This page explains how a default is created and recorded, day by day. If you already have a default and want to know your loan options, read loans for CIBIL defaulters instead.
What “default” means on a CIBIL report
There is no CIBIL defaulter list. TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark simply record what each lender reports about each of your accounts, every month. A missed payment becomes a default in stages, and each stage is visible on your report in two places:
- Days past due (DPD): a three-digit number for each month, such as 000 (paid on time), 030 or 090. Months with no data may show as XXX.
- Asset classification or status: labels such as STD (standard), SMA (special mention account), SUB (sub-standard), DBT (doubtful) or LSS (loss), and account remarks such as settled, written off or suit filed.
Lenders read both. A single 030 two years ago, followed by clean months, is very different from a run of 060, 090, 120.
From one missed EMI to a default: the timeline
What happens after you miss an EMI
Based on the RBI’s special mention account (SMA) categories and the 90-day non-performing asset norm. Exact timing of calls, charges and reporting varies by lender; your loan agreement and Key Fact Statement set out the charges.
The key point: the first 30 days are the cheapest time to fix a missed payment. A payment cleared within the month may still show a small DPD, but it doesn’t snowball into a default status.
Reading the default codes on your report
| You see | What it means | How lenders read it |
|---|---|---|
| 000 or STD | Paid on time that month | Positive |
| 001–030 | Up to 30 days late | Minor if isolated and old |
| 031–090 | One to three months late | Serious, especially if recent or repeated |
| Above 090, SUB | Overdue beyond 90 days, non-performing | A default; most unsecured lenders decline |
| DBT, LSS | Doubtful or loss account | Very serious; the lender doubts recovery |
| Settled | Closed for less than the full amount owed | Negative for years |
| Written off | Lender has booked it as a loss | Among the worst remarks; see what to do about a write-off |
| Suit filed / wilful default | Legal action, or a default the lender considers deliberate | Most lenders won’t lend until resolved |
For other terms on the report, see our CIBIL score and report reference.
“Default CIBIL score” for someone with no loans
Many people search for the default CIBIL score, meaning the score you start with. There isn’t one. If you have never had a loan or credit card, there is nothing to score, so the bureau shows NA or NH (no history), sometimes displayed as -1. That isn’t a bad score and it isn’t a default; it just means lenders have nothing to go on. Read personal loans with no credit history for how to build a first record.
What a default costs you
Charges keep adding
Bounce charges and penal charges are added each month the EMI stays unpaid, so the amount you owe grows.
Your score drops hard
A default is one of the most damaging entries a report can carry, and it affects every future application.
Recovery action
The lender may call, visit or send notices, and for large or secured loans may start legal steps.
You still have rights
RBI rules require fair recovery: no threats, abuse or contacting your friends and family to shame you, and every regulated lender must have a grievance officer. If unresolved, you can complain to the RBI Ombudsman.
If you have missed an EMI, do this now
Clear the overdue before it crosses 30 days, even if it means a short delay elsewhere.
Ask about restructuring, a revised date or a short moratorium before the account becomes an NPA.
Borrowing from a 7-day app to pay an EMI usually starts a cycle. See getting out of a debt trap.
Any settlement or closure needs a letter and, once paid, a no-dues certificate.
If the missed EMIs come from juggling several small app loans, SmartSwitch can replace them with one Omozing loan and one EMI before any of them turns into a default.
Can a default be removed from your report?
An accurate default can’t be deleted, and anyone who charges to “remove your name from CIBIL” is selling something they can’t deliver. What you can do:
Check every bureau
Lenders don’t always report to all four. Use your free annual full report from each.
Dispute what is wrong
A loan that isn’t yours, a wrong DPD or a paid loan still shown overdue can be corrected. See CIBIL dispute resolution.
Pay in full where you can
Closing as paid reads better than settled. If you did settle, you can later ask the lender what it would take to update the status.
Rebuild with on-time months
The weight of a default fades as clean history accumulates. No one can promise a score by a date, but steady on-time payments do work.
Juggling EMIs and app loans?
Catch it before it becomes a default. SmartSwitch replaces several short-term app loans with one Omozing loan and one monthly EMI.
Frequently asked questions
After how many days is a loan considered a default?
Lenders classify a loan as a non-performing asset once it is more than 90 days overdue, and most treat that as a default. Before that, it shows as overdue with days past due on your report, which still lowers your score.
What is the default CIBIL score for a new user?
There is no default score. Someone with no credit history shows as NA or NH, sometimes displayed as -1. It means there isn’t enough data to score you, not that you have a bad record.
Is there a CIBIL defaulters list?
No. Credit bureaus keep a credit report for each person based on what lenders report. Defaults appear as overdue days, asset classification and remarks such as settled or written off, not as a list.
How do I improve my CIBIL score after a default?
Clear or regularise the overdue, get a no-dues certificate, correct any errors, keep any remaining loans and cards fully on time, and avoid new applications for a while. The impact fades as on-time history builds.
Can recovery agents harass me if I default?
No. RBI rules require lenders and their agents to follow fair recovery practices without threats, abuse or public shaming. Complain to the lender’s grievance officer, and to the RBI Ombudsman if it isn’t resolved.
Can I get a new loan after a default?
Unsecured loans are difficult while a default is recent or unresolved. Secured loans or a strong co-applicant are more realistic. See our guide to loans for CIBIL defaulters for the options.
Omozing is the digital lending brand of Aparampaar Finance Private Limited, an RBI-registered non-deposit-taking NBFC. Loans are subject to credit assessment. See our regulatory disclosures and grievance redressal process.