You can send credit reports to major credit reporting agencies using the Metro 2 (426 character format) or Metro 272 standard. Each reporting bureau requires specific ID codes to identify your company. Please discuss the requirements with your credit reporting agency.

Credit Bureau Setup form

Once you start reporting to the credit bureaus, the Debtor's file number must not change while the account is being reported on.

WARNING: Reporting credit is a legal matter. You are responsible for ensuring that the information you are sending is accurate and complete. Do not report credit without being ABSOLUTELY SURE about your legal rights and the legal rights of the person or entity you are reporting.

Credit Reporting Agencies

Collect! provides for reporting to the three major credit reporting agencies:

Trans Union

Experian ( TRW )

Equifax

Reporting Credit With Collect!

When you setup your credit bureau reporting correctly, Collect! takes care of all the details by automatically scheduling a Metro contact for each debtor that you want to report. After you report, Collect! forwards this contact for the next reporting period. Collect! tracks changes in the debtor's profile for credit bureau purposes and reports the correct codes to the bureau.

Please refer to Credit Report Details for more information. This form is accessed from the Debtor screen. It is where you keep track of the debtor's status for credit reporting purposes.

Default Values

It is important to fill in all fields for the credit bureau(s) of your choice in the Credit Bureau Setup form. USE THE DEFAULT VALUES listed below, if you have not been supplied an actual value from your credit bureau.

Control Number

The Program Identifier or Control Number contains a unique identification number assigned to you by the credit reporting agency.

Unless otherwise specified, fill this field with 00001. ( Alpha-numeric, length 5 )

FOR METRO 2 ONLY

Metro 2 ID codes are transmitted in the header sent to the credit bureau.

For Equifax and Trans Union, place the Subscriber ID they give you into the Credit Grantor field.

For Experian, place the D-Number into the Control Number field.

Uc

TRANS UNION PROGRAM IDENTIFIER

This is a unique number assigned to you by the credit reporting agency.

Unless otherwise specified, fill this field with 00001. ( Alpha-numeric, length 5 ) See FOR METRO 2 ONLY above.

Wco

TRW EXPERIAN PROGRAM IDENTIFIER

This is a unique number assigned to you by the credit reporting agency.

Unless otherwise specified, fill this field with 00001. ( Alpha-numeric, length 5 ) See FOR METRO 2 ONLY above.

Xco

EQUIFAX PROGRAM IDENTIFIER

This is a unique number assigned to you by the credit reporting agency.

Unless otherwise specified, fill this field with 00001. ( Alpha-numeric, length 5 ) See FOR METRO 2 ONLY above.

Credit Grantor

This is called the Subscriber Code in Trans Union terminology. ( Alpha numeric, length 10 )

This is called the Subscriber Code in Experian terminology. ( Alpha numeric, length 10 )

This is called the Membership Number in Equifax terminology. For Equifax subscribers, enter the 10 character ID code provided by Equifax here. ( Alpha numeric, length 10 )

FOR METRO 272 ONLY

The Credit Grantor Code contains a ten character abbreviation of the credit grantor's name. This code should be developed by the subscriber and the credit reporting agency.

The code should be as specific as possible. For example, if the subscriber is First National Bank of Anytown, the code should be "FNBANYTOWN", not just "FNB". This field must be consistent on a month to month basis. Notify your credit bureau representative before changing this code.

FOR METRO 2 ONLY

Metro 2 ID codes are transmitted in the header sent to the credit bureau.

For Equifax and Trans Union, place the ID they give you into the Credit Grantor field.

For Experian, place the ID code into the Control Number field.

Ug

TRANS UNION CREDIT GRANTOR

This is called the Subscriber Code in Trans Union terminology. (Alpha numeric, length 10) See FOR METRO 2 ONLY above.

For Metro 272, please refer to FOR METRO 272 ONLY above.

Wg

TRW EXPERIAN CREDIT GRANTOR

This is called the Subscriber Code in Experian terminology. (Alpha numeric, length 10) See FOR METRO 2 ONLY above.

For Metro 272, please refer to FOR METRO 272 ONLY above.

Xg

EQUIFAX CREDIT GRANTOR

This is called the Membership Number in Equifax terminology. For Equifax subscribers, enter the 10 character ID code provided by Equifax here. (Alpha numeric, length 10) See FOR METRO 2 ONLY above.

For Metro 272, please refer to FOR METRO 272 ONLY above.

Center Code

Required for Metro 272 only.

The Computer Center Code uniquely identifies which data processing center generated the tape.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 001. (Alpha numeric, length 3)

Uce

TRANS UNION COMPUTER CENTER CODE

Required for Metro 272 only.

The Computer Center Code uniquely identifies which data processing center generated the tape.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 001. (Alpha numeric, length 3)

Wce

TRW EXPERIAN COMPUTER CENTER CODE

Required for Metro 272 only.

The Computer Center Code uniquely identifies which data processing center generated the tape.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 001. (Alpha numeric, length 3)

Xce

EQUIFAX COMPUTER CENTER CODE

Required for Metro 272 only.

The Computer Center Code uniquely identifies which data processing center generated the tape.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 001. (Alpha numeric, length 3)

Area Code

Required for Metro 272 only.

The Area Code is used only if the data processing center produces files for more than one location. It contains an identity code, which should be developed by the subscribe for the location whose data is being reported.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 001. (Alpha numeric, length 3)

Ua

TRANS UNION AREA CODE

Required for Metro 272 only.

The Area Code is used only if the data processing center produces files for more than one location. It contains an identity code, which should be developed by the subscribe for the location whose data is being reported.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 001. (Alpha numeric, length 3)

Wa

TRW EXPERIAN AREA CODE

Required for Metro 272 only.

The Area Code is used only if the data processing center produces files for more than one location. It contains an identity code, which should be developed by the subscribe for the location whose data is being reported.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 001. (Alpha numeric, length 3)

Xa

EQUIFAX AREA CODE

Required for Metro 272 only.

The Area Code is used only if the data processing center produces files for more than one location. It contains an identity code, which should be developed by the subscribe for the location whose data is being reported.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 001. (Alpha numeric, length 3)

Identification #

The Identification Number is used to uniquely identify a credit grantor. Report your internal code to identify each branch, office and/or credit center where information is verified. This number must be unique and at least five digits long. Note that the entire field should never be zero, blank or 9 filled. This field must be consistent on a month to month basis. Notify your credit bureau representative before changing this code.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 0000001. (Alpha numeric, length 7)

Uid

TRANS UNION IDENTIFICATION #

The Identification Number is used to uniquely identify a credit grantor. Press F1 for details.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 0000001. (Alpha numeric, length 7)

Wid

TRW EXPERIAN IDENTIFICATION #

The Identification Number is used to uniquely identify a credit grantor. Press F1 for details.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 0000001. (Alpha numeric, length 7)

Xid

EQUIFAX IDENTIFICATION #

The Identification Number is used to uniquely identify a credit grantor. Press F1 for details.

Unless otherwise specified fill with 0000001. (Alpha numeric, length 7)

Drive

The Drive Letter specifies the disk drive the Metro 2 or Metro 272 files are created on. If you choose drives A or B you will be prompted for floppy disks. If all records do not fit on one disk, you will be asked to insert new disks until the Metro Report is finished.

Enter A to send the report to your removable diskette.

Enter C to create the Credit Bureau Reporting file on your hard disk. (Alpha, length 1)

Uf

TRANS UNION DRIVE LETTER

The Drive Letter specifies the disk drive the Metro 2 or Metro 272 files are created on. If you choose drives A or B you will be prompted for floppy disks. If all records do not fit on one disk, you will be asked to insert new disks until the Metro Report is finished.

Enter A to send the report to your removable diskette.

Enter C to create the Credit Bureau Reporting file on your hard disk. (Alpha, length 1)

Wf

TRW EXPERIAN DRIVE LETTER

The Drive Letter specifies the disk drive the Metro 2 or Metro 272 files are created on. If you choose drives A or B you will be prompted for floppy disks. If all records do not fit on one disk, you will be asked to insert new disks until the Metro Report is finished.

Enter A to send the report to your removable diskette.

Enter C to create the Credit Bureau Reporting file on your hard disk. (Alpha, length 1)

Xf

EQUIFAX DRIVE LETTER

The Drive Letter specifies the disk drive the Metro 2 or Metro 272 files are created on. If you choose drives A or B you will be prompted for floppy disks. If all records do not fit on one disk, you will be asked to insert new disks until the Metro Report is finished.

Enter A to send the report to your removable diskette.

Enter C to create the Credit Bureau Reporting file on your hard disk. (Alpha, length 1)

Report

This is the name of the summary report listing all Debtors sent to the credit bureaus. The default report lists Debtor name, principal, owing etc. You can edit the report to suit your needs.

Report By Industry

This feature is not implemented yet.

Inhibit Phone Numbers

Switch ON 'Inhibit phone numbers' to prevent Collect! from sending phone numbers to the credit bureau. The output file will contain all zeroes in the phone number position. This ensures debtor privacy if you have unlisted phone numbers in your database. This is a global setting, it cannot be set on an individual account basis.

Delay Report

When you first report credit on an account, you can schedule for the report to be sent later, rather than immediately. The date can be changed manually.

To delay reporting, put a check in the box by pressing the space bar or left-clicking with your mouse. The Delay Days field will now be visible for you to enter the number of days you wish to delay before sending this report.

To have reporting start immediately, leave the box empty.

Delay Days

When you select the delay report you can optionally select the amount of days you would like to delay by putting in the numbers in this box.

Use Metro2 Format

Switch this ON with a check mark to report using Metro 2 format (426 character format.) When you setup to report to the bureaus it is necessary to choose either Metro 272 or Metro 2 format BEFORE you turn on CBR for any debtor accounts. After Collect! has already created Metro contacts and has attached them to accounts, changing Metro formats can have consequences.

When you setup CBR for the first time, or if you switch from Metro 272 to Metro 2, Collect! displays a warning message when you switch ON 'Use METRO2 Format'.

This message indicates that all existing contacts will be modified and cannot be changed back.

Attempting to switch back to Metro 272 from Metro 2 will not work if you have existing Metro contacts attached to debtors. If you try to switch OFF 'Use METRO2 Format' when active Metro contacts exist, you will receive another warning message.

The only way to move back to Metro 272 from Metro 2 is to delete all existing Metro contacts attached to debtors before changing this setting.

Report As Credit Grantor

This is a read only switch set in the Company Details form. To access Company Details, select Options from the top menu bar and then select Company Details when the list of choices appears.

When this is switched ON with a check mark, the Delinquency Date is used to report the Date of Occurrence for all status codes except 4, 10, 13 and 61 to 68. In those cases, the date the Contact was scheduled is sent as the date of occurrence.

When you leave this switch OFF, the Date of Occurrence is always taken from the Delinquency Date, regardless of status code. Leave this switch OFF if you are operating a Collection Agency.

Report Charged Date

Switch this ON to report the Charged Date instead of the Listed Date as the credit bureau report's Date Opened. This switch works when you are reporting as a credit grantor. The 'Credit Grantor' switch is enabled through the Options menu. Select Company Details from the drop-down choices to open the Company Details form and switch on 'Credit Grantor' if this applies to you.

If you do not enter a Delinquency Date, Collect! automatically uses the Charged Date for credit bureau reporting. Also Collect! automatically reports the Charged Date when you are reporting NSF checks. You do not need to switch on 'Report Charged Date'.

No Posted Date Mods Delinquency

When this is switched ON, Collect! uses the Payment Date of the promise transaction as the Delinquency Date rather than allowing the default 30 day delay in determining delinquency.

This is only used in Credit Grantor mode.

Report Client Account Number

By default, Collect! uses the Debtor File Number as the ID for credit bureau reporting. It is recommended that you leave Report Client Account Number switched OFF and let Collect! report using the Debtor File Number, unless you are sure you need to do otherwise.

When this switch is ON, the Client Account Number field (Acct on the Debtor form) is transmitted as the account identifier to the Credit Bureaus.

This is only applicable if you are using the Metro2 format. This only sends ALPHANUMERICS. Special characters and spaces are discarded.

Sending Client Account Number is useful for those who have previously reported accounts through another system. It gives a user the opportunity to import the old reported file number into Collect!'s account number. Then, switching ON Report Client Account Number would place the account number in the credit reporting output file.

If you switch this ON, you must have a unique account number for every reported debtor and the account number must not change while you are reporting the account. If there is no account number on a debtor account, or there is a duplicate account number, the CBR vendor will fail the record.

TECHNICAL: This is sent as Base Segment Field #7 -
Consumer Account Number.

Help

Press this button for help on the Credit Bureau Setup form and links to related topics.

Defaults

When reporting a Debtor to the Credit Bureaus, there are certain settings that need to be reported to the bureaus.

Select this button to display the Credit Report Preferences form where you can choose default credit reporting settings. When you flag a Debtor to be reported to the Credit Bureau, these default settings will automatically apply to the Debtor.

You can override these defaults on an individual Debtor level through the Credit Report Details dialog. To access this dialog, press the CBR button on the Debtor form.

Cancel

Selecting this button will ignore any changes you have made and return you to the previous form.

OK

Selecting this button will save any changes you may have made and return you to the previous form.

See Also

- How To Run A Credit Bureau Report
- Credit Bureau Reporting Topics
- Credit Reporting Functional Description