well as loans, it is advised to set up reminders and alerts, to avoid missing payments or delaying them. Any missed or overdue payments reflect poorly on your score and suggest that you are not consistent with repaying credit.
One of the golden rules you should follow is to keep an eye on your credit utilisation ratio. It is the amount of credit used in proportion to the credit limit available to you. According to experts, you should ideally not exceed using 30% of your credit limit. For example, if your credit card limit is Rs.1 lakh, you should spend around Rs.30,000. If you have used over 50% of your credit limit, it can have a negative effect on your score. Having a high credit exposure will send a red flag to lenders as it indicates you are at a higher risk of defaulting.
You should always make sure to clear off your outstanding debts. When you have unpaid dues reflected on your credit report, it takes a toll on your score. It is advised to pay off the outstanding dues even if the amount is small.
A minimum amount due is a small portion of the principal that is outstanding every month. You may fall into a debt trap if you constantly pay only the minimum amount due. Rolling over the debt by paying only the minimum amount leads to the interest compounding on your outstanding balance. So, it is advised to pay your credit card bills in full. It also reflects poor repayment behaviour.
When you apply for a loan or a credit card, lenders will want to check your creditworthiness and they’ll do this by pulling out your credit report. This is called a hard inquiry. If you send out multiple applications, it will mean that multiple credit inquiries are occurring around the same time. These hard inquiries are reported and affect your score negatively. It will make you look credit hungry.
If your loan or credit card application has been rejected recently, it is advised to not apply for credit immediately. It is better to improve your CIBIL score and then apply again.
Your CIBIL report has a detailed record of your current as well as past credit accounts. If there are any errors in your report, it can hamper your score. So, if you any discrepancies in your report, you must get them rectified immediately.
These errors have to be rectified by your lenders only. CIBIL does not correct reports without lenders reporting the changes to be made.
Also, checking your credit report can also help you identify if you are a victim of an identity theft.
It is important to maintain a healthy balance of secured and unsecured loans. Home loans and auto loans are examples of secured loans while a credit card is an example of an unsecured loan. If you have a high number of only one type of credit, it can affect your score. Also, when you have a healthy mix of different types of loans, it suggests that you have experience in handling both different types of loans. This is considered desirable by lenders.
In simple terms, credit history means the total number of years that have passed since you have first opened a credit account. If you have a long credit history, it helps lenders take a sound decision at the time of offering you credit. It is better to focus on building a credit history in the earlier stage of life as, by the time you apply for a home or car loan, you will have a good record of credit transactions.
Credit cards are a great tool to build credit history. However, when you close your old accounts, you end up losing a long credit history associated with it. Therefore, if you have used the card for a substantial number of years, it is advised to keep it open as long as possible, if feasible. Consider closing a card that is relatively new.
It is important to check your CIBIL score from time to time. Make sure your score is above 750 to enjoy better access to credit products. You are entitled to receive one detailed credit report for free from CIBIL per calendar year.
The practice of delayed payments of debts impacts your credit score negatively and significantly drops your credit score.
Clearing payments constitute 35% of your credit score. Missing payments are one of the habits that influences your credit score negatively.
Interest paid on loan or on credit card transactions are not considered while calculating your credit score, and hence, it has no impact on your credit rating.
The bank account details do not reflect on your credit report and hence, it has no direct impact on the credit score. But the lenders do keep track of your spendings, assets and other information related to bank account balance to figure out whether you are capable fo taking debts.
No, debit card transactions such as withdrawal from debit accounts do not affect your credit score. This is because debit card transactions are not a form of credit, and hence, it does not get reported to credit bureaus and does not impact the credit score.
Some of the significant factors that help raise your credit score are clearing payments on time; avoid creating new accounts frequently; paying the revolving account balances; tracking and catching-up the past due accounts; and create your credit file.
Paying off debts affects certain parameters such as credit utilisation ratio, credit mix, or the length of your credit history. Your credit score may drop after clearing off your debts on time if these parameters are affected.
Yes, overdraft affects the credit score negatively if you fail to deal with it properly. Going beyond the overdraft limit will prove to the lenders that you are financially struggling, and it will bring down your credit score.
Standing order and insufficient funds in your account can impact your credit score negatively. This will not only affect your credit rating but will also make future borrowings way more difficult.
The best way to improve your credit score naturally is to improve your payment history by clearing all your payments on time. Try to at least clear the minimum amount in case you are unable to pay the entire amount.
Yes, there have been cases reported where people have had their loan applications rejected despite having performed well with debt in the past. This is because banks and lenders sometimes erroneously give the wrong information to credit bureaus, who use the wrong information to generate credit scores. It is possible to have this information corrected by contacting the bank and the credit information bureau.
Yes, employers are considering the CIBIL score of a candidate as a measure of stability and reliability. Having a good CIBIL score these days not only helps you get a loan, but also a job.
If the company you work for has defaulted on loans and has dishonoured debt in the past, lenders will have blacklisted it. If you apply for a loan and mention that you’re working for a blacklisted company, lenders will reject your application on the basis that you don’t have a stable job. This is no fault of your own, but lenders will tend to look at applicants who pose the least risk in terms of dishonouring the loan. This is a rejection by association.
TransUnion CIBIL is one of the leading credit information companies in India. The company maintains one of the largest collections of consumer credit information in the world. CIBIL Score plays a key role in the lives of consumers. Banks and other lenders check the CIBIL Score of the applicants before approving their loan or credit card application. Consumers can visit the official website of CIBIL to check their CIBIL Score and Report. CHECK YOUR CIBIL SCORE now.
Display of any trademarks, tradenames, logos and other subject matters of intellectual property belong to their respective intellectual property owners. Display of such IP along with the related product information does not imply BankBazaar's partnership with the owner of the Intellectual Property or issuer/manufacturer of such products.
