Due to the expected widespread impact from the 2018 hurricane season, the CONSUMER DATA INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION® (CDIA®) recently re-issued guidance to remind data furnishers how they can work with their customers relative to storm-related financial problems.

The Metro 2® announcement below is a reminder to all data furnishers that there is specific guidance available for furnishers who report information about;

To view the entire Metro 2® announcement, please click here.

CONSUMER DATA INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION®, CDIA®, the CREDIT REPORTING RESOURCE GUIDE®, and METRO 2® are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Consumer Data Industry Association in the United States and/or other countries. Neither M2 Reporter nor its products or services are affiliated with or endorsed by the Consumer Data Industry Association or CDIA.

Collection Agencies

• Collection agencies must furnish the name of the original creditor and the creditor code that characterizes the debt with each account or item reported. See more information about reporting original creditors and codes at M2 Reporter Help.
  
• Credit Reporting Agencies are required to identify collection agencies that consistently misreport or misuse the creditor code Codes; and to take corrective action.
  
• Collection agencies can no longer report any debts that were not the result of a contract or agreement to pay. Credit Reporting Agencies must remove any existing data reported that was not the result of a contract or agreement to pay
  
• Collection agencies must reconcile data relating to accounts in collection that have not been paid in full. Accounts that have not been updated within the last six months must be removed by the agency.
  
• Updated training materials must be provided to the collection agencies by the CRAs .
  

Data Furnishers

• Data furnishers can not report authorized user accounts unless they include a name, address, social security number, and/or date of birth on new accounts.
  
• Data furnishers must use the more advanced, comprehensive Metro 2® reporting format.  The previous Metro 1® format is no longer accepted.
  

Medical Accounts

• Medical debts which have a date of first delinquency less than 180 days before the day the account was reported will not be included by the CRAs.
  
• Medical accounts reported as “paid by insurance” or “being paid by insurance” and eventually paid in full must be removed and no longer reported.
  

Find the full article at CDIA Resources.

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