Found an error in your credit report? Here’s how to correct it

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Your credit report is like a financial résumé. Lenders use it when you apply for loans or credit cards. If it reflects wrong information of a missed payment you never made, a loan account that isn't yours, or an inquiry you didn't authorize, your credit-score may drop, meaning you will have to pay higher interest or even get rejected. As one recent guide puts it, errors in credit reports are a real risk for anyone seeking credit.

Request your free annual credit report from one of the major credit bureaus in India: TransUnion CIBIL Limited, CRIF High Mark Credit Information Services, among others. Go line by line: check your personal details, account status, enquiries, outstanding balances, and see if any closed accounts still appear as open. If anything doesn't look quite right-mark it.

When you find a problem, gather proof. This may be bank statements, loan settlement letters, cancelled cheques, or official letters showing the correct details. Documentation helps your claim. Credit bureaus and lenders depend on records when investigating your dispute.

You go to the bureau's website and fill out a dispute form. You would point out which entry is wrong, why you think it's wrong, and attach the proof that you've collected. In India, this generally can be done online. There is no fee for this dispute process.

If the error is from any bank or financial institution, for instance if a loan account shows wrong status or belongs to someone else, you may also contact that institution. Ask them to verify and correct the data with the bureau. Keep any communications for your records.

Once a dispute is filed, the credit bureau is required to investigate-in most cases, about 30 days-and contact the lender for a response. You will be contacted with the result after completion. Download your credit report again, afterward, to make sure the correction has been made.

Yes, even after your dispute is resolved, be sure to check your credit reports at least once a year, or whenever you apply for new credit. That way, if errors do recur or new ones appear, you can catch them before the problem gets bigger.

A good credit report opens the path for better loans and lower interest rates. Errors may seem tiny, but they can hurt your credit-score and your future borrowing. Download a copy of your report, look closely at it, file disputes with due diligence, and monitor it regularly. This way, you will protect your financial reputation and enhance your chances to get credit when it's most needed.