Last updated 12 Nov 2026
Yes. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) requires every credit information company, also called a credit bureau, to give you one full credit report, including your credit score, once in a year at no cost to you. You request it from each bureau separately, so you can see up to four reports a year. Request it from the bureau's own official website, never through a link in a message or an advertisement.
The rule has applied since 2017 and now sits in the RBI's Credit Information Companies Directions, 2025, which say each company shall provide "one Free Full Credit Report (FFCR) including credit score, once, at any time, during a year". The earlier RBI notification of 1 September 2016 introduced it and counts the year from January to December. Access is electronic, on request, and only after the company has confirmed who you are.
LOANZ 360 does not provide credit reports or sell credit scores. This guide explains your right so you can use it before you apply for any loan, from any lender.
The right at a glance
What the RBI rule gives you
| Point | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| What you get | One full credit report with your credit score, not a summary |
| How often | Once in each calendar year, per bureau, at any time you choose |
| From whom | Each credit information company that holds your record |
| Format | Electronic, after the bureau confirms your identity |
| Extra reports | A second report in the same year is on the bureau's own terms, which it sets |
The wording is "once, at any time, during a year", so you do not have to wait for a particular month. If you ask a bureau in January and again in July, the second request is outside the entitlement.
Which bureaus hold your record
The RBI keeps a list of credit information companies licensed in India: CRIF, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion CIBIL. Lenders may report to one, two or all four. The same loan can therefore look slightly different in each report. This is why many people request all four reports, one from each bureau each year, in a planned order.
A simple routine is to request one bureau's report every three months. You then see a fresh report each quarter without using any bureau's annual entitlement twice.
How to get your free report from each bureau
- Open the bureau's official website by typing the address yourself or by following the link from the RBI list above. Do not use search advertisements.
- Find the option for your annual credit report. Bureaus show it separately from their paid products, so read each page before you pay anything.
- Enter your name, date of birth, PAN and mobile number exactly as in your records. Your PAN is the main key that links your loans.
- Confirm your identity. Expect a one-time code to your mobile or email, and sometimes questions drawn from your own loan history.
- Download the report and keep a copy. Do not share the file with anyone who contacts you first.
If a bureau offers the annual report only after you buy a plan, or asks for card details for it, stop and write to the bureau's grievance contact. The rule gives you the report on request after authentication.
How to read your credit report
A report has five parts. Work through them in order with your loan papers and bank statements nearby.
Parts of a credit report
| Section | What to check |
|---|---|
| Personal details | Name spelling, date of birth, PAN, addresses, phone numbers and employer. An old or wrong address is a common reason lenders cannot match you. |
| Account summary | Every loan and credit card, with the lender, account type, opening date, sanctioned amount and current balance |
| Payment history | Month-by-month status. Look for "days past due" entries and any account marked written off, settled or suspended |
| Enquiries | Each time a lender checked your report for an application, with the date. Many in a short time can lower your score |
| Credit score | A three-digit number summarising the report. Scales differ between bureaus, so compare the trend, not the digits across bureaus |
A worked example
A salaried teacher in Pune opens her report from one bureau. She sees a personal loan she closed two years ago still shown as active with a balance of ₹40,000. She also sees a credit card she never opened. These are two separate problems. The first is a reporting delay by the lender. The second may signal identity misuse and needs a faster response, including a complaint to the card issuer.
Quick checks that catch most problems
- Is every account yours? Match each against a statement or sanction letter.
- Are closed loans marked closed, with a zero balance?
- Are any payments shown late that you paid on time? Compare with your bank statement.
- Do the enquiries match applications you made?
- Is your PAN correct on every line? A single wrong digit can split your history across two profiles.
What to do if you find an error
Raise a dispute with the bureau, using the dispute option on its official website. The bureau contacts the lender that supplied the data, and the lender must confirm or correct it. Keep the reference number and screenshots.
The RBI Directions set a clock. A complaint not resolved within 30 calendar days of filing entitles you to compensation of ₹100 for each calendar day of delay, credited to your bank account within five working days of resolution. Matters already before a court or a consumer commission fall outside this framework. Read paragraph 41 of the Directions for the exact conditions.
Dispute steps and expected timeline
| Step | What you do | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | File the dispute with the bureau and attach proof | A reference number on the same day |
| 2 | The bureau asks the lender to verify | The lender furnishes corrected data within 21 days under the Credit Information Companies Rules |
| 3 | The bureau updates your report or gives written reasons | Within 30 calendar days of your complaint |
| 4 | The bureau is late, or rejects without reasons | Claim the daily compensation and write to the lender's nodal grievance officer |
| 5 | Still unresolved | Complain to the RBI Integrated Ombudsman online |
Our borrower rights and grievance guide and the grievance page explain how to escalate to the lender.
How long corrections take to show
Under the Directions, lenders send fresh data to the bureaus several times a month (as on the 9th, 16th, 23rd and last day of each month). A loan you closed today may therefore take a few weeks to show as closed. When you plan to apply, check your report at least a month after the last change in any loan, so the report you see is the report a lender will see.
Checking your own report does not lower your score
When you request your own report, it is recorded as a consumer enquiry. It does not lower your score. A lender checking your report as part of your application is a different kind of enquiry. This is why LOANZ 360 compares your details with each partner lender's published eligibility criteria before any application goes to a lender. This helps avoid unnecessary credit enquiries; too many lender checks in a short time can lower your score. Read more in what a credit score and report mean and the glossary entries for credit report and hard enquiry.
Staying safe while you check
- Use only a bureau's official website. Many scam pages copy bureau logos and ask for payment to "fix" a score.
- No one can delete correct negative entries for a payment. Accurate information stays for the period the rules allow.
- Never share the one-time code with a caller, even one who says they work for a bureau.
- Store the downloaded report safely. It holds your PAN, addresses and every account number.
When to check, and how to use the report before a loan
Check your report two to three months before a large application such as a home loan, so you have time to dispute errors, clear small overdue amounts and reduce card balances. Before a smaller application, a gap of a month is usually enough. Then use the eligibility calculator and the FOIR calculator to see how your income and obligations may look to a lender.
Frequently asked questions
Is the annual credit report really at no cost?
The RBI rule says the full credit report with your score is given once a year without charge, on request, after identity confirmation. Bureaus also sell monitoring plans and extra reports. Read each page and choose the annual option unless you want the paid extras.
Do I get a report from each bureau?
Yes. The entitlement applies to each credit information company that holds your record. If all four hold a record for you, you may request four reports in a year, one from each.
Does checking my own report lower my credit score?
No. Your own request is recorded as an enquiry for your information and does not lower your score. A lender checking your report for an application is a different enquiry and can affect it.
What if a bureau says it has no record of me?
You may be new to credit, or your details may not match. Try again with the PAN and date of birth exactly as on your card. If you have never had a loan or card, a missing record is normal.
How long does a dispute take?
The RBI Directions set 30 calendar days from filing, after which compensation of ₹100 a day applies for delay. Keep your reference number and write to the lender's grievance officer if progress stalls.
Can LOANZ 360 give me my credit report?
No. LOANZ 360 does not provide credit reports. Request yours from the bureaus directly. LOANZ 360 compares your details with lender criteria and prepares an internal credit assessment summary before any lender sees the file.
Which bureau should I check first?
Start with the bureau your lenders most often use. Your current lender can tell you which bureau it reports to. Over a year, request from each one in turn.
Related reading: Credit score and credit report guide, Loan eligibility and FOIR, Missed EMI consequences, Borrower rights and grievance, Loan settlement versus closure, Digital lending safety, Credit score glossary entry, Settled versus written off, Eligibility calculator.