In April 2019, I had applied for a credit card and, to my utter surprise and dismay, it was rejected. I made some enquires and I was told, rejection was due to low credit score. I was in a state of shock because the last time, I checked my credit score, in 2018, it was 800 plus, which is classified as excellent credit score. I have 100% record of making timely payments of all bills, credit card and loan dues since beginning of my career, spanning almost 25 years. I have no outstanding loans, delays or defaults. I have cleared all my loans before time. I checked with friends in the credit industry and nobody could point out the exact reason for lowered credit score.
As you know, your credit score, a 3-digit number generated by credit information companies (CICs), in the range of 300 to 900, with 900 being the best, is supposed to decide whether you will get a loan and at what interest rate.
Everything like a credit card or a home loan is dependent on your credit score and, hence, it is imperative that the scores are calculated and reported correctly.
I tried to download my free annual credit report and I could find no link on TransUnion CIBIL Ltd (CIBIL)’s website to do so. A circular issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with number
DBR.CID.BC.No.11/20.16.042/2016-17 dated 1 September 2016 mandates CICs like CIBIL to give one credit report annually to individuals annually in the same manner it is given to lenders. The lenders get downloadable copy of credit information report, however,
CIBIL consistently refuses to give the report in downloadable format, the way it is available to lenders!
(When you try to download free credit report, CIBIL directs you to this page for paid reports)
When I logged on CIBIL's portal, it came as rude shock to me to see my credit score has gone down to 662. On checking various credit card accounts (my only outstanding credits), I could see no delay or default in payment reported by any creditor.
I tried writing to CIBIL regarding my credit score (it is quite a task to write to CIBIL, a technology-intensive company) and I was told that Axis Bank has reported a delay in payment due to which my credit score has been downgraded.
However, the data submitted by Axis Bank card to CIBIL does not show any delay or default. When I challenged the response of CIBIL, I saw that my score has improved dramatically in few days!
The moot question is: Can just one instance of delay lead to such a dramatic drop in credit score? One can have temporary liquidity issues and lenders do not miss a chance to profit from such opportunities by charging late fees or interest. Delay does not constitute default.
While credit scoring models are proprietary, RBI has given some pointers on data to be used to generate credit score. One-off delay is certainly not a reason for change in credit score.
Axis Bank categorically denied reporting any delay or default to CIBIL. They even provided ‘glance report’ which indicates no delay or default on my part.
However, CIBIL is not willing to disclose how and what Axis Bank had reported as delayed payment . CIBIL was consistent in its response that your score will improve with timely payments. I have a 25-year history of timely payments. It is clear that CIBIL has goofed up the scoring and data collected methodology. There is a flaw in its system.
Moneylife made multiple attempts to get an explanation from CIBIL about how the credit score could drop to 662 for no reason and jump back around 800 immediately after raising dispute. But despite holding back this article for more than a week, we have not heard from CIBIL.
When I took report of another credit information company, my score was 890 out of 900, which is as close to a perfect score one can get. While, there can be some marginal differences in scores, there cannot be wide variation in scores given by CICs, using the same data provided by lenders.
I decided to check the patterns in credit score to see if the model used by CIBIL gives same result for different category of consumers and the results were inconsistent:
(a) My wife, has similar, timely repayment history over long period of time and her score is below 800.
(b) My mother has very nominal credit utilisation on single credit card and a very brief history of credit usage, has a score, which is in high 800s.
(c) A friend, who has very high credit utilisation and timely payment history on multiple credit cards & other loans, has a score similar to my mother’s score.
(d) Another friend has his CIBIL score in lower range, due to default reported on credit, which he closed in 2009.
CIBIL does not give credence to any mismatch in data reported by individuals.
The data reported by credit institutions is taken as gospel truth. Maybe we need a change in regulation. My experience of past two months with CIBIL is:
- Keep checking your credit score and immediately report any deviations to CIBIL/other credit information companies.
- CIBIL credit score model is far from perfect. Maybe true for other CICs also. RBI should mandate audit of algorithms used for credit score of all CICs.
- There are several websites offering credit reports. Do not buy credit reports. The CICs are mandated to give one report free every calendar year. Persist with CIBIL and other agencies.
- Always maintain financial discipline. Your future financial health is dependent on what you do today.
(Mumbai-based Girish Mittal is a Right to Information (RTI) activist. He was one of the petitioners in the Supreme Court against RBI for making public inspection reports of banks under the RTI Act.)
Editor's Note: CIBIL has responded to our emails and reminders on 3 September 2019 at 10.37pm. Here is their response...
"With reference to the consumer grievance cited, the CIBIL Score change in this particular instance was a result of an issue with the consumer's credit data, which we identified and corrected immediately. There was no issue in the score computation methodology and change in the score was the result of the data correction. As the issue pertained to the consumer's personal credit information, we contacted the consumer and responded to his queries directly. The quality, accuracy and security of the data we collect and maintain is paramount to us and we continue to enhance our processes, systems and technology to provide reliable solutions and services to our members and consumers.
CIBIL score is calculated based on the individuals credit history of past 24 months and is dependent on a combination of factors like credit utilization; type, amount and duration on credit facilities availed; month-on-month credit payment behavior; delinquencies and defaults; written-off/ settlements on credit facilities and also the credit history on loans guaranteed or co-owned by the consumer. The score is dynamic and will change based on the individual's month-on-month credit activity and payment behavior."
By writing this blog over here and raising the required questions , shall not solve the purpose at all. We all saw in the recent past that how the Corporate world has hand in gloves with different agencies of our Government.
Indian Financial world is hugely need restructuring we all know.
All of you who are raised valid questions here, the point is that have we took time and take our points to right department to concern person to resolve? The answer is NO.
Until we all stand up and raised our issues to concern authorities, they are unable to resolve these issues.
I lived in both the world from where this CIBIL thing came, but their social security structure is very different from India. When it arrives in India, it is like a cross breed between an ass and a horse.
Hence the time has come to make a common platform where we all get together and make a formal presentation to the government in the official procedure.
I am sure our government will understand and some kind of solution may come.
bullets point:
1. It is a huge Indian Public data depositary for example like Adhar institution. Hence it can't be given to private operators to handle it. It is for the safeguard of Indian Tax Payer citizens.
2. How can a Private agency decide Indian Tax Payer's credibility? Whereas all Indian citizen pays taxes to our government.
3. What is the authenticity of the data they are capturing, because it is one-way traffic.
4. When anything deals with the Indian public. The office supposes to come under RTI. Now since Cheif Justice of India's office is under RTI even and I am sure CIBIL office is not above the Cheif Justice of India.
If I missed out on any points please do let me know.
Credit score based lending in a so called mature Economy & Banking country could not prevent the US Sub-Prime Crisis in 2008
The company hides behind on-line portal, mail ids etc; Common man suffers in hands of Bankers and (their) agents
If any institution reports to CIBIL or any such entity, a copy of the same should be mailed and sent by post to the address available with the Institution in an Automated mode.
How defaulting Corporates ( used to ) get to Evergreen their loans ?? Any CIBIL for corporates or only small fries, individual lenders ?
Is CIBIL score Mandatory for borrowing, under which Law ?
CIBIL should be held responsible for wrong scores and also penalised heavily to bring in Accountability - It operates like an opprtunistic entity which is not answerable to the individual whose data they store and make money out of.
Banks etc should be mandated to take 'Express customer consent' to share their data and information' - with CIBIL.
It is infringement of privacy of citizens of the country that Banks share their data with CIBIL in an auto mode, without curating, without consent.
Have escalated to Satish Pillai, the CEO,TransUnionCIBIL it has been 10 days, but till date there has been no rectification. I have access to my CIBIL Report having paid for a six month subscription. I too discovered the drop in my CIBIL Score by chance, though the drop was marginal, but it did disturb me greatly. I too take pride on my credit history, payment record and vintage. I have taken up the issue with ICICI Bank also, they too seem quite lazy and tardy in providing quick resolution. I remember with great gratitude when Ms Sucheta Dalal and Moneylife had taken up on my behalf, years ago with RBI, CIBIL and the CEO/MD Deepak Puri of HDFC Bank for mis -reporting a default. I still recall the nonchalant response of Mr Puri.
I get the sense that the blame lies with CIBIL software/ process, and they seem to be totally unconcerned and indifferent. There must be a provision to penalise these CIC for such frivolous acts which can be quite traumatic.
May I request MLF to take the issue of Mis-reporting on our behalf.
for loan. headache gone! i will not be tempted to borrow!
so good!! i can make it higher, but not now at least!