Checking your credit score and spotting suspicious inquiries

Updated: November 20, 2025 03:03

Image Source: Mint

Regularly checking your credit score and report helps spot suspicious “hard” inquiries, fix errors, and guard against identity fraud. In India, you can access at least one free report annually from each RBI‑licensed bureau. Review accounts, limits, and recent inquiries, then dispute inaccuracies promptly to protect eligibility for loans and cards.

How to check your credit score and report

You can obtain your credit score and report directly from RBI‑licensed bureaus (TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax, CRIF High Mark) and aggregator platforms that provide instant digital access. Aim for quarterly checks, and at minimum, claim your annual free report from each bureau to catch discrepancies early and maintain accuracy.

When reviewing, confirm your personal details, account statuses, credit limits, repayment history, and any new inquiries. Early detection of mismatches or unknown entries reduces the risk of score damage and potential fraud exposure, keeping your loan and card eligibility intact.

Key highlights

Free report access:

Claim at least one free credit report per year from each bureau; stagger requests to monitor throughout the year.

Know inquiries types:

Hard inquiries (lender pulls for loans/cards) can impact scores; soft inquiries (self-checks or pre-approvals) do not affect your score.

Spot suspicious entries:

Unknown hard inquiries, multiple inquiries in short periods, or inquiries from unfamiliar lenders are red flags for potential identity misuse.

Verify core details:

Check name, PAN, address, accounts, limits, and EMI histories; mismatches may signal reporting errors or fraud.

Dispute and rectify:

Use bureau dispute channels to challenge inaccurate inquiries or accounts. Provide evidence (ID, statements); bureaus typically investigate and update within defined timelines.

Set alerts and monitor:

Enable report alerts via platforms; consider bureau monitoring services to catch new inquiries or changes quickly.

Limit unnecessary applications:

Space out loan/card applications to avoid clustering hard inquiries, which can temporarily lower your score.

If you suspect fraud:

Contact the lender and bureau, file a dispute, and request blocks on the fraudulent application; document all communications for audit trails.

Practical steps for a clean report

Create a check cadence: Review your report every 3–4 months; rotate bureaus for wider coverage.

Track inquiries: Keep a simple log of every credit application; reconcile with the report monthly.

Hygiene habits: Pay on time, maintain reasonable utilization, and close unused high‑risk accounts to reduce exposure and improve score stability.

Sources: Mint, TheBonus.in, Paisabazaar

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