Diwali safai is a ritual of looking in places we ignore all year: the loft, behind the fridge, the cupboard of “we’ll sort it later”. Most people treat their credit report the same way. They only see it when a loan is rejected, and by then the dust has settled in: a loan app you closed in March still showing “active”, a mobile number from three jobs ago, a credit card limit missing so your usage looks maxed out.
This is day 5 of our Diwali 2026 series. If you used your Diwali bonus to close app loans, this is how to make sure the closure actually shows. And if you’re planning to apply for any credit in the new year, now is the right time to clean up.
Why clean it now
Each bureau holds its own copy of your history, built from what lenders report to it. A mistake can sit with one bureau and not the others, so a check of only your CIBIL report can miss it. Lenders may pull any of the four. Corrections also take time, because the bureau has to confirm changes with the lender. Starting before Diwali gives you a realistic chance of a cleaner report by the new year.
The safai calendar
A credit report clean-up from now to 31 December
A suggested pace, not an official timeline. How long a correction takes depends on the bureau and the lender that reported the data.
What to check, line by line
Open each report and go through it with a pen. If you’re new to the layout, our annotated guide to reading a CIBIL report walks through every section.
| Corner to clean | What dust looks like | How to sweep it out |
|---|---|---|
| Personal details | Misspelt name, wrong date of birth, old or unknown addresses, a phone number that isn’t yours | Raise a correction with the bureau; keep PAN and address proof ready |
| Accounts you don’t recognise | A loan or card you never took | Dispute it with the bureau and contact the lender at once; if it looks like identity fraud, report it at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 |
| Closed loans still open | An app loan or card you repaid still marked active, with a balance | Send the lender your NOC or closure proof and dispute it with the bureau |
| Wrong payment history | Late marks (DPD) for months you paid on time | Gather bank statements showing the payments; dispute the specific months |
| “Settled” or “written off” | A status that tells lenders you didn’t repay in full | If it’s wrong, dispute it; if it’s correct, ask the lender whether paying the balance can update it to closed |
| Enquiries and card limits | Enquiries you didn’t authorise; a card with no limit shown | Dispute unknown enquiries; ask the card issuer to report the correct limit so your usage isn’t overstated |
How to raise a dispute without stress
Use the bureau’s own dispute process
Each bureau has an online dispute form, usually reachable after you log in to view your report. It’s free. You never need to pay an agent to file a dispute.
Be specific
Name the account, the field that’s wrong and what it should say. One dispute per error is clearer than one long complaint.
Attach proof
NOCs, closure letters, bank statements showing payments and identity documents. The bureau checks with the lender, and the lender decides based on its records.
Write to the lender too
Only the lender can change what it reported. Use its grievance channel, and escalate to its grievance officer if needed. If a regulated lender doesn’t resolve a valid complaint, you can approach the RBI Ombudsman.
Recheck before you apply for credit
Confirm the correction appears on every bureau that showed the error, not just one.
Templates and a step-by-step walkthrough are in our guide to CIBIL disputes, and if you’d like help, see our CIBIL dispute resolution page.
A cleaner report doesn’t guarantee a higher score. But a wrong report guarantees you’re judged on someone else’s mess.
Closed app loans: collect the paperwork now
Short-term loan apps are the most common source of “ghost” accounts: repaid loans that still show open months later. For every app loan you’ve repaid this year:
- Download or request the closure letter or NOC from the app or its lending partner.
- Save the payment confirmation that shows the final repayment.
- Note the lender’s name (the NBFC or bank), not just the app’s brand name, since that’s what appears on your report.
- Check your report four to eight weeks after closure.
After the safai: what a clean report does for you
An accurate report doesn’t rewrite history. Genuine late payments stay. But removing errors means lenders see your real record, and a credit officer can judge it fairly. At Omozing, a credit officer reads your full report rather than relying only on an automated cut-off, and we consider salaried applicants with a credit score from 600. If your report is accurate but your score is still low, our Credit Score Booster programme can help you plan the next steps, though no one can honestly promise a specific score.
Report cleaned up? See where you stand.
Omozing considers salaried applicants with a CIBIL score from 600, and a credit officer reads your full report.
Frequently asked questions
How many free credit reports can I get in a year?
You’re entitled to one free full credit report from each credit bureau every calendar year, so four in total across TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark.
Does checking my own credit report lower my score?
No. Checking your own report is a soft enquiry and doesn’t affect your score. Only enquiries made by lenders when you apply for credit are hard enquiries.
Do I have to pay to raise a CIBIL dispute?
No. Bureaus let you raise disputes free of charge through their own websites. Be wary of anyone who asks for money to “remove” entries from your report.
Can a genuine late payment be removed?
Accurate information generally stays on your report. Disputes are for errors. What improves your profile over time is a record of on-time payments from now on.
My repaid app loan still shows active. What do I do?
Get the NOC or closure letter from the lender, then raise a dispute with each bureau showing the error and write to the lender’s grievance team with the same proof.
Will cleaning my report increase my score?
If an error was pulling it down, correcting it may help, but no one can promise a specific increase. The main benefit is that lenders see your real record.
This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. 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.