How to update your new name with credit bureaus: a step-by-step guide

Bureaus do not fabricate information; they report what banks and NBFCs inform them. Ask each credit-card company, bank, housing-finance firm and fintech with which you have dealings to change your profile to the new name. Make use of the same proof across the board and request a service request number or written confirmation. Once lenders start reporting the new name in their monthly reports, bureaus can verify and update your report.

Pull your latest reports from all bureaus

Download latest reports from TransUnion CIBIL, Experian India, Equifax India and CRIF High Mark. Be aware of the control or ref number on each report and look for inconsistencies: your name in the profile, name variations or "also known as," and if any accounts continue to bear the old name.

Send a "personal details—name" correction with each bureau

Login to every bureau's dispute or update portal, select the personal-details category, and enter your new name as it appears on your PAN and Aadhaar. Upload clear scans of your proofs and mention the report control/reference number. If the portal asks you to flag specific accounts, select the ones that are currently showing the old name; otherwise, ask for a profile-level update so the change applies across the file.

Monitor, verify and escalate as needed

Bureaus typically verify your request with the reporting lender and resolve most disputes of personal details within approximately one billing cycle. Monitor email and SMS for inquiries, respond promptly, and re-download your reports to complete the repair. If an account still displays your old name after the bureau has settled the dispute, re-open the dispute and submit the lender's written acknowledgement—or complain to the grievance officer of the lender. For pending cases on formal escalation, you may approach the RBI Integrated Ombudsman with your correspondence record.

Have a paper trail and have name linkage

Save records of your old-name and new-name reports, proofs you mailed, and closure emails. Where possible, ask lenders to add an "also known as/previously known as" field to reduce potential future mismatches, especially if older loans and closed cards were booked under your old name.

Errors to be avoided

Do not miss the PAN and Aadhaar update; lenders and bureaus base their records on those. Do not send different spellings to different institutions; differences create duplicate profiles. Do not assume one bureau update will solve everything; you must complete it with all four of them.

FAQs

Do I have to pay to change my name with a bureau?

You generally don't pay to make changes in personal data through a bureau's dispute portal. You can pay for accessing a fresh report or an optional subscription, but changing itself is generally free.

Can the bureau file be updated without changing PAN or Aadhaar?

You can file a dispute, but it does not hold if your government IDs and lender reports still show the old name. Update PAN and Aadhaar first, then get lenders update; the bureau update will follow easily.

How long does the update take?

Personal-detail disputes are typically resolved within a few weeks after lenders confirm the update, but the time periods will vary by lender and reporting cycle. Re-download your reports regularly to confirm the result and keep the closure emails in your files.