CRBAfrica - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Credit Reference Bureau?

Credit Reference Bureau Limited (CRB) is an information solutions company. It uses the power of information to assist its subscribers to target prospective customers, manage existing trade relationships and identify opportunities for profitable growth.

What role does CRB play in our economy?

CRB, Kenya’s largest credit reference bureau provides factual credit, identity and location information to businesses – for example banks, credit card companies, finance institutions and commercial enterprise.- to assist them in making accurate and responsible decisions when companies or individuals apply for cash or goods and services on credit. CRB also helps creditors guard against fraud, which is a growing and serious problem that ultimately affects all consumers.

What is credit reference information?

The information provided by CRB comes from many sources but falls into two main categories – public domain information and credit experiences:

Public Domain Information: Electoral Roll, Telephone & Postal Directory information, Court Judgments, Bankruptcies
Payment Performance Information: CRB subscribers share with each other details of their credit experiences. To achieve this, they store details of these experiences with CRB as an independent and objective entity. This allows them to enquire, when a company or an individual applies for credit, how the credit applicant has performed on other subscribers' credit facilities in the past.

Who owns the credit information?

The relative subscriber owns all credit information submitted to CRB. CRB simply acts as a confidential information sharing mechanism in the compilation and administration of the subscriber’s information.

Can anyone look at the credit information?

No. All credit information is private and confidential. Only CRB subscribers have access to the information and then must abide by the strict CRB Terms & Conditions that clearly define the purpose for which the information may be used.

What type of information does CRB hold?

The information held is only applicable to factual historical payment performance experiences and is therefore limited to information that is relevant to that. CRB does not hold information about race, tribe, religion or political persuasion. Neither does it hold credit balance information relating to current bank accounts or savings accounts, etc.

Does CRB tell creditors whom to give credit?

No. CRB does not make any credit decisions. It provides factual information only but does not express any opinion about the information provided. CRB is not even told how the information it provides has affected a creditor's decision or whether an application for credit has been granted or declined.

What if the credit information is disputed?

If you dispute any credit experience information held on your credit file, you need to contact the creditor directly. CRB cannot amend credit account information without the subscriber’s express authorization. So contacting the creditor directly is the most efficient way of sorting out any dispute. If you cannot resolve the disputed information with the creditor, you have the right to add a notice to your credit file. This is a statement of up to 100 words in which you can explain or expand upon the information held and which CRB will help you write at your request. CRB then incorporates the notice within your credit report. This ensures that prospective creditors read your notice in any future credit enquiries.

What if the public domain information is incorrect?

In the case of an error in the public domain information held on your credit file, it is not in your interest, or the creditor, or CRB that such information is incorrect. If you consider that any public domain information is not correct, please contact CRB who will ensure that the updated information is verified and any error rectified immediately.

How long does information remain on the credit file?

Credit information is recorded for seven (7) years from the date
listing or settlement depending on the legal jurisdiction

Can you view the information held by CRB?

Yes. If you have been denied credit due to information held on your CRB credit report you may obtain a copy of your report free of charge.   Contact CRB Customer Services for further information on how to obtain a free copy of your CRB Credit Report.

Yes. If you have been denied credit due to information held on your CRB credit report you may obtain a copy of your report free of charge.   Contact CRB Customer Services for further information on how to obtain a free copy of your CRB Credit Report

Alternatively, to obtain a copy of your credit report for your own interest, send your full name, company name, national ID or Company Registration Number and full postal and physical address with a banker’s cheque or postal order for Kshs.650/= (or your currency equivalent) made payable to:
Credit Reference Bureau Limited,
            Customer Services Department,
            P.O. Box 46406, Nairobi, Kenya.
Your corporate or personal credit report will be posted to you within seven working days of receipt of your request.

What happens if you lose your credit rating?

Losing your credit rating can have serious and almost immediate consequences on your ability to obtain credit and, in certain circumstances, maintain existing credit facilities amongst creditors such as, banks, credit card, insurance, manufacturing and service organizations nationwide. It is therefore in your interest to maintain a positive credit rating by ensuring that all of your financial obligations are honoured when due.

Is it possible to regain a positive credit rating?

Yes, if you have generated an adverse credit rating, CRB will assist you, where possible, in recovering your credit standing in the business community. Call or write to CRB Customer Services Department at the address shown above for further details.