Understanding Your Experian Credit Score

Your Experian Credit Information Report (‘Experian CIR’) is a detailed summary of your credit information. It contains information about your credit history, your credit accounts, payments, identity information, and recent enquiries.

Experian CIR is a compilation of your credit history. The data present in the credit report is provided by the members of Experian, such as banks and other lending institutions. By checking your Experian credit report frequently, you will be able to point out discrepancies and inaccuracies in your credit report and get them rectified immediately. This can safeguard you from potential thefts and frauds.

The day of the month that each member institution sends information varies. For example, member X may send the data on the first of every month, but member Y may send the data on the 15th of every month. So, Experian updates the credit information as soon as the data is received and uploaded on the system.

It is recommended to check the credit report regularly to make sure that the information is accurate and up to date. If there are mistakes in your credit report, you can immediately dispute it with Experian; otherwise, these errors can potentially harm your credit score. It’s also a good idea to check your credit score before applying for any loan or credit card. If your credit score is high, you stand a better chance of getting a loan approved at favourable terms.

The credit bureaus may use different data samples and techniques to calculate their credit scores. Therefore, the credit score provided by each of the credit bureaus is different and have a unique meaning.

The Experian score uses the credit information received from the bureau members (banks, NBFCs and other financial organisations). This credit information may or may not be the same as the information available with other credit bureaus.

All the credit information on which your CIR is based is supplied by Experian’s member banks, NBFCs, and other financial institutions. If both lenders A and lender B are members of Experian, then this information will be shown to the enquiring lender. However, the name of the lender who submitted the information is not shown to the other member, but it is shown in your CIR.