Credit History

Credit

Credit history is the complete record of your borrowing and repayment behaviour over time -- all loans, credit cards, payment dates, defaults, and settlements reported by lenders to credit bureaus. It is the raw data from which your CIBIL score is calculated.

In detail

What credit history shows:n1. All credit accounts: current and closed (last 7 years)n2. Payment history: on-time, late (30/60/90 days), defaultn3. Credit inquiries: every time you applied for a loan or cardn4. Outstanding balances and credit limitsn5. Loan types: secured (home/car) and unsecured (personal/CC)nnBuilding positive credit history:n1. Use a credit card responsibly (pay full balance monthly)n2. Keep utilisation below 30%n3. Never miss payment due datesn4. Maintain old accounts (long history = better score)n5. Mix of secured and unsecured credit is positive

Real-life example

🇮🇳 India example

Vikram (23) has no credit history -- "NH" (New to Credit) shown on report. He applies for a secured credit card (Rs 20K limit against FD of Rs 25K). Uses it for small purchases, pays in full monthly. After 12 months: CIBIL score 720. After 24 months: 760. After 36 months: 790. A single secured card, used responsibly, builds excellent credit history.

Frequently asked questions

How long does negative information stay in CIBIL? ▼

Most negative information (defaults, settlements, late payments) remains in CIBIL for 7 years. After 7 years, older negative records may drop off, though lenders may ask you to explain any gaps. Positive accounts with good payment history can remain indefinitely -- these are actually beneficial.