Kenyans can check their Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) status to see whether lenders have reported outstanding loans, missed payments, or other information that could affect their ability to access credit.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), which licenses and supervises Credit Reference Bureaus, says the bureaus collect credit information from different sources and provide it to lenders in the form of credit reports.
The system contains both positive and negative credit information, which means having a CRB record does not automatically mean someone is blacklisted. A person’s report may also show loans that have been repaid as agreed.
In Kenya, consumers can access their credit information through three licensed bureaus: TransUnion, Metropol and Creditinfo.
How to Check Your CRB Status in Kenya
Each of the three bureaus has a process for consumers to request their credit reports and check their borrowing history.
- Check Your Status Through TransUnion
TransUnion provides a service called Nipashe, which lets consumers check their credit status via SMS or its mobile app.
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According to TransUnion, customers can follow these steps:
- Open the messaging application on your phone.
- Send your name to 21272.
- Follow the instructions sent to your phone to register.
- Pay the one-off registration fee of KSh50 through Paybill 212121, using your national ID number as the account number.
- Once registered, request your credit status.
TransUnion says the service provides an instant update showing whether a customer’s credit status is good or in default.
Customers can also use the TransUnion Nipashe application, available on Google Play, to access their credit score, request a credit report or obtain a clearance certificate.
- Check Your Status Through Metropol
Metropol Credit Reference Bureau allows Kenyans to access their credit information through its USSD service and Crystobol application.
According to the bureau, customers can check their credit information by following these steps:
- Dial *433# using a Safaricom line.
- Follow the instructions displayed on the screen.
- Complete the registration and identity verification process.
- Select the service you want, such as requesting a credit report.
Metropol also allows customers to access their information through the Crystobol application and its online portal.
The bureau says customers are entitled to one free credit report every calendar year. It also provides a free report within 30 days after a customer receives notice that they have been denied credit because of a CRB listing.
- Check Your Status Through Creditinfo
Creditinfo Kenya is the third bureau through which consumers can access their credit information.
Customers can visit creditinfo.co.ke and follow the instructions under its consumer services section to request a credit report.
According to Creditinfo, customers can obtain a free copy of their report by visiting its offices or agents in person and presenting their original identification document for verification.
The bureau also provides free reports at least once a year and in other circumstances set out in the Credit Reference Bureau Regulations, 2020.
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How to Know If You Are Blacklisted on CRB
After receiving your credit report, check the information recorded against your name and identification details.
A credit report contains details of your borrowing history, including accounts that are performing well and those that have fallen into default.
Metropol explains that the information may include non-performing loans, accounts with a history of default, bounced cheques and other credit-related records.
A negative listing may indicate that a lender has reported a loan that has not been repaid as required.
If you find an account you do not recognise, or one you believe has already been settled, contact the bureau and the lender to find out why it appears on your report.
Being listed by a CRB does not automatically mean a person cannot access credit, and lenders use credit reports as part of their assessment when considering loan applications.
What to Do If You Are Listed on CRB
If your report shows a negative listing, the next step depends on whether the information is accurate.
If you have an outstanding loan, contact the lender to confirm the amount owed and discuss how to settle it. After making payment, ask the lender to update your repayment information with the CRB.
If you have already cleared the debt, ask the lender to confirm that the account has been updated.
However, paying an outstanding loan does not automatically erase the history of previous defaults and the credit report may continue to show the repayment history even after the account has been settled.
How to Dispute Incorrect CRB Information
The Banking (Credit Reference Bureau) Regulations, 2020, allow customers to notify a bureau in writing when they dispute information appearing in their credit reports.
The regulations require the bureau to attach a note indicating that it is investigating the information within five working days of receiving the dispute. It must also notify the lender or institution that supplied the information.
The lender must then investigate and communicate the outcome. If an error is established, the lender must correct or delete the information.
If a customer is dissatisfied with the outcome, the regulations allow them to refer the dispute to an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, the Central Bank of Kenya or a court of law.
Customers should attach supporting documents, such as loan statements, payment receipts and correspondence with the lender, when submitting a complaint.
Can You Check Your CRB Status for Free?
The Banking (Credit Reference Bureau) Regulations, 2020, provide that customers are entitled to a free copy of their credit report from each bureau at least once every calendar year.
The regulations also provide for a free report within 30 days of receiving an adverse action notice and once every six months after requesting the correction of inaccurate information.
CBK also announced that, under the 2020 regulatory changes, the first CRB clearance certificate would be issued at no charge.
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