A wrong entry on your credit report can lead to a rejected application or a poorer offer. The bureau can’t simply take your word for it, though, so a good dispute is mostly about evidence and persistence. Here’s what to do, in order.
First, work out what kind of error it is
| What you see | Likely cause | Evidence to collect |
|---|---|---|
| Closed loan shown as active | Lender didn’t update its data | No-dues or closure letter |
| Late mark for a month you paid on time | Reporting or posting error | Bank statement showing the payment date |
| Account you don’t recognise | Mixed-up file, or identity misuse | Your PAN and a written statement that it isn’t yours |
| Wrong name, address or date of birth | Data entry error | PAN, Aadhaar or other ID proof, as the bureau asks |
| Enquiry from an unknown lender | Mistaken or unauthorised check | Written statement that you made no application |
Remember the limits of a dispute. It can fix wrong information, not accurate information you dislike. A real missed payment and an enquiry from a loan you really applied for will stay. If you’re not sure what an entry means, our guide to hard and soft enquiries may help.
Raise the complaint
- Get the report. Download it from the bureau’s website. You can use your free report if you haven’t claimed it this year.
- File the dispute online with the bureau. Bureau sites have a dispute section. Name the exact account or field, say what’s wrong, and say what it should show.
- Write to the lender too. CIBIL says it can’t change your report until the lender authorises the change, so the lender’s response often decides the matter. Email its grievance address and attach your proof.
- Note the dates and reference numbers. The 30-day clock runs from your first filing, so your paperwork matters.
- Check other bureaus. The same wrong data may have gone to more than one bureau. If so, you may need to dispute it with each of them.
If inaccurate information has come from more than one lender, RBI’s rules say to file the complaint with the bureau concerned, which then co-ordinates with those lenders.
Who must act by when
These are the deadlines in RBI’s framework as of November 2026. Check the current position on the RBI website.
| Stage | What should happen |
|---|---|
| Within 21 calendar days | The lender sends corrected information to the bureau |
| Within 30 calendar days of filing | The complaint is resolved overall, with the bureau using the remaining nine days |
| After day 30 | Compensation of ₹100 per calendar day starts to run |
| Within five working days of resolution | Compensation is credited to your bank account |
For example: suppose your complaint is finally resolved on day 40 after filing. That’s 10 days of delay, so the compensation would be 10 × ₹100 = ₹1,000. Give correct bank details so that the payment can reach you.
The framework has exceptions. It doesn’t apply to complaints already decided by or pending before a court, tribunal or consumer commission, for instance. If a request is rejected, you should be told why.
If the error looks like fraud
An unknown loan or card isn’t always an innocent mix-up. Someone may have used your PAN or other documents. Act on it quickly:
- Ask the lender in writing for the application details, and state that you did not take the loan.
- Report it on the National Cyber Crime helpline, 1930, or at cybercrime.gov.in, and keep the complaint number.
- Change passwords on any account you think has been exposed, and never share an OTP or PIN with anyone who calls about the dispute.
- Don’t pay a caller demanding money for this “loan”, particularly if they threaten you. If it’s from an app you didn’t knowingly use, read our guide on how to spot fake loan apps.
Escalating to the RBI Ombudsman
The current scheme is the Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2026, which took effect on 1 July 2026 and covers banks, certain NBFCs and credit information companies. As of November 2026:
- You must first complain to the lender or bureau.
- You can escalate if there’s no reply within 30 days, or if you’re unhappy with the reply.
- You must file within 90 days of the end of that period, or of the entity’s last communication, whichever is later.
- File online at cms.rbi.org.in. You can also send a complaint by email or post to RBI’s Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre in Chandigarh.
- There’s no fee. The contact centre on 14448 can guide you and give updates, but it can’t take complaints.
You can also approach the Ombudsman if compensation has been wrongly denied. Attach your report, proof, correspondence and reference numbers.
After the fix
Download a fresh report once the matter closes and check that the entry has changed. If you disputed with one bureau, look at the others as well. Any effect on your score depends on the rest of your record, as explained in how long it takes to improve a credit score.
Bottom line
Keep it factual, keep your proof, and go to both the bureau and the lender. Then watch the dates, because they give you real leverage. Escalate to the RBI Ombudsman if the process stalls. You don’t need to pay an agent to start any of this.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost money to dispute an error on my credit report?
Raising a dispute through the bureau's own dispute process or with your lender should not need a paid agent. A complaint to the RBI Ombudsman is also free. Be careful of anyone who charges to do what you can do yourself.
How long does a credit report correction take?
Under RBI's framework, as of November 2026, a complaint should be resolved within 30 calendar days of filing. The lender has 21 days to send the corrected data and the bureau uses the rest. If it takes longer, you are entitled to ₹100 for each extra calendar day.
There is a loan on my report that I never took. What should I do?
Dispute it with the bureau and write to the lender named in the report straight away. It may be a clerical error, but it could also be identity misuse. Report suspected fraud at cybercrime.gov.in or on the 1930 helpline, and keep your acknowledgement numbers.
Can I get a correct but negative entry removed?
No. A dispute is for wrong information. A genuine late payment or a genuine enquiry stays. If a lender has marked something that you believe is unfair but accurate, you can talk to the lender, but the bureau cannot simply delete it.
