CTOS vs CCRIS: what's in your credit reports and how to improve them

Two different reports, two different jobs

People often talk about 'being blacklisted in CTOS' as if there were one list. In reality there are two separate sources, kept by different organisations, and neither is a blacklist. They are records of facts — what you owe and how you've repaid — and lenders interpret those facts in their own way.

What's in CCRIS

The Central Credit Reference Information System collects information from financial institutions about every credit facility you hold. For each one it shows:

• The type of facility — housing loan, hire purchase, credit card, personal loan and so on
• The lender, the approved limit and the balance outstanding
• A row of numbers for each of the last 12 months showing how many instalments were in arrears
• Any special attention flags, such as a facility under legal action or restructured
• Applications for new credit made in the last 12 months, and whether they were approved, pending or declined

The 12-month row is what most lenders read first. A '0' means you were up to date that month; a '1' means one instalment was overdue; a '2' means two, and so on. A run of zeros is exactly what a lender wants to see. Settled facilities stay on CCRIS for 12 months after they are closed and then drop off.

What's in a CTOS report

CTOS is one of the private credit reporting agencies registered under the Credit Reporting Agencies Act 2010. It combines your CCRIS information with other sources, so its report is wider:

• Legal records — civil court cases and bankruptcy proceedings against you
• Trade references — unpaid bills reported by telcos, utilities and other businesses
• Company interests — directorships and shareholdings registered with SSM
• A CTOS score, from 300 to 850, that summarises how likely you are to repay

Trade references are a common surprise. A forgotten final phone bill from an old contract can appear as a trade reference and drag your score down even if you have never missed a loan payment. That's one reason to check your report before you apply for anything.

How to get your own reports

1. 1

   CCRIS through eCCRIS

   Register on Bank Negara Malaysia's eCCRIS website with your MyKad, verify your identity, and download your report online at no cost. You can also request it at Bank Negara's BNMLINK counters.

2. 2

   CTOS through MyCTOS

   Sign up on the CTOS website or app. A basic report is available free; a detailed report with your score and trend history may carry a small fee.

3. 3

   Read them side by side

   Check that every facility is yours, that the balances look right and that closed accounts are shown as settled. Note anything you don't recognise.

How a lender actually reads your reports

Lenders don't just look for 'clean' or 'dirty'. They look for patterns that tell them how a new loan would fit into your life. These are the points we consider when we assess your application:

Fixing errors

1. 1

   For CCRIS, go to the lender

   CCRIS only shows what financial institutions report. If a facility is wrong, contact the bank or lender that reported it and ask them to correct it. If they don't respond, you can raise it with Bank Negara Malaysia through BNMLINK.

2. 2

   For CTOS, file a dispute

   Use the dispute form on the CTOS website and attach evidence, such as a settlement letter or a receipt. For a trade reference, also ask the company that reported it for a letter confirming the debt is settled.

3. 3

   Keep the proof

   Keep settlement letters and receipts for at least the 12 months a record can stay visible. They are the fastest way to resolve a dispute.

How to improve your record

• Pay every instalment on time for 12 months — this outweighs everything else, because it fills your CCRIS row with zeros
• Set standing instructions a day or two after payday so payments never slip
• Bring credit card balances well below their limits, and pay more than the minimum
• Avoid applying to several lenders at once; space out applications
• Settle small trade references such as old phone bills, then ask for a settlement letter
• If you're behind on several debts, talk to AKPK about its free Debt Management Programme before taking on new credit

There is no shortcut. Services that promise to 'clean your CTOS' for a fee cannot remove accurate information, and some are scams. Time and consistent repayments are what change your record.

Myths

What to do next

We only check your reports during your video verification, after explaining why and with your recorded consent. We use them to set an amount and instalment you can manage, not to look for reasons to say no. If your record shows a difficult period that is now behind you, tell us what happened — we lend to people, not to scores.

Download both reports before you apply anywhere. If they look healthy, you'll know you're in a good position to compare offers. If there are problems, fix the errors first and talk to us honestly on the video call — a clear explanation of a past difficulty goes a long way.