New Delhi, July 29 -- A bad credit score can immensely restrict access to personal loans, credit cards, and even employment opportunities in the financial sector. Therefore, it is imperative to understand what constitutes a poor rating in India, why it matters, and the best recovery steps and means to ensure that your credit score remains robust.

Credit agencies such as CRIF High Mark, CIBIL, and Equifax, among others, showcase credit score ranges that generally span from 300 to 900. A score below 550-600 is considered weak or falls under the very poor category, thus indicating a history of delayed payments, prior defaults, missed personal loan EMIs, and similar credit score-impacting behaviours.

A credit score between 550 and 649 is co...