Plenty of guides promise to raise your score fast; ours on reaching 750 and quick CIBIL fixes cover the sprint. This post is about the marathon: the six habits that push a score up gradually and, just as important, keep it from slipping once it is good. If you want to understand what the score is built from first, read what creates a good CIBIL score.
Tip 1: Put every due date on autopilot
Payment history is the single biggest part of every Indian credit score. One payment 30 days late can undo a year of good behaviour, and it stays visible on your report for years. The fix is mechanical, not motivational.
- Set up auto-debit (e-NACH or standing instruction) for every EMI.
- Set credit cards to auto-pay the full statement amount, or at least the minimum as a safety net while you pay the rest manually.
- Keep one month’s EMIs as a buffer in the debit account so an auto-debit never bounces.
- Move EMI dates to just after your salary credit; most lenders allow this on request.
Even small, forgotten dues count. A ₹400 card fee left unpaid can show up as overdue. For how lateness is recorded, see how missed or delayed payments affect your score.
Tip 2: Keep card use under about 30% of your limit
Credit utilisation is the share of your card limits you are using when the statement is generated. Paying in full every month is good, but if your statement shows ₹90,000 on a ₹1 lakh limit, the report still shows a near-maxed card.
Same card, ₹1 lakh limit: how the reported balance looks
Illustrative. Bar height is proportional to utilisation (180 units = 100%). The ~30% line is a widely used guideline, not a bureau rule; lower is generally read as better.
- Pay a large purchase down before the statement date, not just before the due date.
- Spread spending across two cards rather than maxing one.
- Ask for a limit increase after a year of clean use, then don’t spend into it.
Tip 3: Space out new credit applications
Every loan or card application lets a lender pull your report, and each pull is recorded as a hard enquiry. Several in a few weeks suggest credit hunger and can pull your score down. Checking your own score is a soft enquiry and doesn’t count.
Maintain
- Apply only when you actually need credit.
- Compare offers using eligibility checks that don’t create hard enquiries where available.
- Leave a gap of a few months between applications.
Avoid
- Accepting every pre-approved card offer.
- Applying to five loan apps to see who says yes.
- “Buy now, pay later” at every checkout; many are credit lines.
See does taking multiple loans affect your credit score for more on how open accounts and enquiries add up.
Tip 4: Keep your oldest accounts open and healthy
The age of your credit history counts. Your first credit card, kept open and used lightly, tells every future lender you have handled credit for years. Closing it shortens your history and cuts your total limit, which raises your utilisation overnight.
- Keep the oldest no-annual-fee card open; put one small recurring bill on it and auto-pay it.
- If a card charges a fee you don’t want, ask to switch it to a no-fee variant instead of closing it.
- A healthy mix, for example one card plus one instalment loan repaid on time, reads better than many cards alone.
Tip 5: Check a different bureau every quarter
Errors are common: a closed loan still shown as open, a payment marked late that wasn’t, an account that isn’t yours. You are entitled to one free full credit report from each bureau every calendar year. Rotate through the four and you see your credit file every three months, at no cost.
A free, year-round monitoring calendar
Scores and report contents can differ slightly between bureaus because lenders may report to them at different times. Checking your own report never lowers your score.
When you spot an error, raise a dispute straight away with the bureau and the lender. Our CIBIL dispute guide has step-by-step instructions and templates. Get your free report via our free credit score page.
Tip 6: Guard your score against other people’s debts
A loan you co-sign or guarantee appears on your report too. If the main borrower misses EMIs, your score takes the hit, often without warning. The same applies to joint loans and add-on cards.
- Don’t guarantee a loan you couldn’t repay yourself if you had to.
- If you are already a guarantor or co-borrower, ask for the repayment schedule and watch the account on your quarterly report.
- Remove add-on cards you no longer control.
- Never share OTPs or KYC documents with anyone; loans taken in your name by fraudsters land on your report.
The 10-minute monthly routine
On salary day
Confirm the buffer for auto-debits is in place.
Three days before each card statement
Check the balance; pay it down if it is above about 30% of the limit.
After each EMI date
Glance at your bank statement to confirm every auto-debit went through.
Once a quarter
Pull the next bureau’s free report, check every account and enquiry, and dispute anything wrong.
A good score isn’t earned once. It is kept, one on-time payment at a time.
If your score fell even though you pay on time, read why your credit score can fall despite timely payments.
Want a structured plan to lift your score?
Omozing’s Credit Score Booster programme reviews your report, flags errors and builds a month-by-month plan. We never promise a specific score; we help you do the things that move it.
Frequently asked questions
How can I increase and maintain my credit score?
Pay every EMI and card bill on time through auto-debit, keep card use under about 30% of the limit, apply for new credit sparingly, keep old accounts open, review your report every quarter and avoid guaranteeing loans you can’t cover.
How often should I check my credit report?
Every three months is a good habit. You get one free full report per bureau per calendar year, so checking a different bureau each quarter costs nothing.
Does closing an old credit card hurt my score?
It can. It shortens the average age of your accounts and reduces your total limit, which raises utilisation. If there is no fee, keeping it open and lightly used is usually better.
Is paying only the minimum due on my card enough?
It avoids a late mark, but the unpaid balance attracts high interest and keeps your utilisation high. Pay the full statement amount whenever you can.
Can being a loan guarantor affect my credit score?
Yes. A guaranteed loan appears on your report, and if the borrower misses payments, your score can fall. Monitor the account on your quarterly report.
How long does it take to improve a credit score?
Fixing an error can show up within weeks of a successful dispute. Lowering utilisation helps within one or two statement cycles. Recovering from late payments takes months of consistent on-time payments.
Omozing is the digital lending brand of Aparampaar Finance Private Limited, an RBI-registered non-deposit-taking NBFC. See our regulatory disclosures and grievance redressal process.